A numberless house in Morehampton Rd today
Thomas Herbert Smith was the occupier of 117 Morehampton Road. He was murdered aged 46 years old and leaves a widow and three children.
1873 born Dublin South, Vol 7, p 733
1908 Jul/Sep marriage of Thomas Herbert Smith. Dublin North registration district volume 2 page 467- fits with married 2 years from 1911 census. to Anna M A Jones
1911 census Thomas Herbert Smith, aged 38, is living with his wife Anna Marie Antoinette and 1 year old so Percival William Webster Smith. He is the manager of a Painters and Decorator, C Jones & sons. Their home is at 4 Drumcondra Park, Dublin.
Thom's 1914 Directory gives C. Jones & Sons painting contractors & builders, 114 Stephen's Green
At the inquest, his wife said that he had been to Australia and made money there.
1920 Nov 21 Six IRA killers arrived at 117 Morehampton Road, Donnybrook. The gunmen pushed past 10-year-old Percival Smith, the boy we first encountered as a baby in Drumcondra, and shot three men in front of him, including his father. Thomas Herbert Smith died along with Lieutenant Donald Lewis MacLean,and MacLean's brother-in-law, John Caldow. The three men were taken into the hallway and about to be shot, when MacLean asked that they not be shot in front of his wife. The three were taken to the roof, where they were shot by Vinnie Byrne and Seán Doyle. Caldow survived his wounds and fled to his home in Scotland.
IRA men present include
Hansard reports At Briama, 117, Morehampton-road. Just before nine a party of between twelve and twenty armed men knocked at the door and it was opened by a boy of ten years, the son of Mr. Smith, the householder. They rushed into the house and dragged Mr. Smith and Captain MacLean (who were in bed with their wives) into a front spare bedroom. Mr. Caldow, the brother of Mrs. MacLean, was thrust in beside them, and all three were shot in cold blood. Captain McLean and Mr. Smith were dead before an ambulance could arrive. Mr. Caldow is seriously wounded. Mr. Thomas Herbert Smith, already described as the landlord, was a man of about forty-five years of age and leaves a wife and three children. Captain MacLean, who served with the Rifle Brigade during the war along with his brother-in-law, Mr. John Caldow, a native of Prestwick, Scotland, had come to Ireland with a view of securing employment in the police. Captain MacLean leaves a wife and child. Both Mrs. Smith and Mrs. MacLean were in the house when their husbands were murdered. It is said that the assassins dragged their victims to an empty room to murder them, as Captain MacLean, when overpowered, implored them not to murder him under his wife's eyes. On completing their dastardly work the murderers rushed out of the house and disappeared.
Smith’s wife stated at the military inquiry : I saw some men coming up the stairs, who appeared to number about 20, with revolvers in their hands. They then told me to put my hands up and my husband came out on the landing and asked for a little time to put on some clothes, which they granted. I then asked if I could go into my baby in the next room and they pushed me roughly into it. I then heard about 8 shots. A minute or two later I heard John Caldow (who was staying with us) call out Kate (meaning his sister, Mrs MacLean) run for the doctor. I then came out and saw John Caldow in [the] entrance to the room, lying on his back wounded. I passed him and saw my husband lying very badly wounded and Mr MacClean dead. My husband had no regular occupation and owned property. His age was 47. He did not take part in politics, but was very friendly with Captain MacClean who had just resigned from the army.
Smith died later from the wounds to his chin, chest, buttock, and hip. These men were shot in a spare room at the front of the house when MacClean begged not to be killed in front of his wife
1935 Ironically the Street Directory lists Charles Dalton as living in Morehampton Road..
1944 Civil index marriage for Percival W.W. Smith in Dublin South : Apr - Jun 1943 Volume: 2. Page 421