Back in the time 100-plus years ago when fraternal and benefit orders were part of the social fabric in North America, newspapers kept readers informed about Freemasons and Freemasonry, depending on the story (I’ve had my fill of coverage of Lodge dances in the 1920s where everyone attending was listed). One of the Washington D.C. papers offered a full page on Sundays with lodge news from across the country.
Among the odd tales I’ve stumbled upon by accident is the one involving the shooting of a Grand Secretary. Let’s face it. Grand Secretaries aren’t shot every day.
This is a wire service story republished in the Seattle Post-Intellegencer of Dec. 28, 1900. R.W. Bro. William Henry Smythe was born on a farm in Putnam County, Indiana, on July 2, 1846, was wed on Oct. 4, 1870 and became Grand Secretary in 1878.
PROMINENT MASON SERIOUSLY SHOT.
WAS FOUND IN A POOL OF BLOOD IN HIS OFFICE.
Stated That a Blonde Woman Had Fired the Shots Upon Being Refused Use of Victim’s Telephone—Theory of Attempted Suicide
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., Dec. 27.—William H. Smythe, secretary of the Grand Masonic lodge of this state, was shot in the head in his office, in the Masonic building shortly after noon today.
Mr. Smythe says a woman did the shooting, but the police have been unable so far to locate her. It is thought he cannot live.Lewis A. Coleman, an attorney, found Mr. Smythe shortly after he was shot. He went to Mr. Smythe’s office, in the Masonic building, and found Mr. Smythe lying in a pool of blood on the floor. Mr. Coleman said he detected the smell of gunpowder the moment he stepped into the room.
The wounded man was in a semi-conscious condition, but was able at intervals to utter a few coherent words. The police asked Mr. Smythe to tell who did the shooting, and he told them his son would give them the information. He was able to say, however, that he was seated at his desk when a blonde woman entered his office and asked to use the telephone. He said she had been in several times before, and that the last call irritated him and he refused her request. He claimed that after he refused her the use of the telephone she drew a revolver from the bosom of her dress, and fired.
Woman Seems a Myth.
Shortly after the tragedy Dr. Elmer Smythe, the son referred to, came in. He insisted that he knew nothing of the woman or the shooting.
A surgeon was called immediately after the shooting, and when he arrived he began probing for the bullet. The wound was directly behind the right ear, and in a short time pieces of the bullet were found and extricated, Soon after the shooting Mr. Smythe asked for his son Elmer and requested that all leave the room for a few minutes, which was done. Later he said his son would give them the name of the woman and all about her. The son persisted in his statement that he knew nothing of her.
An attempt was made to locate the woman at the Lorraine, hut inquiry developed the fact that there was or had been no woman connected with the hotel who could have done the shooting.
Suicide Theory Advanced.
When a search for the woman who is said to have done the shooting failed to reveal any trace of her, the theory was advanced that Mr. Smythe had attempted to take his own life. The persons who advanced the theory say it is strengthened by the fact that within the last year Mr. Smythe had threatened to take his own life.
His son said that while his father would be very despondent at times during the past year, he was unwilling to believe that he had attempted his own life.
At the home of Mr. Smythe it was impossible to find any clue to the woman who he said did the shooting.
Mr. Smythe is widely known in Indianapolis. He came to this city twenty-five years ago, from Greencastle, to take the position of the secretary of the Masonic Grand lodge of Indiana, a position which he filled to the present time. He is one of the best-known Masons in the state, and is highly esteemed.
Early in the summer Mr. Smythe received a sunstroke which incapacitated him from work. In fact, he has never recovered.
R.W. Bro. Smythe survived the shooting but did not live much longer. He died on August 5, 1902. As you can see by his death certificate, the shooting didn’t kill him. The Indianapolis Journal reports he had resigned as Grand Secretary in February 1901. One of the wire services spread word that the mystery woman in the shooting case had been arrested but was unidentified. I’ve found no evidence that happened, and the Journal’s obituary story said the case remained unsolved.
