Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-08-14
SMITH, THE HoRsE-THIEF.

OUR CHIEF OF POLICE NEVER LETS GO
HIS GRIP--TRAILS THE HORSES TO
BALTIMORE AND WAsHINGTON-THE
DEADwOoD AT L4AsT--CHRIsTIAN s
AND PARENTS HORSES RECOVERED.
Several months since we gave the details
of the arrest in this city, of one J. III.
Smith, alias James W. Glass, on the charge
of horse stealing, and his attempt to shoot
J. T. Parent, Chief of Police, and at sun
dry times since, the trial of Smith for car
rying concealed weapons-his acqulttal-
the Identification of Smith, alias Glass,
alias Hamler, alias Dorse, who escaped
from the jail at Parkersburg, where he had
been incarcerated for horse stealing, the
breaking jail at Campbell Courthouse,
under the name of James W. Glass, as far
back as November, 1867, where he was
charged with horse stealing, the removal
of Smith to Lexington, where he is held to
answer an Indictment for the theft OF the
horse of Mr.. Marion Parent, OF Rock
bridge county.
The Chief of Police believed he was an
old offender when he arrested him, but af-
ter several weeks earnest efforts failed,
though still satisfied as to his man, to OBJ
tain positive proofs to mplicate him in the
stealing he suspected him Of Delay was
necessary to get evidence as well as to
prevent his being taken on a requisition to
West Virginia. Hence the indictment fol
carrying concealed weapons, and then his
final removal to Lexington and Indictment
there.
This delay has proved most successful
Chief Parent never let 60 his grip, but
continued his efforts. He believed Smith
had operated in the lower Valley, and
proceeded to Winchester. There he found
supposed trace Of the Marion Parent
mare, which had been traded to Mr.. Mere
dith Capper, and sold to a gentleman in
Baltimore, and Of John Christians black
horse, which had been sold by William L.
Wall q Co., auctioneers Of Washington,
only after a telegraphic correspondence
with Levi Grim and -- Houseworth,
of Winchester, and the endorsement by
them of Smith, whom they believed to be a
regular trader and all right.
Being thus clearly satisfied that he was
Oh the right track, Chief Parent, inMom-
pany with Mr. John Christian, of Augusta
county, and MI. Meredith Capper, of Win
chester, left for Washington and Balti-
more.
from thn aJ1at iOnlnrS IN
Washington that Mr.. Christians horse
had been sold to Mr. James Chatham,
Livery Stable Keeper, in Alexandria,
whittier Mr.. Parent went. On the infor-
nation that Mr.. Christians horse was in
the possession of Judge Wiley, in Wash
ington, MI. Parent returned, and found
Judge Wiley, and Oh examination found
the black horse in his possession was not
Mr. Christians. Nothing daunted, back
to Alexandria went Chief Parent and MI.
Christian, and found the horse at work in
a brickyard. After some quibling the
horse, being fully identified by Mr.. Chris
tian. was given up. MI. Parent then hur-
ried to Baltimore, and with the assistance
Of detective Carroll, of the Police force,
soon found the mare in the possession of a
MI. Simpson, who had traded for her, and
who, on Chief Parents describing, with
out seeing her, even to the scar from slit
in the lower lid of the left eye, gave her
up also, and thus by continued effort both
horses were recovered, and the question Of
Smith S having stolen them-by the links
Of evidence in possession of Chief Parent |
from the time they were stolen, to their
final recovery in Alexandria and Balti- !
more, was settled incontestably in the af-
irmatiye. Smith is evidently an extern
sive operator. He will now have to take
his chances, before the Courts of Augusta
and Rockbridge, of learning a more honest
trade under Colonel Strother, of the |
Virginia Penitentiary.