The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-11
CAUGHT INFAR OFF TEXAS.
B. F. Smith, an Alleged Delaulter for
,Si,7OO on His Way to Savannah.

BE Was Captured by the Sheriff of
Upshur County at Gilmer-After
Using Funds That He Had Collected
He is Charged with Taking a Pack
age From the Brush Electric Light
Company's Safe-Passed in Texas as
E.E. CIark-Admitted His Identity
and Anxious TO Return to Savan-
nah.
B. T. Smith, who left here last May
charged with having embezzled about
81. zoo from the Brush Electric Light
Company. has been captured in Gilmer,
Upshur county Texas, and by this time is
on his way back to Savannah to answer
TO tine charges against him.
Smith was a collector for the company
for several months, and for a while cut
quite a swell a.ound the city on the money
supposed to belong to the company. He
began gambling, and in this way lost
great deal from time to time. He collect
ed money, and instead of turning it in he
stated to his employers that their debtors
were complaining of hard times and had
put him off. He collected quite a sum in
this way, and finally was on the point of
being discovered. Knowing this, he de-
termined upon one last haul, and while
the bookkeeper was away from the Office
he took package from the safe contain
ing about 800, and skipped.
The fact of Smiths defalCatiOn was
stated in the MORNING News at the time,
although the Brush Electric Light people
refused to say anything about the matter,
desiring to wait until after his capture.
HOW RE WAS CAUGHT
Just after Smith left here the case was
put in the hands of Detective Wether-
horn, who has been hunting down the
embezzler ever since. There was reason
to believe that he had gone west, and
descriptions of Smith were wired all over
the country in that direction.
He was first traced to Denton, Tex,
from where he went to Carrollton, some
miles south of that point. He was next
seen at Big Sandy, but eluded capture
and went somewhat north of that point
to Gilmer, in Upshur county, not far from
the line of Northern Louisiana and In
dian Territory. Sheriff J. w. Williford
of that county discovered and arrested
him, and wired Detective Wetherhorn to
that effect night before last. Sheriff
Williford stated that he would give up
the prisoner on the payment of $50, the
amount that was offered for his capture.
ADMITS HE Is THE MAN.
Detective Wetherhorn received a letter
from Sheriff Williford yesterday stating
that Smith had been ARRESTED there,
where he had been going under the as
sumed name of E. E. Clark Smith, he
said, admitted that he was the man
wanted, and stated to Sheriff Wilhford
that he knew Detective Wether-
horn and other parties in
Savannah. The letter stated that Smith
would not only come back voluntarily, but
that he seemed anxious to return TO Sa-
vannah.
The sheriff was then telegraphed and
asked if he would deliver Smith in Sa-
vannah for 5000, and the reply came yes
terday afternoon that he would, and that
he wonld start with him at once, in
which event he will arrive here with his
prisoner day after tomorrow.
Smith was at one time conductor and
motorman on the Electric line, and was
discharged for taking such a prominent
part in the strike on tnat line about a
year ago He was soon afterwards en-
pbyed by the Brush Electric Light Com
pany, and it was not long before he began
to use the cOmpany's money for himself
He has wife and child who are now
living at Poor Robin, landing some dis
lance up the Savannah river.