Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-08-06
WEBSTER rs CAPTURED.
Joseph Smith Brought in the Miss
ing Trusty This Morning.

JoScpu olultu DIOuBub III ouc IAlSo-
ing Trusty This Morning.
On the local train this morning
came in Joseph Smith from near
Lebanon with Webster, the "trusty"
who escaped from the Oregon peni-
tentiary last week. 1t was consid-
erable of surprise to everybody, as
no word of his capture had been re.
ceived.
SMITHS STORY.
Joseph Smith is son of the late
William Lester Smith, and has
spent all his life in Linn county,
living at the forks of the Santiaui,
u miles east of Lebanon. He is a
farmer and Diner, and has not TAX
en- much interest in the search for
Webster until yesterday evening,
when the presentiment came to him
that he could find him. Another
young man started out with him but
soon tired and went back. Smith
went on to the Saunderson bridge,74
miles north of Lebanon, and there
waited for his man. Just at mid
night, after waiting half an hour,
Webster came along the road.
Smith pointed bis shotgun at him
and made him throw up his hands
and surrender. He denied that be
was the man, claimed his name was
Morris, and said that he had just
come from over the mountains.
Webster was bareheaded, and
when questioned said he had lost
his hat getting a drink out of the
river. Smith wanted to take him
to Lebanon, but he said be could
identify himself at Albany, so Smith
agreed to take him there and they
started out afoot. They lad only
gone few miles, however, when
the old man confessed that he was
Webster. Smith had discovered the
India ink marks Oh his arm, and
was sure of his man. Webster told
II pitiful tale aud begged to be let go.
He offered to give Smith note for
5000 which his wife would pay, but
Smith would not accept it. They
got to Albany at daylight and
it was a surprise to Sheriff Jackson
to be called up. Smith had asked
him to go out with him last night to
make the search, but he could not
go,and little expected the "hayseed"
to bring him in.
AT Albany, Webster met a number
of old friends, and the Identification
was only too perfect, but he bore up
bravely until the train neared Salem
this morning, when he trembled
and broke down badly.
wEBsTER'S STORY.
1t was published in the San Fran
cisco papers this spring that Web
ster had died in the prison, and as
this news reached him the old man
became very uneasy; not having
heard much from home, he feared it
was scheme to secure his property
and was very restless. AS he was
trusted outside the prison, he fire.
quently asked permission to go to
the brush for sticks to fix up his
flower beds. On the day of his leav-
ing Webster says he had gone out
further than usual and knowing he
could not get back in time for roll
call, was tempted to make his es-
cape. This was near the Davidson
farm, and from thence he took to
the woods. He says he has not had
a good meal since leaving, and that
his only sustenance had been tur-
nips, berries and some raw potatoes.
His plan had been to strike the
steal boat, and make
his way to the Columbia, thence to
salt water, where he would have
made his way to France, the Ian
guage of which country he can
speak. He says the officers We're
within twenty feet of him at the
Lebanon hop yard, and that he bad
seen them many times, but was al
ways lucky enough to evade them.
THE CAPTURE.
was well conceived and carried out.
Fifty officers and men were out on
the search, but the honor fell to an
unpretentious young man with a
cool head and steady nerve. Mr.
Smith Is a brother-in-law of our
tow nsnan, III. A. Thomas. He was
paid the 500 reward offered by
Supt. Downing, and started for
home this morning on the ll;l7train,
L