Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-28
WHERE THEY TOOK MONEY.
How the City Detectives Worked
the Late Robert Smith.

They Demanded $50 for Services in the
Robbery at Smiths House--SInith Re-
fused to Pay, But Finally, ON His Death
bed, Allowed Them $40.
A case in which City Detectives Hawkins
and Hatton have been unpleasantly in
volved was the famous Smith robbery, Mt
No. li03 Rodney street, which occurred
over year ago. The information comes
from prominent and thoroughly reliable
citizen, whose name Is withheld for the
present, but will be divulged later on, if
necessary. The informant was very reluc.
tant to discuss the case at all and only did
so after repeated questioning or the part
of the Interviewer who obtained an init
nation of the affair from another source.
Then after much reflection he told this
story
Robert Smith lived at No. 1903 Rodney
street, together with Mrs. Maria Chapman
and Mrs. Arabella Angelina, her daugh-
ter. As is well known their place was
burglarized August LIST, 1891 in the night
time, the occupants of the house assaulted
and S57 i'll money taken. After the rob
berry there was talk of offering a reward,
but it was never done. City Detectives
Hawkins and tIatton worked on the case,
as did the police officers and the chief Of
police.
Uhe burglars who proved to be William
Wood and Edmund Smith, were captured
by the police in Philadelphia. Mrs. Chap
man and her daughter were taken by the
city detectives to Philadelphia to identify
the burglars. Then State Detectives McVey
and Witsil brought the prisoners to Della
ware to stand trial for burglary, They
were convicted.
After the arrest of the prisoners Detec.
tive Hawkins approached a person who
was the confidential friend of Robert
Smith and who advised him in many
business affairs, and asked whether or not
MIR. smith was going to pay the detectives
for the work they had done, The person
TO whom the question was addressed could
not answer it. but stated that he would re-
port the matter to Mr. smith. The latter
was informed OF the detectives inquiry
and said he would not pay them u cent;
that he had offered no reward and did not
owe them any money.
Notwithstanding MIR. Smiths declara-
ton, Detective Hawkins approached the
formers agent time and again and kept
bothering him about the money, insisting
that they were entitled to $50, until the
agent agreed to go with him TO Alr. Smith 5
house. About this time Mr. Smith was i'll
and was confined TO his bed with Il malady
from which he never afterwards rallied.
While the old man was on his deathbed,
and when he as everyone else knew that
his death was only Il matter Of a very few
days, the detective went to the dying
mans house, and eagerly asked for the
money. The old man. with his feeble
voice scarcely audible, still refused to pay
them $50, but finally he relented and
agreed to pay $40 to the detectives. He
said that he had offered no reward, but
would allow them so although he at first
refused to pay them anything. The agent
drew up check to the order of James l..
Hawkins, and after receiving the check the
dot pptiVp AT 1aEorta oil from tho hnIISa
A few days afterwards Robert Smith died,
but the check bearing his signature and
Detective Hawkins name is still in exist
ence.