On an April afternoon in 1921, Eula Bass and her friend, Mrs. Lee Howard were sitting in her car enjoying ice cream on their lunch hour. The two friends worked in the city of Memphis, Tennessee at Kraus Cleaners on Madison Avenue. Around 12:30 pm, Mr. H.L. Smith approached the car and whispered something in Eula’s ear. What exactly he said remains a mystery to this day…
Mr. H.L. Smith was no stranger to Eula. Eula knew Mr. Smith, 42, from her hometown of Senatobia, Mississippi where she worked for him in his jewelry store for a short time. She was also good friends with one of his four daughters. Sometime in 1920, Eula moved from Senatobia to take a business course and was working as a clerk at Kraus. She was living in a boarding house on Union Avenue and for a young 21 year old girl – the future was bright. However, it was reported that Mr. Smith closed his business in Senatobia, moved his wife and four daughters and followed Eula to Memphis where he had been known to call Eula by telephone several times at the cleaners. The extent of his obsession with Eula was not clear until this particular day in April when he arrived to confront her as she was on her break.
After H.L. Smith spoke to Eula, Mrs. Lee Howard and Eula got out of the car and proceeded to walk away from Mr. Smith. He followed the two friends. At the corner of Orleans and Madison, Smith caught up to Eula and fired his pistol at her before turning the gun on himself. When he realized that he had failed to hurt himself and was out of bullets, he ran. Several bystanders made chase. Eula was quickly whisked away in one of Mr. Kraus’ cars and taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital.
Smith was caught by several men and held until the police could arrive to arrest him.
As Smith sat in a jail cell beaten and bruised by the mob that chased him, Eula fought for her life. She was shot in the abdomen – how many times is unclear, although some news reports indicated four shots. Despite all efforts from the physicians at the hospital, Eula passed away around 12:00 pm on Thursday, April 7, 1921. Her death certificate stated that the cause of death was “gun shot of abdomen – liver, stomach, etc. Homicide”.
According to multiple newspaper articles, Smith was insanely jealous of Eula which prompted him to such a vicious act. An article printed in the April 7, 1921 edition of the Tate County Democrat, quoted Smith moaning from his jail cell, “I love her better than anything or anyone on earth and I wanted to see her change her ways” and that he had also said on several occasions “that he was not pleased when other men showed her attention”. Smith was known to be rather eccentric and had been in trouble with the law before in Senatobia.
While Smith spent the night of April 6, 1921 in a jail cell, he was not told of Eula’s condition. It was not until Thursday, April 7, 1921 that Smith was told roughly two hours after Eula passed away that she had succumbed to her injuries. The April 8, 1921 edition of the Commercial Appeal published a report that indicated Smith was told shortly before being arraigned in court on first degree murder charges. It was said that he was in shock and repeatedly said “is it true – is it true?” Before anyone could stop him, Smith ran toward the steps in the police headquarters and leaped over the railing head first. He was sent to the hospital, but never regained consciousness and died later that afternoon. Smith’s wife, Minnie and his four daughters stayed by his side at the hospital. Mrs. Smith was said to have forgiven her husband the night before and was quoted in the same article as saying “He’s my husband. I love him and though he did wrong. I forgive him”. She had even brought him two quilts, a blanket and a pillow to help make him more comfortable in his jail cell.
I cannot imagine the heartbreak that Mrs. Minnie Smith endured in such a short time – to know her husband was a murderer that was in love with a young woman and then for him to take his own life with no regard to her or their four daughters…
In the same Commercial Appeal article mentioned earlier, a note was printed written by Mr. H.L. Smith on a piece of brown wrapping paper, “I want every man and woman to take my advice and avoid the primrose path. Don’t lure each other into sin. It has ruined my own home and life forever. Be true to your home, your wife and your children. All that I have done through human weakness. I want your prayers and the prayers of all the good people of Memphis. I appeal to them not to allow my wife and children to suffer. Oh, that I could get back with my wife and dear daughters again.”
Eula Bass was the daughter of James Govie and Mary Victoria Bass. She had two sisters and one brother. Eula was known throughout Senatobia as a respectable and genuine young lady. The Bass family had lived in Senatobia for almost 10 years at the time of Eula’s death. Mr. Bass worked as a Ginner at the Cotton Gin and was working as a nightwatchman at the City Light Plant in 1921. He was known to be a very hard working man and was well respected in spite of his meager earnings. The outpouring of love for the Bass family after the death of their dear Eula was evident as reported in the April 7, 1921 edition of the Tate County Democrat, “Our people can do much to help this worthy family in this hour of need without anyone being inconvenienced. Just a dollar or two from each family will be enough.”
In the April 14, 1921 edition of the Tate County Democrat, the article of Miss Eula Bass’ funeral said it best – “The little house was packed to overflowing with friends of Mr. and Mrs. Bass who came to pay tribute to their daughter’s stainless life and express their grief a the terrible tragedy. A lengthy funeral cortege followed the remains to their last resting place. After the burial the grave was completely covered with beautiful flowers manifesting the love of our people for this heartbroken family.”
A letter from their former pastor, Rev. A.T. Cinnamond was printed in this article which so eloquently sums up this tragic story “My heart goes out to you, in this hour of deep sorrow in the sad and tragic death of your dear daughter, Eula. I know your hearts must be well-nigh broken on account of her cruel murder. She was so gentle and good, I always loved her, and I know how fondly your hearts twined about her and what a comfort she was to you. Her face radiated goodness and sweetness, like a sunbeam. As her pastor for a number of years, I bear witness to her pure and upright Christian character which gives me the assurance that she was in no way to blame for the act of the wicked madman that caused her sad death. That must be a sweet consolation to you, as is the knowledge that she trusted in God, and had lived a consistent Christian life, since early childhood. May God bless and comfort you as only He can do.”
When I read about this horrible tragedy, I visited the grave of Miss Eula Bass at Bethesda Cemetery in Senatobia, Mississippi. To my horror, this is the current condition of her final resting place. In the next article, I plan to document the respectful restoration of this gravestone. Until next time…
This is such a sad story that reveals the fascination of Mr.Smith with a sweet girl named Eula Bass. This fascination lead him to murdering her. Cindy has researched and told this sad story in such a remarkable way that I couldn’t stop reading. I’m looking forward to her restoration of the monument of Eula Bass. It is in such a terrible condition at this point.
Her baby sister married my Great-Uncle, Weissinger Williams.
I’m in tears. This was the best one yet Cindy! You’ve outdone yourself and did her story justice.