Murder (and rape) of Tillie Smith in April 1886 at Centenary Collegiate Institute, Hackettstown, New Jersey. Largely circumstantial evidence. Confessed before scheduled execution. Served 19 years of hard labor at New Jersey State Prison. Paroled December 1904. His wife had died shortly before his release.
Background
James J. Titus (1857–1952) was convicted in the 1886 murder of Tillie (Matilda) Smith, a kitchen worker at Centenary Collegiate Institute in Hackettstown, New Jersey. The evidence was largely circumstantial amid heavy public and yellow journalism pressure. He confessed shortly before his scheduled hanging. Sentenced to hard labor, he served 19 years and was paroled in December 1904. He lived the rest of his life in the Hackettstown area until age 95.
Sources & Verification
Convicted 1886 in New Jersey for the murder of Tillie Smith. Paroled December 1904. Died June 18, 1952 age 95. Buried Union Cemetery, Hackettstown. Find a Grave memorial 24400849: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24400849/james_j-titus (includes marker photo). Additional: http://www.murderbygaslight.com/2015/01/she-died-in-defense-of-her-honor.html and Centenary University archives. Same cemetery as victim (hundreds of feet apart per accounts).
All information on this site is drawn from publicly available records. We strongly recommend verifying directly with the cemetery and primary sources before making any decisions.
No other flagged graves found within 5 miles of this location in our current database.