Great Falls weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1894-1???, 1895-02-15
|. B. SMITH ARRESTED.
He Is Charged with Stealing SIT.
600 fIHm the Great North
ern Railway.

l.. b. Smith, the we'll known claim
agent Of the Great Northern road, whose
jurisdiction extends from Minot, N. d.,
to Blackfoot on the main line, and the
Montana Central road from Havre to
Butte, was arrested Sunday last at
Havre and brought through this city
Monday on the wost'bound passenger a
prisoner under the charge of Deputy
Hoss of Helena, who took him to that
city to answer some very serious charges
made against him by the railroad CON-
pany. These are no less than forgery
and the embezzlement of a large sum of
money exceeding, it is said, $4,000.
Great Northern Detective Chinook,
who came into Great Falls today and
has been working up the case, was in
tervlewed by a TRIBUNE representative
in relation to the matter and confirmed
the story OF his arrest, but declined to
go into any particulars. From other re-
liable sources it is learned, however, that
the company became suspicious Of Mr..
Smith some weeks ago and placed
the matter in Detective Chin
nocks hands for investigation. In
the course OF his inquiries
be soon learned that a vast number of
claims had been sent in to the depart,
ment at st. Paul for injuries to stock
belonging to cattlemen who had no ex-
%istence, and that Mr.. Smith had re-
ceived the checks for these alleged Losses
and forged Inducements and vouchers
covering the transactions. pocketing the
amounts thus obtained. Up to date
about 300 such claims have been un-
earthed calling for sums amounting in
the aggregate to $4,000, which have
been paid by the company and discov-
cred to be fraudulent. There are over
100 such claims allowed and paid to par
ties residing in Cascade county whose
names cannot be found on the tax list
and who are not known at the p~ostotiice
where they were alleged to reside.
On learning these facts Detective
Chinook put q man on Smiths track to
shadow him and he WAS kept under close
surveillance. On Saturday last he evil
IDENTIFY got some wind Of the suspicion
against him, for he took the train, stat
ing that he was going to Glasgow. He
was followed by the shadow, who
telegraphed back to the detective
that his man was trying to
escape having taken the west bound
train this side OF Glasgow evidently
heading for Shelby junction. On learn
ing this instructions were sent to Havre
to arrest him at that point which was
accordingly done. 1t is not yet decided
whether Smith will be tried in Lewis
and Clark, Cascade or Choteau county,
his otfenses having been committed in
numerous instances in all these counties,
Smith it will be remembered was ar
rested here about two years ago by a
detective from Kansas City, who tried to
take him to Missouri to answer a charge
of obtaining money dnder false pre-
lenses in that city some years prior to
that time. 1t was alleged that he OBJ
tanned from a widow 70 with whom
he boarded, and to whose daughter he
was engaged to be married, some seven
thousand dollars, under the plea Of in
vesting it for her. Instead OF doing this
he spent it, it was charged on a fraiI
m with whom he was connected
there. The detective war not on to his
job very well, however, and his prisoner
was taken from him under a writ Of
habeas corpus, while the tables were
turned on him by his arrest on Il charge
OF kidnapping, for trying TO take II
man out of tho state without
proper authority. Tho result WAS that
he thought himself lucky ~ get ont Of
the state leaving his prisoner behind.
Ia this case the railroad officials acting
under instructions from headquarters
stood by Mr.. Smith vigorously and gave
him their full condolences. II WIS stated