"BROODING OVER HIS PHYSICAL CONDITION"

AIDE TO AG HARRY DAUGHERTY DEAD BY SUICIDE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 30, 1923, Jess Smith*, personal aide to Harry Daugherty, committed suicide in the Attorney General's apartment at the Wardman Park Hotel** here in the Nation's Capital.

Mr. Smith, described by The Evening Star as "a member of the inner circle of Washington's official life," had been "brooding" over his physical condition which included diabetes and kidney problems.

A gunshot was heard at 6:40 a.m. and Mr. Smith, 51 years old, was found lying in the floor beside his bed with a 32 revolver in his right hand.

*Jess W. Smith (1871-1923) was born in Washington Court House, Ohio & became chief advisor to AG Harry M. Daugherty.  Before going to Washington, JWS was a successful owner of a department store.  He was a member of President Harding's 'Ohio Gang.'

**Wardman Park Hotel was built between 1917 & 1918 by Harry Wardman & designed by Frank Russell White.  It was the largest hotel in Washington at the time with 8 stories & 1200 rooms. 

SOURCE

"Jessie W. Smith Suicide In Apartment of Attorney General," The Evening Star, May 30, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Jessie W. Smith

Dec 7 1920

Library of Congress

"SOUTH CAROLINA SOCIETY VOICES OPPOSITION"

GROUP OPPOSES REMOVAL OF JACKSON STATUE FROM LAFAYETTE SQUARE

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On March 26, 1923, the Washington Times reports members of the South Carolina Society* voiced opposition to "the removal of the statue of Andrew Jackson from its place in Lafayette Square."

The opposition was expressed at the annual banquet of the society held at Wardman Park Hotel** the previous evening.

Speeches were given by Col. Wade H. Cooper, Congressman Roland B. Mahaney of New York, and Congressman Morrison of Indiana.

JFK+50 NOTE

There has always been some question about Andrew Jackson's birthplace.  Was it in present day North Carolina or South Carolina?  According to many sources, AJ was born in the Waxhaws settlement of the colonial Carolinas.

The Hermitage website, however, gives Lancaster, South Carolina as the 7th POTUS's birthplace.  The members of the South Carolina Society must have agreed.  Despite his Carolina roots, Andrew Jackson would migrate to Nashville, Tennessee where he built his home, The Hermitage.  

Andrew Jackson is one of 3 POTUS claimed by the Volunteer State, the others being James K. Polk & Andrew Johnson although none of the three were born in Tennessee. 

*South Carolina Society is a social & benevolent organization established in Charleston in 1737 by Huguenots who were mostly artisans & small merchants.  In 1804, SCS built a hall on Meeting Street in Charleston.

**The Wardman Park Hotel opened in 1918, an 8 story red brick building with 1200 rooms & 625 baths, the largest hotel at the time in Washington, D.C.

SOURCES

"Childhood, Spark from the Start," Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, www.thehermitage.com/

"Jackson Statue Removal Opposed By S.C. Society," The Washington Times, March 26, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

Marriott Wardman Park Tower

June 30 2009

Photo by Jurgen Matern

CC-BY-SA