The Indianapolis journal., 1896-05-24
A FIFTH OF A CENTURY
HOW DETECTIVE THORNTON CELE-
DRAFTED AN ANNIVERSARY.
Arrests "DOc" Smith, a Highwayman n
from Terre Haute, and Recov-
ers More than e4OO.

Detective Ben Thornton yesterday cele-
brated the twentieth anniversary of his con-
nection with the police department of this
city by arresting doc" Smith, a colored
man, who is wanted at Terre Haute for
highway robbery.
After the races at Terre Haute, Friday
afternoon, John Price, farmer living three
or four miles from that city. was robbed
by a young negro, Doc Smith, who re-
quested permission to ride with him. Price
had a purse containing over $500. When
he had driven we'll out Of town Smith grab
bed the purse and escaped with his booty.
Price drove back to Terre Haute. Detec-
tive McCray, of the Terre Haute police
force, learned that Smith, in company with
two notorious colored women, had boarded
a train for Indianapolis. He followed them
here. Yesterday afternoon detective Frank
Wilson, who was detailed on the case. met
detective Ben Thornton. and, Smith was
colored man. asked Thornton to assist
him IN locating the robber. Within three
minutes after getting the mans description
Thornton had Smith in custody. He was
arrested in a saloon on Indiana avenue
Smith had planted the money. Thornton
found $S21 In one place and $105 in another.
DOC" Smith is new man to the police
and detectives. Nothing is known of his
past record. He claims that his home is in
Syracuse N. Y. Detective McCray will take
Smith back to Terre Haute, where he will
be tried for highway robbery.
Twenty years ago yesterday Benjamin T.
Thornton was appointed turnkey at the
station house under Superintendent of Po-
lice A. c. Dewey. He remained In that ca
pacity year and half An exciting cpl
sode in his experience as turnkey was an
encounter he had one night with a gang
of would-be lynchers, who were after a COL
ored by the name of Greenly. who
killed Ida Kersey Just after midnight
Thornton heard the mob approaching the
door OF the turkeys office, which opens
into the alley north of the building. In
stead Of bursting in upon him. the leader
of the mob knocked at the door. Thornton
had time to recover his coolness before
opening the door. and had his hand upon
his mace. The leader of the lynchers in
quired If Greenly was at the station house.
He is" replied Thornton. What do you
want with him?
I'VE want TO hang him for the murder of
Ida Kersey." said the leader, trying to force
Thornton knocked him down with his mace
Two other men who were aZvancing to-
wards the door shared the same fate and
der of the mob, surprised by the resistance
offered. fled ing,oriously. The lynchers were
all masked. but Thornton recognized one
or two of them by their voices.
From the first of January, 1875 until Aug
q, 1886. Thornton was a patrolman run
ming In the yellow BRIDGE district. His
beat lay west Of Illinois street and north
Thornton made a number Of important ar
rests. and 1t was because of the ehrewdness
exhibited In capturing criminals that the
attention OF his superior officers was called
n bio q ahflffipp az a Lob
dy, a white man, who committed a series
OF robberies in Kokomo, Ind, and Chicago
H.. was one Of the men whom Thornton ar.
rested while he was a patrolman. He also
captured the men who took part in the
Perkins robbery on North Mississippi street
where large amount OF jewelry, silver and
Thornton remembers vividly the circum
stances OF his promotion to the detective
force. One. night Michael O'Donnel, ther
chief OF police, ordered Thornton to come t.
"I had no idea of what was in store fol
me-" says Thornton, "aDd / supposed that
was to be called down for something / hac
done. O'Donnel was brusque in manner anC
always gave his commands in short alb
rupt way. l was considerably relieved wher
greater advantage in citizens clothes and di
rected me to report for duty without my uni
form the next morning.
AT that time there was no regularly or
ganized detective force. In fact, Martin Ha
ley was the only other detective besides
Thornton. When Captain Splan was ap
pointed detective in 1889 the force consist
ed of Splan, Bruce, Joyce and Thornton. TIL,
next year the detective force was organized
Splan being made chief. with a force con
sisting of Quigley (now police captain), Ger
ber, Paige and Thornton.
A celebrated case in which Thornton wa!
once interested was what is remembered by
the police as. the Murphy diamond robbery
Diamonds valued at 5000 were stolen from
the residence of John w. Murphy one Satur
day afternoon: Shortly before the robbery
Mrs. Coup. wife Of Jim Coup. circus man
took service as domestic in the Murphy
household. The woman disappeared tha
night. Thornton was called to Mr.. Murphy.
house the next morning. Mrs. Murphy sus
diamonds. The Coups. husband and wife
had been rooming at q Kentucky avenue
Thornton learned that the man and woman
had left the night before, taking with then
a trunk In which the woman was seen Il
place a package which she removed from
that the trunk had been sent to Cincinnati
He went there but as the couple had nearl,
a days start. they managed to elude him
After tracing them to Dayton and then II
xerlia, o.. he found that they had doubled
back to Richmond, this State Instead o.
From Connersville the woman went Il
Washington. Ind. and later to Southport
She was arrested first. She pretended tha
IL Thornton wanted the diamonds he would
have TO see her husband. who. she said. wa
In vincennes. The woman was lodged In
to Vincennes. BY pretending to an old col
ored man whom he met that he wanted II
join q circus, Thornton learned that jim
Coup, the old circus man. was at hotef IL
that town. drunk Thornton round Couy
sleeping In q chair. resting his head on on