Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-26
THE HANCHETTE NATTER
DETECTIVE SMITH ACCEPTS MRS.
HANCHETTE'S OFFER.
He Will Forfeit Three Hundred Dollars if
He Does Not Locate the Missing Man,
Provided He Receives Like Amount
if Successful.

In yesterdays Times appeared state
ment to the effect that Detective Fred
Smith was willing to deposit $500 with a
responsible party, to be forfeited if he
did not produce II. j. Hanchette alive
and well the friends of Mr.. Hanchette
to put up an equal amount to b, paid
him in case he did so produce the miss
ing man.
Mrs. Hanchette yesterday sent for a
HERALD reporter and stated that they
had seen the item in question, and were
ready to deposit the amount required as
soon as Mr.. Smith produced his, the
money to be paid to Mr.. Smith if he
produced Harry J. Hanchette before
July Sth, when Mrs. Hanchette with
her mother and boys intends to start
north, or if Mr.. Smith placed her un
doubtedly in communication with Mr..
Hanchette before the same date; while
if Mr.. Smith failed to fulfill his promise
the money he deposited should go to the
Newsboys' home on First street.
The ladies stated that Mr.. Smith had
called upon them three separate times.
At one visit he said that he could pro-
duce Mr.. Hanchette within three or four
days, or at the most in six days. He
was assured that if he did so he should
receive the reward offered in spite of its
public withdrawal, but replied that he
did not want the reward and would be
satisfied with his expenses, which at the
most would not exceed 500, as in this
particular case the honor of having dis
covered the missing man would be suffi-
~ hic Loot el, &al
he associated Mr.. Hanchette's name
merly of this city, and limited that there
might be facts connected with his disap-
pearance which it would be advisable to
suppress. Mrs. Hanchette stated that
she and her mother informed him that
what was wanted was to discover Han
chette, and if he had been doing any
thing discreditable he must take the
consequences of his folly. They stood
ready and willing to pay the reward Of
fered to get into communication with
him.
As it now stands, the ladies state they
have the $500 to deposit against like
amount by Mr.. Smith, and will cheer
fully pay him the same for the discovery
OF the missing secretary OF the chamber
of commerce.
Mr.. Smith was seen last night and
stated that he knew where Hanchette
was and was willing to meet representa-
tives of Mrs. Hanchette to make the de-
posit. 81 do not want any provisos
made. l will agree to show where Han
chette is" he said, "and will prove that
1 am right. 1 furthermore deny the
statement of the ladies to the effect if
informed them of Hanchette's where
abouts that l would get the reward on
the contrary they said they would not
pay 5000 or 500. In regard to the hand
some young girl formerly of this city, ]
have to say that the ladies asked me if
| had not told a reporter that an E nglish
blonde was mixed up in the case. re-
piled that | had not, whereupon the
ladies' told me that the girl had left this
city at the same time that Hanchette
did, but that she left with her husband
on his way to New York. A statement
in the above article that l intimated
that there were certain facts about the
case which it would be advisable to sup
press deny. I agreed to give the facts
to the press as | found them, and my
agreement still holds good"