The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-14
FOR CRIMINAL ASSAULT
Charge on Which Ben E. Smith
Was Arrested.
1T is ONE MORE LIBERTY PARK
CASE.
Officer Heath Was on Hand and Put
an End to Smiths Attempt-The
prisoner Says He Is a Railroad
Brakeman.

Ben E. Smith was arrested in Lib
erty park yesterday afternoon while in
the act Of making criminal assault
upon Josephine Carney, a girl 10 years
of age. Officer Heath took the man in
custody, and he is now confined in the
city Jail with the charge of attempted
rape resting against him.
The cunning of Smith, or. as he gives
his name. Frank Campbell, is revolt
ing in most of its details. From the
disclosures made by Josephine Carney
TO Chief Paul and CAPTAIN Eslinger,
1t appears that Smith made an engage
ment TO meet Josephine and her elder
sister. Clara, who is u years old, at
Liberty park about 1870 O'Clock yester-
day afternoon. He kent the appoint
ment which was to have been for the
purpose of selecting choice WatercresS
from SPOT where Smith claimed the
dellcacy grew in profusion. Thus far
Smith does not deny his relations with
the girls, but he avoids any acknOwl-
edSements tending to incriminate him
self However, Officer Heath Swallowed
him and saw enough to convince him
sell that the mans intentions were
evil.
The Carney girls are the daughters Of
Mrs Kate Carney, a widow living in
Hammers court, between Fifth and
Sixth South and Second and Third
East josephine Carney is pretty
lIttl Smaiden and looks older than she
is Her sister. though taller. is not as
attractive tyne of child beauty, nor
has she the assurance Of the younger
GIRL About four years ago Mr.. Carney,
the father, kept a saloon on West Tenn
ole street. where the girls be-
came acquainted with Smith. When at
work he Drofessed TO be a railroad
brakeman. but most of the time was
without employment. There is certainly
nothing prepossessing in his appear
ance- He is slOvenlv and owns a de-
signing pair of furtive black eyes. He
also wakes his mustache to lady killers
points upon either end; in brief, Mr..
Smiths general makeup betokens the
idler
He was ambling down Main street
yesterday about II o'clock, twisting his
mustache points. and had reached the
corner Of Third South when he CHANGED
upon the Carney sisters. Smiths idle
brain seems to have then and there
conceived a dastarily scheme. Some
conversation with the children revealed
to him that they were also idling. He
asked them if they would be busy dur
ing the afternoon, and upon being as
sured that they could meet him at Lib
erty park, he proposed a hunt for
watercresses. The girls acquiesced and
without waiting for the hour at first
set, walked out toward the park. Of
ficer Heath noticed the group. and
something prompted him TO keep his
eye on them. He noticed that Smiths
object was to SEPARATE the girls. but
the elder could not be shaken off. Pres
emily the man sat down on the grass
and attempted TO. take liberties with
Josephine, but Clara was in the vicin-
ity and the fellow desisted. Then he
induced the younger girl to accompany
him into a deserted barn on the other
side of the lake. In this place he re-
sumed his scOundreliy plan when sur
prised by Heath. 81
The girls dashed away across the
park in alright and were subsequently
found at their mothers residence and
brought to police headquarters by Cap
tain Esiinger, where they were sub
iected to a searching examination by
the chief. The stories Of the girls in
iuced the chief to hold Smith, but it
has not been decided whether TO ar
-aign him on the charge of ATTEMPTED
seduction or raDe.
Josephine Carney tells very
straightforward account of the affair,
md one which comedies with the OBJ
,efEa-lOnS OF OIutGI one a4SO
repeated some Of Smiths foul language
which he used while cndeavOring to ac-
.Cmplish his ends. She claims that she
lad no idea what Smith meant 70 do
Clara Carney does not tell a truthful
tory. She seems TO be a knowing girl,
nd it is suspected that she is not alto
,ether innocent in the matter for 1t
vas evident TO the officers bv her un-
asiness in the park that she knew
smith meant no good.
Smith said that he was II wears Of
.ge, although his looks belle the aSSer-
iOn He says that he has played with
he children for a long time and ;n-
ended no wrong when he took them
o the park. He contradicts the state
nents of Josephine Carney and Officer
feath. 1t is very plain, however, that
mith realizes he is in a tight box.
Mrs. Carnev believes that the girls
re moral. and says that this is the
rst time they have ever gotten into
ny trouble. Carney deserted her about
BUR years ago and died since that
inc. The hearing will be set in the
Olice court this morning