Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Murder of James E. Smith



At 2 a.m. on August 15, 1961, 31-year-old James Smith went to work at the Hi Joy Bowling Alley in Port Orchard, Washington. James was working as a custodian for the bowling alley at the time. At 8 a.m. other staff of the bowling alley arrived and found James lying on the floor near the register counter. He had been assaulted and then struck in the head multiple times with a hatchet or axe.

A back window of the business was broken. Nothing was stolen, but it's believed that James may have interrupted a robbery and struggled with the intruder.

SOURCES
Port Orchard
Longview Daily News August 16, 1961

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