Murder at Owen Sound

_A harmless joke at a man's appetite leads to a fatal quarrel._ Owen Sound, Feb. 8.--To night about 10 o'clock one of the most horrible crimes ever known in the vicinity of Owen Sound was committed. A colored man named Smoots, about 23 years of age, lost his life at the hands of another negro named Phillip Roy in the house of a colored man named Johnson. It appears Roy and Smoots came to Johnson's house to night, both under the influence of liquor, Johnson being absent, not having returned from work. When he entered the house Roy was eating at the table and Smoots making jokes at the quantity of food he ate. This led to a quarrel, when Roy attacked Smoots, who knocked Roy down. The latter got up, and after wiping the blood off his face started for the door with an oath. Smoots hearing this started after him, following him out, when Roy turned on him with some sharp instrument gave him a terrible cut in the neck below the ear. Smoots was taken in the house and a doctor sent for but before one could arrive he had expired. The police were notified and two constables despatched to the scene, who succeeded in arresting Roy. Dr. McCullough examined the body and found a great gash about two inches long right below the left ear. On examination he declared the carotid artery had been severed. An inquest will be held to-morrow.