Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-07-27
MOURNING FOR SMITH.
Another Good Man Gene--Guilty Oh
Forgery, kidnapping and Other
Little Discrepancies.

A stifed rtlmor leaked out last Friday
to the knowledge Of few that Mr.. Z. d.
Smith had skipped the country. Dlllgent
inquiries have since been made by DEM
ocRAT reporter to learn the true facts,
which, unembellished, are as follows !:
c.. J. Smith, as real estate and insurance
agent, Sabbath School superintendent,
teacher. missionary to the Penitentiary,
and active worker in the Blue Ribbon
Temperance work OF this city, IS well
known. He came to Utah less than two
wears ago, and worked for some
time at the Lake salt works, as
section hand on the railroad, and
then worked into acquantalnceshlp
until he became partner with Whlte,
McAllister & Company, real estate
dealers. He was passionately fond OF
bows, and conducted a class OF them IN
Sunday school. When the split occurred
in the Congregational church, Smith
Joined the Presbyterian Westminster FAC
ton, and always labored in every move
Nothing ever occurred to cause sus-
picion, privately or otherwise, until lew
weeks ago. when Mr.. White considered
he was spending more money than the
business justified him in doing, and
dissolution of partnership took place
short time since.
Mr.. Smith was of an affable turn OF
mind, and not only fascinated children
into his graces, but he in turn would ire
uuently, say, 81 am a crank on boys.
Bv urgent coaxing he was allowed the
care of Willie Anderson and James Luke
by their parents, VINO thought they would
soon get tired OF Mr. Smith and re-
turn home. He kept these fourteen
year-old boys all last winter
and they often did chores, such as run
ming errands about town, teedlng the
chickens and looking after the horses;
Last Wednesday morning Smith and
Willie Anderson started to go to the lake
for days sport. They didn't return at
night, and nothing was heard
of their whereabouts or learned
of Smiths intentions until he was
met in Ogden by q citizen OF Salt Lake,
and afterwards recognized on an east
bound train passing through Evanston;
Not returning, questions arose which led
to the discovery that he had kidnapped
the boy, skipped the country, his cred
itors and several friends, who are now
bowling mad.
1t is learned to-day that Smith forged
the name of gentleman in this city to a
note of $3.50, for thirty days, placing his
own signature underneath. This was
done on the 10th of last June. while the
gentleman whose name was forged was
away from the city. On returning and
learning of the affair, he called on Mr..
Smith and demanded an immedi-
ate settlement. Smith gave him
bill of sale of his horses,
wagons and household furniture, which
fully covered the indebtedness to him.
Several grocers claim small amounts,
among whom are Mr.. Harper, Mr.. Kel-
sey and others.
To relate all the smooth methods re-
sorted to by this deceiver, who was kind
ly treated by all the best people OF Salt
Lake, would take q great deal OF space.
His manner was to Obligate people to
him at any sacrifice. He had morbid
desire for popularity, and courted it on
all hands A lady residing on Second
South street claims to have loaned Smith
several hundred dollars, which sums
have not as yet been RENTED. As
generous, enterprising man, all speak we'll
of Mr. Smith, but admit they have been
grandlv taken in by hypocrite of the
slickest sort. Mr.. White reports nothing
wrong with the FIRMS accounts so far as
discovered, and seemed astonished that
Mr.. Smith should have taken such course
Several kilograms have been sent to in
tercept Smith, and the parents of Willie
Anderson are determined in their efforts
to recover their child. -