Jess Smith
| Jess Smith | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 1871 |
| Died | May 30, 1923 (aged 52) Washington D.C. |
| Other names | Jesse W. Smith; Judge |
| Known for | Ohio Gang |
Jesse W. "Jess" Smith (1871 – May 30, 1923) was a member of President Warren G. Harding's Ohio Gang. He was born and raised in Washington Court House, Ohio, where he became a friend of Harry M. Daugherty. There, Daugherty helped him to become the successful owner of a department store. Smith became Daugherty's gofer during the 1920 campaign.
Smith came to Washington as an aide to Daugherty as U.S. Attorney General. He had a desk at the Department of Justice, but no official title. He nevertheless wielded considerable influence.
He was also Daugherty's roommate at Washington, D.C.'s Wardman Park Hotel. Daugherty's wife had remained behind in Columbus because of illness; Smith was divorced.
Smith's activities (it's said he sold bonded liquor to bootleggers, and was associated with a house at 1625 K Street, later to become notorious as the Little Green House on K Street) became an embarrassment to Harding and Daugherty as the Teapot Dome scandal focused increased scrutiny on Harding and his supporters. Before leaving for Alaska, Harding told Daugherty he wanted Smith out of Washington.
On May 30, 1923, Smith died of a gunshot wound, and was found with a pistol at his side. His death was pronounced a suicide, but Alabama Senator James Thomas Heflin alleged otherwise, first at an investigatory hearing and later from the floor of the United States Senate.
"Nobody else knew what he [Smith] knew and with him dead there was nobody to tell the story — so Jesse Smith was murdered," said Senator Heflin, initially.
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