St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-09
WHERE IS JAMES J. smith?
His Friends Are Looking for the Gentle
Jim.
HAS HE SKIPPED OUT
The Ex-License Inspector and Ex-Law
and Order Chief Is il
Demand.
Where is James ]. Smith?

Some of his friends are anXiously
looking for him and would like to know
where he is quietly lurking, waiting for
the clouds to roll by.
So far as known he has committed no
criminal act, and it is mere matter of
borrowing the money and names of his
friends, but these friends are anxiously
inquiring where Jim is and how much
they can save out of the wreck. The
accomplished delineator of Irish
heroes, the tireless and remorselesS
searcher for blind pigs and the high
moral head and front OF the Law and
Order league is in great demand.
For over week past there have been
many stories atioat among his confdants
and familiars, touching the singular
conduct of j. j. Smith. Since the en-
tertainment given by the Crusaders
society at the Peoples theater, Smith,
who handled the funds, has been in
greater demand then ever, and while
there is no evidence that he miSappro-
prlated any of the money, it is
the general belief that no settle
ever been made. The Crusaders
are very loyal and if every cent were
missing not one word would escape
their lips that could reflect ON Smith.
just after that performance, Smith was
hurriedly called to Boston, and upon
his return he has great stories to tell of
his adventures. He said he had gone
over into Canada, and while there heard
two Orangemen yell: ''Down with the
pope! Whereupon he had unmerci-
fully thrashed them; that Canadian
detectives were now on his track and
he was lying low to avoid them. This
yarn is very generally discredited,
though without any specific reason.
Some time ago Smith represented that
he had bought an eighty-acre tract at
FaXon, in Sibley county. and borrowed
money to pay mortgages and Interest.
McGolrick both loaned money to him,
and it is known that M. w. Nash, w.
}. Sheehan, w. II. DOnahue and others
have given him money and gone on his
paper, which has since been pro-
tested. HE might easily have
gotten $500 out of me-" said MIR.
Sheehan, INSTEAD of $3.50, for | had
every confidence in him." II Endorsed
a $3.50 note for him, which went to pro-
test" said M. w. Nash, but he would
not express any opinion, save that he
''believed Smith had skipped out"
Rhv. James McGolrick was indisposed
to talk on the subject, and merely said
that he did not believe there was any
disposition to arrest Smith, or bring
him back to a settlement. 1t
appears that Smith, who was APP
parently very devOut in his church
duties, used this to borrow money from
equally devOut members. His latest
appeals were based on the statement
that he had bought house on Western
avenue and needed the money to pay
for it. Where he is is not known. but it
was stated that he had gone to Mandan,
Oak. 1t was also stated that he had
borrowed at least $1,000, and full re-
turns might swell it very considerably.
The general impression is that he has
left the city, though there are still those
who are of the opinion he will return
and settle.
James j. Smith is quite well-known
character in both Minneapolis and st.
Paul. He has been here for ten years,
and first came into notice when Mayor
AmeS appointed him a patrolman.
Mayor Pillsbury made him license in
spector, and when he was dropped in
the spring of 1886 he went to st. Paul
and became executive officer of the Law
and Order league. He was possessed of
considerable histrionic talent, and of
late months was only known to the pub
lie in connection with public perform
ances given by the Crusaders society.