Thriller Thursday is a daily blogging prompt at Geneabloggers.com used
by many genealogy bloggers to help them post content on their sites. Are there
murders, bizarre accidents or other thrilling stories among your family
history? Tell us about them through words and pictures during Thriller
Thursday. This is an ongoing series by Anne Kruszka at Gene Notes.
Let me show this family and round them out first.
Thomas
Crowell Smart was born 1/4/1869 in Stanly
County, NC. He married 1st Mary
Catherine Huneycutt (aka Kate Huneycutt, Kate Honeycutt).
She was born 4/27/1871 in NC.
They had 3 sons: James Arthur
Smart, George Bennett Smart and Edward Franklin "Frank"
Smart. Mary Catherine
Smart died 8/20/1902 in Stanly
County, NC. Kate Smart was
buried at Locust Presbyterian
Church, 607 Main Street West, Locust, Stanly, NC.
1900 U.S. Census of Furr, Stanly County, North Carolina ; Roll : 1218 ; Page : 16A ;
Enumeration District : 0125 ; FHL microfilm : 1241218 , Lines 7-11, "Thos.
C. Smart"
Thos. C. Smart, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Jan, 1869, 31 yrs old,
Married 8 yrs (DOM 1892), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Farmer, Can read
and write, Rents farm
Mary C. Smart, Wife, W, F, Born Apr, 1871, 29 yrs old, Married 8 yrs, 5 children with 4 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Can read and write
Jas. A. Smart, Son, W, M, Born Sept, 1893, 6 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Geo. B. Smart, Son, W, M, Born Sept, 1894, 5 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Ed. Frank Smart, Son, M, W, Born May, 1899, 1 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Mary C. Smart, Wife, W, F, Born Apr, 1871, 29 yrs old, Married 8 yrs, 5 children with 4 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Can read and write
Jas. A. Smart, Son, W, M, Born Sept, 1893, 6 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Geo. B. Smart, Son, W, M, Born Sept, 1894, 5 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Ed. Frank Smart, Son, M, W, Born May, 1899, 1 yrs old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
1910 U.S. Census of Albemarle, Stanly County, North
Carolina ; Roll: T624_1125 ;
Page : 5A ; Enumeration District : 0116 ; FHL microfilm : 1375138 ; Lines
43-49, "Thomas C. Smart"
Thomas C. Smart, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 42 yrs old (DOB 1868), 2 Marriage, Married 7 yrs (DOM 1903), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Labor farmer, Can read and write, Rents home
Mary Smart, Wife, F, W, 30 yrs old (DOB 1880), 1st marriage, Married 7 yrs, 3 children with 1 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Ira W. Smart, Son, M, W, 1 yr 11/12 mos old (DOB 1908), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Arthur Smart, Son, M, W, 16 yrs old (DOB 1894), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Dolpher (sic, Doffer) in cotton mill, Can read and write
Bennie Smart, Son, M, W, 14 yrs old (DOB 1896), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Dolpher (sic, Doffer) in cotton mill, Can read and write
Frank Smart, Son, M, W, 12 yrs old (DOB 1898), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Dolpher (sic, Doffer) in cotton mill, Can read and write
Pierson Barbee (sic), Brother-in-law, M, W, 22 yrs old (DOB 1888), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Labor for railroad, Can read and write
Thomas C. Smart, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 42 yrs old (DOB 1868), 2 Marriage, Married 7 yrs (DOM 1903), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Labor farmer, Can read and write, Rents home
Mary Smart, Wife, F, W, 30 yrs old (DOB 1880), 1st marriage, Married 7 yrs, 3 children with 1 still living, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Ira W. Smart, Son, M, W, 1 yr 11/12 mos old (DOB 1908), Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Arthur Smart, Son, M, W, 16 yrs old (DOB 1894), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Dolpher (sic, Doffer) in cotton mill, Can read and write
Bennie Smart, Son, M, W, 14 yrs old (DOB 1896), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Dolpher (sic, Doffer) in cotton mill, Can read and write
Frank Smart, Son, M, W, 12 yrs old (DOB 1898), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Dolpher (sic, Doffer) in cotton mill, Can read and write
Pierson Barbee (sic), Brother-in-law, M, W, 22 yrs old (DOB 1888), Single, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Labor for railroad, Can read and write
1920 U.S. Census of Lowder
Street, Albemarle, Stanly County, North Carolina
; Roll : T625_1323 ; Page
: 10A ; Enumeration District : 146 ; Image
: 364 , Lines 34-38 , "Thos Smart"
Thos
Smart, Head, Rents home, M(ale), W(hite), 54 yrs old (DOB 1866),
Married, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in ME, Rapper at
cotton mill
Bennett
Smart, Son, M, W, 25 yrs old (DOB 1895), Single, Can read and write,
Born in NC, Both parents born in ME, Oiler in cotton mill
Frank
Smart, Son, M, W, 20 yrs old (DOB 1900), Single, Can read and write,
Born in NC, Both parents born in ME, Chafer
Jery
Smart (sic Irey Smart aka Ira Smart), Son, M, W, 19 yrs
old (DOB 1901, sic but actually about 1908), Single, Can read and write, Born
in NC, Both parents born in ME, No occupation
Mary
Smart, Wife, F, W, 45 yrs old (DOB 1875), Married, Cannot read or write,
Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Winder in cotton mill
For some reason,
in the 1940 Census, Thomas and Mary Jane
Smart are separated and living with their sons.
1940 U.S.
Census of Cabarrus County, North Carolina; Roll: T627_2882;
Page:6B; Enumeration District: 13-24, Lines 69-71, "Frank Smart"
Frank
Smart, Head, Owns house valued at $2,500, M(ale), W(hite), 40 yrs old
(DOB 1900), Married, Attended school 0 yrs, Born in NC, Lived in rural Cabarrus
County, NC in 1935, Farmer
Lilia
Smart, Wife, F, W, 45 yrs old (DOB 1895), Married, Attended school thru
4th grade, Born in NC, Lived in rural Cabarrus County, NC in 1935, Housework
Thomas
Smart, Father, M, W, 73 yrs old (DOB 1867), Attended school thru 4th
grade, Lived in rural Cabarrus County, NC
1940 U.S.
Census of Lowder St., West and North Albemarle, Stanly County, North
Carolina ; Roll : T627_2975 ; Page : 11B ; Enumeration District
: 84-27 , Lines 48-52, "Ira Smart"
Ira Smart, Head,
Rents house for $15, M(ale), W(hite), 34 yrs old (DOB 1906), Married, Attended
school thru 4th grade, Born in NC, Lived in same place in 1935, Clerk at
general store, Income $1,300
Bertha
Smart, Wife, F, W, 36 yrs old (DOB 1904), Married, Attended high school
2 yrs, Born in NC, Lived in same place in 1935
Louise
Smart, Daughter, F, W, 16 yrs old (DOB 1924), Single, Attends school,
Attended high school 3 yrs, Born in NC, Lived in same place in 1935
Helen
Smart, Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1929), Single, Attends school,
Attended school thru 5th grade, Born in NC, Lived in same place in 1935
Mary
Smart, Mother, F, W, 60 yrs old (DOB 1880), Widowed, Attended school 0
yrs, Born in NC, Lived in same place in 1935
1) James Arthur Smart was born 9/11/1893 in Stanly
County, NC. He married Lorraine
Sherwood Dennis (DOB 10/16/1896 in Newark,
NJ). They had one child, Harry
Clinton Smart. They lived in Panama in the Canal Zone where Arthur Smart was a policeman. He was killed when he
was on his police motorcycle and a car ran him off the road at a high rate of
speed. No charges were ever made. He died on 2/5/1941 in Panama,
C.Z. Lorraine Smart died 12/8/1969 in San Antonio, Bexar County, NC.
1930 U.S. Census of Cristobal, Cristobal District,
Panama Canal Zone ; Roll :
2638 ; Page : 2B ; Enumeration District : 43 ; Image : 503.0 ; FHL microfilm :
2342372, Lines 85, "Arthur Smart"
Arthur Smart, Lodger, M(ale), W(hite), 36 yrs old (DOB 1894), Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Policeman at police station
Arthur Smart, Lodger, M(ale), W(hite), 36 yrs old (DOB 1894), Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, Policeman at police station
1940 U.S. Census of Pedro Miguel town,
Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, Roll :T627_4642 ; Page : 5B ; Enumeration
District : 1-34 , Lines 60-63, "Arthur J. Smart"
Arthur J.
Smart, Head, Rent for $13, M(ale), W(hite), 46 yrs old (DOB 1894),
Married, Attended school thru 8th grade, Born in NC, Policeman for Police and
Fire division
Lorraine S. Smart, Wife, F, W, 41 yrs old (DOB 1899), Married, Attended school thru 8th grade, Born in NJ, No occupation
Harry C. Smart, Son, M, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1934), Single, Attends school, Born in Canal Zone
Frank L. Peters , Stepson, M, W, 21 yrs old (DOB 1919), Single, Attended school 16 yrs, Born in NY, Student Engineer Civil, Special Enginner Division
Lorraine S. Smart, Wife, F, W, 41 yrs old (DOB 1899), Married, Attended school thru 8th grade, Born in NJ, No occupation
Harry C. Smart, Son, M, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1934), Single, Attends school, Born in Canal Zone
Frank L. Peters , Stepson, M, W, 21 yrs old (DOB 1919), Single, Attended school 16 yrs, Born in NY, Student Engineer Civil, Special Enginner Division
New York
Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
1932,
Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1903-1945 ;
Series : T905 ; Roll # : 144 , Lines 28-29, "Arthur Smart"
Arthur Smart, 38 yrs old, M(ale), M(arried), Born in Stanly County, NC on 9/11/1893, Address in U.S.: 162 Depot St., Concord, NC
Lorraine Smart, 33 yrs old, F, M, Born in Newark, NJ on 10/16/1899, Address in U.S.: 162 Depot St., Concord, NC
Name: Arthur Smart
Arrival Date: 4 May 1932
Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana
Age: 38
Birth Date: abt 1894
Birth Place: North Carolina, Stanley
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Cristobal, Canal Zone
Ship Name: Contessa
Arthur Smart, 38 yrs old, M(ale), M(arried), Born in Stanly County, NC on 9/11/1893, Address in U.S.: 162 Depot St., Concord, NC
Lorraine Smart, 33 yrs old, F, M, Born in Newark, NJ on 10/16/1899, Address in U.S.: 162 Depot St., Concord, NC
Name: Arthur Smart
Arrival Date: 4 May 1932
Port of Arrival: New Orleans, Louisiana
Age: 38
Birth Date: abt 1894
Birth Place: North Carolina, Stanley
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Cristobal, Canal Zone
Ship Name: Contessa
Line 6, James Arthur Smart, 40 yrs old,
M(ale), M(arried), Born in Stanly
County, NC on 9/11/1893, Address in U.S. 162 W. Depot St., Concord, NC
Lonamie Sherwood Smart, 35 yrs old, F, M, Born in Newark, NJ on 10/16/1898, Address in U.S. 162 W. Depot St., Concord, NC
Harry C. Smart, 7 mos old, M, Born in Ancon, CZ on 9/19/1933, Address in U.S. 162 W. Depot St., Concord, NC
Port of Departure: Cristbal, cz (Canal Zone)
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Ancon
Lonamie Sherwood Smart, 35 yrs old, F, M, Born in Newark, NJ on 10/16/1898, Address in U.S. 162 W. Depot St., Concord, NC
Harry C. Smart, 7 mos old, M, Born in Ancon, CZ on 9/19/1933, Address in U.S. 162 W. Depot St., Concord, NC
Port of Departure: Cristbal, cz (Canal Zone)
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Ancon
Year: 1940 ; Arrival ; Microfilm Serial: T715 ;
Microfilm Roll: 6492 ; Line: 26 ; Page Number: 144, Lines 26-28, "Arthur
Smart"
Arrival Date: 24 Aug 1940
Port of Departure: Cristobal, Canal Zone, Panama
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Cristobal
Arthur Smart, 46 yrs old, M(ale), M(arried), Born in Albemarle, NC on 9/11/1893, Address in U.S.: Charleston, SC
Lorraine S. Smart, 41 yrs old, F, M, Born in Newark, NJ on 10/16/1898, Address in U.S.: Charleston, SC
Harry Clinton Smart, 6 yrs old, M, S, Born in Ancon, CZ on 9/19/1933, Address in U.S.: Charleston, SC
Arrival Date: 24 Aug 1940
Port of Departure: Cristobal, Canal Zone, Panama
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Cristobal
Arthur Smart, 46 yrs old, M(ale), M(arried), Born in Albemarle, NC on 9/11/1893, Address in U.S.: Charleston, SC
Lorraine S. Smart, 41 yrs old, F, M, Born in Newark, NJ on 10/16/1898, Address in U.S.: Charleston, SC
Harry Clinton Smart, 6 yrs old, M, S, Born in Ancon, CZ on 9/19/1933, Address in U.S.: Charleston, SC
2) George Bennett Smart (aka Crip
Smart) was born 9/2/1895 in Stanly
County, NC. He married Mary
Ethel Boone (DOB 5/22/1898 in Stanly
County, NC to John Franklin Boone, Sr. and Mollie
Eliza Whitley Aldridge) about 1920 in Stanly
County, NC. They had 6 children: Rodeth
Mae Smart, Virginia Sue Smart, Frances Elvene Smart, Arlina Smart, George
Bennett Smart Jr., Bobby Dean Smart. Marty Ethel Smart died 1/8/1952 in Stanly
County Hospital, Albemarle, Stanly County, NC of acute myocardial
infarction due to coronary occlusion due to hypertensive heart disease
(duration 2 yrs). She was buried in Pine Grove United Methodist Church,
28766 Highway 24/27 Albemarle, Stanly County, NC. He was buried with his wife in Pine Grove United Methodist Church.
U.S. World
War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Registration
State: North Carolina;
Registration County: Stanly;
Roll: 1766026, Serial # (cut off), Order # (cut off), Geo. Bennett Smart, DOB 9/2/1895
Geo. Bennett Smart, 21 yrs old
Albemarle, Stanly County, NC
DOB 9/2/1895 in Locust Level, Locust, Stanly County, NC
Occupation: Machinist
Employer: Parker and Harris, Albemarle, Stanly County, NC
Single, Caucasian
32-1-42-A
Tall Slender, Light Blue Eyes, Light Brown Hair
Signed by him on 6/5/1917 in Albemarle, Stanly County, NC
Geo. Bennett Smart, 21 yrs old
Albemarle, Stanly County, NC
DOB 9/2/1895 in Locust Level, Locust, Stanly County, NC
Occupation: Machinist
Employer: Parker and Harris, Albemarle, Stanly County, NC
Single, Caucasian
32-1-42-A
Tall Slender, Light Blue Eyes, Light Brown Hair
Signed by him on 6/5/1917 in Albemarle, Stanly County, NC
1930 U.S. Census of N.C. State Prison Farm, Caledonia,
Halifax, Halifax County, North Carolina ; Roll : 1697 ; Page : 5A ;
Enumeration District : 15 ; Image : 57.0 ; FHL microfilm : 2341431
, Lines 36, "George B. Smart"
George B.
Smart, Prisoner, M(ale), W(hite), 41 yrs old (sic, DOB 1889 ?),
Married at age 31 yrs old (DOM 1920), Can read and write, Born in NC, Both
parents born in NC, Farm labor
1930 U.S. Census of Endy, Stanly County, North
Carolina ; Roll : 1721
; Page : 1A ; Enumeration District : 8 ; Image : 581.0 ; FHL microfilm :
2341455 , Lines 10-18, "Mollie Boone"
Mollie
Boone, Head, Owns home valued at $1,200, F(emale), W(hite), 53 yrs
old (DOB 1877), Divorced, Cannot read or write, Born in NC, Both parents born
in NC, No occupation
John Boone, Son, M,
W, 21 yrs old (DOB 1909), Single, Can read and write, Born in NC, Both parents
born in NC, Oiler at cotton mill
Myrtle
Boone (sic),
Daughter, F, W, 19 yrs old (DOB 1911), Single, Can read and write, Born in NC,
Both parents born in NC, Spinner at cotton mill
J. William
Boone, Grandson, M, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1920), Single, Attends school,
Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Ethel
Smart, Daughter, F, W, 30 yrs old (DOB 1900), Married at age 20 yrs
old (DOB 1920), Cannot read or write, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC, No
occupation
Rodeth
Smart, Granddaughter, F, W, 8 yrs old (DOB 1922), Attends school,
Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Sue Smart,
Granddaughter, F, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1924), Does not attend school, Born in NC,
Both parents born in NC
Elvine
Smart (sic),
Granddaughter, F, W, 4 yrs 5/12 mos old, Born in NC, Both parents born in NC
Arline
Smart (sic),
Granddaughter, F, W, 1 yrs 5/12 mos old, Born in NC, both parents born in NC
1940 U.S. Census of Endy, Stanly County, North Carolina;
Roll: T627_2975; Page: 7B; Enumeration District: 84-8, Lines 45-52, "George
B. Smart"
George B.
Smart, Head, Owns home valued at $80, M(ale), W(hite), 42 yrs old
(DOB 1898), Married, Attended school thru 7th grade, Born in NC, Lived in Rural
Stanly County, NC in 1935, Mechanic garage, Income $1,250
Mary E.
Smart, Wife, F, W, 40 yrs old, Married, Attended school 0 yrs, Born
in NC, Lived in Rural Stanly County, NC in 1935 , Spinner at cotton mill,
Income $465
Rodeth M.
Smart, Daughter, F, W, 18 yrs old (DOB 1922), Single, Attended school
thru 7th grade, Born in NC, Lived in Rural Stanly County, NC in 1935 ,
Housework for private family
Virginia
S. Smart, Daughter, F, W, 16 yrs old (DOB 1924), Single, Attended school
thru 7th grade, Born in NC, Lived in Rural Stanly County, NC in 1935, No
occupation
Frances E.
Smart, Daughter, F, W, 14 yrs old (DOB 1926), Single, Attends school,
Attended school thru 7th grade, Born in NC, Lived in Rural Stanly County, NC in
1935
Arline
Smart (sic),
Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1929), Single, Attends school, Attended school
thru 5th grade, Born in NC, Lived in Rural Stanly County, NC in 1935
George
Smart Jr., Son, M, W,
8 yrs old (DOB 1932), Attends school, Born in NC, Lived in Rural Stanly County,
NC in 1935
Bobby
D. Smart, Son, M, W, 6 yrs old (DOB 1934), Does not attend school, Born in
NC, Lived in Rural Stanly County, NC in 1935
NC Death
Certificate #854, Registration District #2690, George Bennett Smart, DOD 1/15/1965 in Veteran's Administration
hospital, Cross Creek, Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC
Usual
Residence: Route 4, Albemarle,
Stanly County, NC
Male,
White, Widowed, DOB 9/2/1895 in Locust
Level, NC, 69 yrs old
Occupation:
Automobile mechanic
Veteran of
WWI
Father: Thomas Smart, Mother: Kattie Honeycutt (sic), Informant: VA Hospital Records
DOD 1/15/1965 at 11:25pm
Cause of
death: Uremia due to Glomerulonephritis
Burial:
1/17/1965 in Pine Grove Methodist, Stanly
County, NC
3) Edward Franklin Smart (aka Frank Smart, Eddie Frank Smart)
was born 5/29/1899 in Stanly
County, NC. He married Lilia
Mildred Watson (DOB About 1895 in NC).
They had one child, Helen
Smart. Frank Smart died 4/18/1966 in Shelby,
Cleveland County, NC. He is buried at Elizabeth
Baptist Church, 301 North Post Road, Shelby, Cleveland County, NC of acute myocardial infarction.
North
Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000
Name: Eddie Franklin Smart
Event Type: birth
Birth Date: 1899
Birth County: Stanly
Parent1 Name: Thomas Crowell Smart
Roll Number: NCVR_B_C089_66003
Volume: D-2
Page: 177
Event Type: birth
Birth Date: 1899
Birth County: Stanly
Parent1 Name: Thomas Crowell Smart
Roll Number: NCVR_B_C089_66003
Volume: D-2
Page: 177
1940 U.S. Census of Cabarrus County, North
Carolina; Roll: T627_2882; Page:6B; Enumeration District: 13-24, Lines
69-71, "Frank Smart"
Frank
Smart, Head, Owns house valued at $2,500, M(ale), W(hite), 40 yrs old
(DOB 1900), Married, Attended school 0 yrs, Born in NC, Lived in rural Cabarrus
County, NC in 1935, Farmer
Lilia
Smart, Wife, F, W, 45 yrs old (DOB 1895), Married, Attended school
thru 4th grade, Born in NC, Lived in rural Cabarrus County, NC in 1935,
Housework
Thomas
Smart, Father, M, W, 73 yrs old (DOB 1867), Attended school thru 4th
grade, Lived in rural Cabarrus County, NC
U.S. WW II Draft Cards
Young Men, 1898-1929
1942, Record Group: RG 147;
Class: RG147, North Carolina World War II Draft Registration Cards; Box Number:
337, Serial #1427, Order #11371, Edward
Franklin Smart, DOB 5/27/1899
Serial #1427, Edward Franklin Smart, Order #11371
Route 1, Midland, Cabarrus County, NC
42 yrs old, DOB 5/27/1899 in Stanly County, NC
Name and Address Of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Lelia Smart, Route 1, Midland, Cabarrus County, NC
Employer: Farming for self
White, Blue Eyes, Brown Hair, Ruddy Complexion
Signed by his mark on 2/16/1942 in Concord, Cabarrus County, NC
Serial #1427, Edward Franklin Smart, Order #11371
Route 1, Midland, Cabarrus County, NC
42 yrs old, DOB 5/27/1899 in Stanly County, NC
Name and Address Of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Lelia Smart, Route 1, Midland, Cabarrus County, NC
Employer: Farming for self
White, Blue Eyes, Brown Hair, Ruddy Complexion
Signed by his mark on 2/16/1942 in Concord, Cabarrus County, NC
NC Death Certificate #11448, Registration District
#23-00, Eddie Frank Smart,
DOD 4/18/1966 in 908
Parkwood Road, Shelby, Cleveland County, NC (at home)
Male,
White, Married to Mildred
Wilson Smart, DOB 5/29/1899 in NC,
66 yrs old
Occupation:
Driver for Queen City Trailway
Father: Thomas Smart, Mother: Mary Honeycutt, Informant: Mrs. Mildred Smart, 908 Parkwood Road, Shelby, NC
DOD 4/18/1966 at 4:30pm
Cause of
death: Acute myocardial infarction (duration 3 mins)
Buried: 4/20/1966 in Elizabeth,
Shelby, Cleveland County, NC
Thomas next married Mary
Jane Barbee. Mary Barbee was born 3/4/1878 in Stanly
County, NC. Their children were Eugene and Nellie
Smart (DOB 5/1/1912 in Stanly County, NC; DOD 11/3/1912 in Stanly
County, NC) and Ira W.
Smart (DOB About 1908 in Stanly
County, NC). Thomas C.
Smart died 11/28/1948 in Stanly
County, NC of apoplexy. Thomas Smart was buried with his first wife in Locust Presbyterian Church. Mary
Smart died 4/20/1949 of cardiac embolism due to fracture
right femur (3/25/1949), other significant factor was cerebral
arteriosclerosis with psychosis after surgery to pin hip when accidentally fell
in ward. Mary Jane Barbee Smart was
buried with their twins in Canton Baptist Church, 24615 Endy Rd, Endy,
Stanly County, NC.
Okay, I've
set the scene. That is the family background. Why is this family on Thriller
Thursday? There were 2 serious incidents in this family that changed lives
forever.
Here is the article I found online concerning the first event:
1922
Crip Smart Badly Injured By Albert Odell
Crip Smart, a well
known Albemarle man and veteran of the World War, was badly wounded early
Monday morning by Albert Odell,
who is employed by one of the local cotton mills. It is reported that Odell assaulted Smart without warning, that he used a hack
saw which had been sharpened to a keen edge. A bad gash was inflicted across Mr. Smart's neck and throat and
one or two cuts were inflicted across the left side, sixty stitches having been
necessary to sew up the gashes.
It is said
there had been some bad feeling between the parties for some time, although Smart had no reason to suspect such a deadly
assault by Mr. Odell, and
without warning. Odell has been placed under arrest, and will
have a hearing at an early date. Mr. Smart's condition is very serious though
not necessarily fatal.
The second
event was even worse. Here are the newspaper clippings about the second event:
The Stanly
News Herald, Albemarle, NC, 11/23/1928
Frank and 'Crip'
Smart Sentenced to State
Prison 5-7 Years
Judge
Stack Passed
Sentence Thursday Afternoon, 15 Minutes til 3 O'clock; Jury Rendered Verdict
Wednesday Night After Over Two Hours Deliberation
Frank and "Crip"
Smart were sentenced to the
State Penitentiary for not less than five years and no more than seven years by Judge A.M. Stack in Stanly Superior Court here Thursday
afternoon at 15 minutes before 3 o'clock.
The Grand
Jury returned true bills for murder against Frank and "Crip"
Smart, as a result of the automobile accident here on Friday night,
November 2, for which little Frank
Newsome, three year old son of Mr. and Mrs.
Fred Newsome, lost his life.
Solicitor Don Phillips announced at the beginning of the case that he
would not ask for murder in the first degree, but he was asking for murder in
the second degree, or manslaughter, as the evidence in the case should justify.
The jury
returned it's verdict Wednesday night a little after 7 o'clock after having
deliberated for two hours and five minutes. They took the case about 5 o'clock
in the afternoon.
Twenty
three witnesses had been summoned by the State and defense together, but only
part of these were put on the stand. Fred
Newsome, father of the dead child, Frank
Newsome, was first to take the stand. He stated that he had parked his car
near Ed Glover's store and
left his wife and children there while he went inside to do some shopping.
After the shopping he stopped on the sidewalk and engaged in conversation with
a man. He stated he did not hear any noise until the crash.
Silas
Honeycutt, local policeman, said that he arrested Frank and Crip.
Dr. Shaver, local
physician, took the stand and said that he rendered medical attention to Crip some thirty minutes after the
accident, at which time Frank was also present. He stated they had
both been drinking.
J.E.
Fresson then took
the stand and told about seeing the car in which the two defendants were
riding. He said that he judged it was going sixty miles an hour when he saw it.
He saw it crash into the Newsome car, he said. Lucian Crowell swore that Frank Smart came into his barber shop early that
evening before the wreck, and that he appeared to be intoxicated.
Dr. Tally testified as to the Newsome child's injuries. He gave as his
opinion for death resulting that the head had been crushed either by some hard
object, or by falling on the pavement.
Fairly
Huneycutt also
testified as to the speed of the car. He stated that in his opinion when it
crossed the railroad tracks it was making sixty miles or thereabout an hour.
The State
rested at a few minutes past 2 o'clock. Immediately the Defense commenced to
place witnesses on the stand. Arnold
Poplin and W.C. Underwood stated that they carried Frank and Crip
Smart to a local hospital,
and that they did not smell any liquor and that neither appeared to be drunk.
Tom Davis stated that he carried Crip Smart, some time that
night to the hospital where the Newsome child was. Upon entering the hospital,
somebody asked Crip how badly he was hurt, to which he
replied it did not matter about himself, he wanted to know how the injured
child was. He also cited that Crip did not appear to be drinking, and
that if he was intoxicated, he could not detect it. He also said that Crip told Mr.
Newsome if there was anything
he could do, that he would be glad to do it.
Crip Smart himself was then put on the stand. He remained
there for a good while, the State having put him through a considerable cross
examination. Crip's
version of the affair was that he had been up to town to get some medicine for
some of his sick children. While in the drug store, his brother Frank came in and asked him for his car to
go to Concord to see his sister. He agreed to let him have it, and they had
been to Crip's place of
business to fill the same up with gas and oil and were on their way back to
town, where Crip was to get his medicine, when the
accident occurred.
Crip stated that he had not drank or touched a drop
of liquor all that day. He said that Frank was not drunk, and if he had been
drinking, he did not know it. Crip said that there was an Oakland car
coming down the street, and Frank pulled over to miss it, and so hit the Newsome car.
It was the
middle of the afternoon before the evidence was all in. The counsel for both
sides started delivering their speeches. After the speeches, Judge Stack charged the jury...
During the
hearing of this case, some of Albemarle's most distinguished citizens were
present, they being friends of the defendants. A.C. Heath was there among others, having taken
his seat in the bar near Frank and Crip,
where he remained during the trial.
This sad
story resulted in prison time for, at least, Crip Smart. I found
him in the 1930 U.S. Census serving time in N.C.
State Prison Farm, Caledonia, Halifax, Halifax County, North Carolina. I
was not able to find Frank
Smart in the 1930 census at
all. I searched all the prisoners in the NC State Prison where Crip was but saw no "Frank Smart".
Nor did I find him anywhere else. But he shows up in the 1940 U.S. Census where he is married, no children listed. His father is living with him and his wife. It was such a tragedy and it seems the Smarts were very sorry it happened. It seemed
to be up in the air whether it was an accident or a drunk driving accident.
Either way the Newsomes lost their little boy and I'm sure everyone involved suffered.
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