Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-04-06
From the New York Com. Adv.

From the New York Com Adv.
DETECTION OF SMITH.-The following
plain narrative has been brought to us by
the Counsel for Mr.. Bangs, for publica
ton. As the publication would unavoid
ably be made, though many of the cir
cumstances. may probably come under
oath before a jury, we see no lmpropric-
ty in our giving it an insertion without any
comment.
On Monday, 2lst inst. between and
8o'clock, A. NJ. Smith came to my house
with his baggage, in company with a
cartman, and inquired of Mrs Bangs it,
he could have board-statcd he had just
arrivcd--was shown room and bedroom,
which suited him, and the carman bro't
in his baggage. lie called himself Jones
stated he had considerable business to
transact while in the city, and would re-
Quire his meals in his room, for which he
would pay extra. Soon after person
called and inquired whether Mr.. Jones
had taken board there, and was shown to
his room, where he remained a few min
utcs. The same person continued to call
several times daily to see him. Jones
pretended that he had much writing to do,
and therefore did not wish to be Interrupt
ted. Mrs. Bangs, woman like, soon sus-
pected that all was not correct, and com
municatcd her suspicious to ne, and to
several other persons.
On Friday morning, about 9 o'clock,
the servant on bringing his breakfast
things down, observed, that MIR. Jones
would not want any thing till dinner, and
did not wish to be disturbed, as he had
some particular business to transact with
gentleman that morning. Soon there
after the same person who had before WIS.,
tied him, called, and went up to his room,
and remained there till after two o'clock
Mrs Bangs discovered from the yard
that the shutters were closed, except half
u shutter, which admitted no light-her
suspicious increased, and she went to her
door and icigned a pretcncc to ask him
if he wished pitcher of water, and at
the same time attempted to open the door,
for the purpose of seeing what they were
doing; she found the door locked and he
answered her enquiries that he wanted
nothing. He sent by the servant girl half
dollar down for an extra dinner for the
gentleman and with orders to have the
table set below. Mrs Bangs suspicion
incrcascd-whenI | came home, she re-
pcated her suspicious. | concluded to
get an officer at once, and search to as
certain if any thing was wrong, but my
wife appeared afraid of getting into diff
ficulty, and persuaded me to delay till
something more certain could be discov
cred. In the evening, | communicate
to counsel our suspicion, and he thought
/ had enough 30 warrant a search, but adj
vised if there appeared no danger of his
taking his things away, to delay till the
next day, to see if any thing more GER
tain could be discovered.
On Saturday morning left word with
Mrs Bangs, if any thing more should be
discovered to send immediately to the
shop for him. Nothing occurred till said
Jones returned in the afternoon about >
or o'clock, with small trunk, and ear
ly in the evening he went out with 1t un-
der his cloak Mrs. Bangs went up
stairs to his room to see what she could
discover, and then discovered that he had
packed up his clothes, brushes, sc. which
before had lain about the room, and had
strapped up his trunks, s,apparcntly to move.
She then sent for me, and communicated
what she had discovered This deter
mined me to act. called upon neigh
Dor, stated to him what we had discover
ed, Mrs. Bangs suspicious and my belief
that this person was the bank robber, and
my determination to take him, and exam
inc his trunks, and cnquircd of him where
Hays, with whom | was totally unac-
quaintcd, lived.
My neighbor iniormcdmc that he knew
Hays, and would go with me to him, and
he did so. My ncighbor introduced me
to Hays, to whom stated the cause of
my suspccting that the said Jones was the
Bank Robber or concerned in the robbie
ry. On making the statement to Hays
he inauircd--"whcthcr | wished him to
go with me, to which repllcd--"ccr-
tainly, that is what | came here for, =,
Hays then turned to his son, and asked
him il he would walk up with him. Hays