A Tale of Two Newspapers, The Bryan Democrat and The Bryan Press, Smetzer, 1900

A Tale of Two Newspapers

By Pamela Pattison Lash

Two slightly different accounts of the same event need to be carefully examined when dealing with old newspaper accounts.  The following is an example of this:

The Bryan Democrat (Bryan, OH), Thursday, 1 March 1900 p5 c4 – no headline

David Smetzer aged fifty-one years, who lived one mile north and one mile and a half east of Pulaski, committed suicide, Thursday morning, February 22, by taking carbolic acid.  His wife died several years ago and since then he has been despondent and his health became impaired, partly by insomnia from which he sought relief by the use of morphine.  On two former occasions he attempted suicide with morphine, but failed because his system had become impregnated with the drug.  On several occasions prior to the fatal act he told acquaintances that he intended to do away with himself.  They tried to dissuade him but life had become a burden to him and he was determined to shuffle it off.  Thursday morning he arose from his bed where he had passed a restless night, procured a cup of water into which he poured a quantity of carbolic acid, swallowed it, laid down on the bed and died.  A bottle partially filled with morphine was found in his pocket and a razor beside him in the bed.  He had evidently determined that his last effort in life should not be a failure.  He leaves five children, a sister and brother.

The Bryan Press (Bryan, OH), Thursday, 1 March 1900, p3 c2

Suicide of David Smetzer

On the 22^nd of February David Smetzer took his life at his home in Jefferson Township, near Stringtown schoolhouse.

He was about 51 years old and leaves a widow and several children.

A box containing the personal effects found upon the body is at the office at probate court, and among the articles are a razor, a bottle of morphine and a small bottle which contained the carbolic acid that caused the death of the unfortunate man.

I believe the reader can easily see many obvious differences in the details. 

If one just looked at The Bryan Press article, the reader would have believed that David Smetzer was married with several children at the time of his death.  The Bryan Democrat clearly stated that he was a widower with five children. Furthermore, as a researcher one learns David had two siblings, a brother and a sister. (Note that upon investigation David actually had one brother and two sisters survive him.)

The accounts both agree that David was fifty-one, living in Williams County, and dying on February 22 in the morning.  The Bryan Press gave a more accurate geographical placement with the words, Jefferson Township, while The Bryan Democrat described his residence in reference to Pulaski, OH. (Using his death record David actually was listed as a resident of Pulaski Twp.)

The Bryan Democrat not only went into more detail on the how of the suicide but also gave the researcher the why as well.  It set up the background information and stated that this was not David’s first attempt at suicide.  This account also provided clarification on the role of both the morphine and the carbolic acid in this act.  Finally, the reporter made it known that David’s mental state was known to his acquaintances and implied that his family would have been aware of this as well.

The Bryan Press called David “an unfortunate man” but never gave any clues as to why he was “unfortunate.”  It implied that this act was an accident, while the other account clearly stated it was not. 

The Bryan Press did give one detail that is worth mentioning – the effects were taken to the probate court so a record was made about the incident, something that a researcher may want to further investigate. 

In detailing the vital records of David Smetzer, I found these bits of information:

David Smetzer (18 September 1848, Holmes Co, OH – 22 February 1900, Williams Co, OH) was the son of William Smetzer and Mary Ann DeGroff.  He married Rebecca Shaffer in Williams Co, OH on 28 October 1873. He was survived by siblings George, Catherine, and Malissa. Nothing has been found to prove where both he and his wife were buried. Also, David did not leave any probate record.

Rebecca Shaffer (22 August 1848, OH – 4 May 1896, Jefferson Twp, Wms Co, OH), was the mother of five children – Otha Mae, William Wental, Minnie Viola, Charles Clinton, and Della Cora Smetzer.  Rebecca’s parentage is unknown at this time.

The Bryan Press (Bryan, OH), Thursday, 14 May 1896, p3 c5

Rebecca Smetzer, born 22 August 1848 and departed this life 4 May 1896 at 47Y, 8M 12D. At the age of 18 she joined the Reformed Church of which she was a consistent member until death.  Her aged father, husband, five children, and a host of friends and relatives are left to mourn her loss.

Other sources:

1850 Ripley Twp, Holmes Co, OH – David 2 OH w/parents

1860 Jefferson Twp, Wms Co, OH – David 11 OH w/parents

1870 Jefferson Twp, Wms Co, OH – David 22 OH w/parents

1880 Jefferson Twp, Wms Co, OH – David 33 OH/Rebecca 32 OH

Williams County, OH Marriages V4 p302

Williams Co, OH Deaths – V3 p122 – David is 51years old, born in OH, a laborer, cause of death was insanity, a residence in Pulaski Twp.