Dr. Charles Maurice Smith, (USA)

Extracted from The Evening Star (Washington, D.C.) September 18, 1903 page 3 The announcement today of the death of Mr. Charles Maurice Smith, one of the best-known and best-liked lawyers of this city, came in the nature of a severe shock to members of the bar and the public generally. Mr. Smith passed away at 8:30 o'clock this morning at Garfield Hospital. The majority of his friends had no idea that he was even ailing. He returned here Wednesday of last week after a vacation of one month, spent at Blue Ridge Springs, Va., and declared joyfully that he had rid himself of certain minor ills and never felt better in his life. He complained Wednesday afternoon of pains in the stomach, and attributed the same to change of water. He remained at his home Thursday, and grew worse, to the extent that it was found necessary to remove him to Garfield Hospital, which was done at 1 o'clock Friday morning. The trouble was diagnosed as appendicitis. An operation was at once undertaken, and was completed before 4 o'clock the same morning. The patient's condition improved steadily, and day before yesterday he felt so much better that his wife was permitted to see him. Kidney trouble then developed with the result that death occurred this morning.

It is conceded that Mr. Smith was one of the most successful attorneys who ever practiced in the District of Columbia, his record as a criminal lawyer being of the best. He represented the defense in twenty-eight homicide cases, and none of his clients were executed. He thereby attained a distinction enjoyed by few, if any, of his fellow lawyers.

Charles Maurice Smith attended William and Mary College and studied law and was admitted to the bar in Virginia and practiced for a time before the courts in Richmond and elsewhere in that state. He was admitted to the local bar and began the practice of his profession soon after coming here to live.

The deceased was born fifty-two years ago in Dinwiddie county, Va. When twenty-one years of age he came here from Richmond and made his home in this city since. His father was Dr. E. Harry Smith, at one time United States consul at Naples, and who served during the civil war as a surgeon in the Union army. The battle of Five Forks, one of the last engagements of the great strife, was fought on Dr. Smith's property. The deceased was a brother of the late John Ambler Smith, who at one time represented the Richmond district in Congress and married Miss Anna Lewis, daughter of John F. Lewis, a celebrated Indiana fighter of Virginia, and the half-sister of former Senator Lewis of Virginia and sister of District Attorney Lunsford L. Lewis of Richmond, who was formerly presiding judge of the superior court of appeals of Virginia.

Mr. Smith was caused great and lasting grief about four years ago by the death of his only son, who was at the time thirteen years of age. The son was a bright and promising lad and the constant companion of his father. The latter never recovered from the shock.

Mrs. Smith and one daughter, Miss Lottie Lomas Smith survive him.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 7 2021, 21:48:41 UTC

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Jul 7 2021, 21:50:28 UTC