Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-02-01
TIE sMYrH MYsrERY CLEARED UP.

IL now transplres titst Sheriff Miller
made great eaten when he brought
young John Smyth from Burton last
week. On the way up Smyth
told him that Walter Crimes
and the Green boys were not guilty at
all, that they knew nothing about the
robbery, that he had planned the steal
ing of the money himself and had used
little of it and burned the rest. Sheriff
Miller did not believe this story but let
Linn tell it and had him repeat it once
or twice asking him questions all the
time and getting new points until he
found that another lad was implicated,
and that the money was not burnt but
hidden somewhere near Smyth's home
Sheriff Miller took Attorney Lowry
with the Smyth boy down near Smyth's
home and past Mr.. Paul Spiegelberg's
place. Mr.. Miller then came back to
Mr.. Spiegelberg's house and called for
Otto Fehling, II year old nephew of
Mr.. S. Miller told Otto that he wanted
the money that young Smyth got for
the hogs. Otto said that he did not
know aBything about the money, but
Miller promptly assured him that he
did and that he must bring it out at
once or he would bring him to Lam
caster. This stumped Otto and he
evidently thought that SmYth had given
him away. He then told Miller
that he would get it, and going around
the house he quickly brought back
SILLY and told Miller that he
had given the rest to Smyth who had
| spent some before it came into his
hands. OF course Miller brought Otto
and Smyth both back to Lancaster with
him after going to Smyth's house and
telling his sisters of the affair and count
ing the money in their presence. Mr..
and Mrs. Smyth were too i'll to either
see their son or bear the relation of the
affair. After Miller got the boys in
jail he succeeded by adroit management
in getting from them the particulars of
all the robberies in that neighborhood
that have been such a puzzle for some
time past. 10 Tebo was robbed of $40
at one time and a week later of S12.
This money the boys used to purchase
two Winchester repeating rifles, 80 cali
Der, and revolver for each of The boys.
Otto carried out this burglary alone.
Together they robbed VIM. Brinkman
of a watch and chain and $3.50 in
money. They calculated on getting
$3.50 dollars from him as they lad learn
| ed thst he had received that much as
his share of life insurance coming from
his fathers death.
Smyth was the one who broke into
the Timm residence last June He ran
sacked things generally about the house
but only got $3.50, an old knife and a
pocket book. Together they broke in
to Peter Hrasche's house ana after
turning everything upside down, went
down cellar and stole 10 Jars of fruit
and two jars OF wine. They drank
some of the wine and Smyth got hilar-
ious and shot three bullets into the clock
and smashed q little boys wa
gon. They broke couple
of the fruit jars and they stole two
sacks and carried the others down into
deep ravine near Smyth's house, and
put the wine in an old spring house on
the Bass place. They also said that
they had planned to rob the Meyer
Showalter bank here in Lancaster.
Their plan was to ride in in broad
daylight with .heir Winchesters and
revolvers, when there were not many
on the street and in true Jesse James
style, rob the bank. These boys have
been raised in excellent homes, and are
good examples OF how impossible it is
at times for good parental
training to overcome the effects of
such books as tell the exploits of the
James and Younger brothers and the
Dalton gang.
! The boys will stand trial In the Feb
ruary term of court and from the evil
dence now against them there is little
chance of their escape from severe
sentence to the State prison.
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