The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-17
SMITH BROTHERS ON TRIAL.
A Case Without a Parallel in Virginia
Court History,
A JURY SUMMONED FROM LYNCHBRUC.
4 Merchant Failed Because Robbed sys-
temsticaIIy by His >ons-Ihe Web of
Evidence slowly But surely Wes,-
eel Around Their Accompiices.

RADFORD. VA, Feb. -Spccial-Thc
trial OF what is known as the Smith
Brothers case came up In the Hustings
Court Of this city to-day for the third
time. the case having been twice uied
before and failed 81 conviction boy reason
OF technical causes.
For reasons. which arc well understood
in this community. jury WAS summoned
from another city.
They arrived here to-day from Lynch
burg as follows: H. p. Woojson, II. +.
Adams. James stcne. K. r. Camp. q. II.
Honing. George d. Urquhart. u. g. Moor
man. ". -. Legrand. j. J. Narmess'
James l.. Wexford Frank q. Wexford.
Sllas ogden.
quite number OF Witnesses havo been
examined to-day for the State. but moth
ing important or new has developed 80
far.
The remarkable incidents. which led TO
the arrests OF tho Smiths. already widely
published before the Developments sub
sequent To the last trial are Yet set
forth and make a story without par
rellel In the history OF Virginia courts.
\ REMARKABLE CASE
In October. 1855. Captain Ambrose Rob-
inson. the oldest merchant In this place.
and for many years city Treasurer, made
an assignment for tho benefit OF his credl-
tors. greatly 20 the ast0nlshment OF the
community az isrge. an OF whom with
hardly an exception. were his friends,
Truly can IL be SAID of him. Ills word
as good as his bond.
Just why he was forced 10 the wall
he scarcely knew himself. but hard
times" small sales. and SO on, were the
only apparent cause. About one year
later Radford was startled by the re-
port that "the Smiths" had been arrested,
| FOR being in coliusiOn with Captain RoOin-
sons two oldest sons. who, I'm connection
with the Smiths had for an unknown
period been systematically robbing the
captain OF clothing and dry goods.
This then was really the cause OF Cap
! tain Robinson's failure The Smiths
are W. y. Smith. formerly from near
/ Chrlstiansburg. Va; B. H. smith former
| ly postmaster at East Radford. Va un-
| der the Harrison administration, ana A'
! X smith formerly on The police force'
/ and also Constable O. Radford.
The two sons of Captain Robinson. who
| were connected with this AFFAIR, are Ford
and Press" Rohinson-his hrst and Sec
ond sons
While the arrest OF The Smith brothers
! was great surprise 10 the public II was
afterwards learned that Baldwin's de-
/ tectlyes had for several months been Al
work upon the ease. accumuiatng sum
cient evidence 10 justify them In making
| the arrests.
STRANGE INCIDENT.
There was a strange incident which
| shortly prcceded and really precipitated
the arrest Of the Smith brothers that mas
| puzzled every thinking mind since tho
affair became known.
Something more than n month before
the arrest an the Smith brothers one
| of them had Press Robinson arrested
for stealing something from HIM.
Previous 10 this time Ford. the Oldest
boz had skipped the county and had not
! been seen since.
The warrant for Press" Rohins0n's ar
! rest was served and Doe was put in ttii
| While there. Baldwin visited him got from
/ him confession OF his guilt ana also OBJ
tanned Information from the boy which
led 10 the discovery OF hundreds OF doi-
lars worth Of dry goods and clothing in
! the possession OF the Smiths and some I'M
the house of old man Hall lsince de-
| ceasodD where B H. Smith was living.
| bolts OF 500 goods were even found be-
! tween the mattresses on Mrs. Hairs Del
For some years past Pres Robinson
| has been so worthless and dlsslpatcd. that
his own father had cast him on Yet his
story about how he and Ford stole thesc
! goods and the Smiths received them iron
them. either 10 sell or for just enough
money 10 buy liau0r sufficient 90 keep
them him aud Ford) constantly soaked
was SO straight and his story too, was 20
fully corrObOratod by the finding In the
Smiths possession an these goods. that
! oven tho most increduiOus were compelled
TO believe the story az truthful and cor
rect.
There have been two previous attempts
10 trv these cases against these men, but
as set no twelve men have agreed as 70
their guilt or innocence.
STARTLING REPORT.
Week before last another startling re-
mort was sprung upon the community
D, was 10 the cIcct that Jim Fisher. eA-
civ Sergeant OF Radford city, was
caught Ina the act OF trying 20 get i'rcsa
Robinson so under the influence oi hPuot
as 10 he able 20 make him sign certain
paper in the said Fishers possession, tno
/ rurport OF which was that hc C'Pres- }
had lied at the several trials or tho
! Smiths and that DC thereby denied ana
retracted au that he had said I'D evidence
against the smiths
But this bold piece Of strategy didh I
| work Captain Robinson having bvANN1
.v nd' in some way of the fact mat
.ha smiths were after Press. and trying
~ GET Press drunk. and 20 DO some
thing with him. went in search or me
how and found Fisher in a saloon Win
him and a paper on the bar before them.
A. soon as be entered h. called To Fisher,
..Jm. / want YOU. right away. SIR ~
this polnt. as Jim. in his astonishment'
[ turned Press" gathered mp the paper
ana made a bee-nnc for his fathers store.
After a few plain and denouncing words,
! The CAPTAIN left Fisher, and went 20 the
store There Press" handed him the
naper above mentioned. aud which Is pro-
nounced by persons who claim 20 know, 20
bo in W. -. Smiths handwr ting.
4 VALUABLE WITNESS.
Friday, February 18th, the charge
against jim Fisher. was tried before a
Magistrate. and. after bringing Qua enough
by Fishers own admiss on on the stand
to make Fisher "A most valuable witness
against W d. Smith. The common
wealth's Attorney asked thar the cour'
entera nOlie prOscqui In the case -
Fisher was released.
The object OF the Commonwealth ~
torney was not seen by inc o'hcr siu'
until the case was dlsm ssed' ana 'h'
court adjourned. II WAS then 100 hte-
"the deed was done
! Judge G.. T.. Cassel. OF me hustns e
Court FOR the city of Radford ordered q
fury summoned for this term OF copr
= from Lynchburg. Va, 20 Try the smi'i
cases.