The herald., 1897-06-08
ATRAP SPRUNG
And a Misguided Dope
Fiend Captured
HOW II WAS WORKED
THE STOOL PIGEON UNToRTU-
NATELY GOT AWAY
How the sherih's Once Caught Bur-
glar-Statemente From In
terested Parties

NOSoiAC ACi0t WIN 40 DOOASo do pam
John Smith, but whose right name 1t ap-
pears IL Flint. He was captured last
Saturday about a. m. by Deputy Sheriff
White while in the act of entering the
saloon of H. c. Vignes at the corner OF
Seventh and Main streets. In the mere
fact Of the apprehension of wretched
thief, driven to crime by the promptings
Of his depraved appetite, there Is moth
ing extraordinary, but in this particular
case there Lies story of more than pass
ing interest as to how an unfortunate
may be led astray by that .vilest of all
wretches-a stool pigeon and inveigled
into crime only to fall into the clutches
of the waiting officers, while the insti-
gator Of the AFFAIR escapes, his identity
unknown.
In the present instance the capture
was made in the presence of a news
paper reporter who was present to wit
ness the affair, but had 1t not been for an
unexpected occurrence the etool pigeon
would have also been captured or else
furnished an interesting corpse for the
coroner instead Of being at liberty as
he now is. The plan was laid before the
saloonkeeper on Friday last by one of
the sheriff's deputies, who informed him
that plot to rob his place had been dis
covered; that the job was be done that
night between / and o'clock, and that
one of the men who was in the scheme
would come Into the saloon about II
o'clock In the evening, ostensibly for a
drink, but in reality to look over the lay
of the land. He could be recognized,
because he was tall and smooth shaven,
wore dark slouch hat and blue over
alls. Vignes was warned to be on the
lookout and the robbers would be appre-
hended red-handed.
Before long the story of the contem-
plated robbery reached the ears Of Ser
geant Gus Smith of the police force, and
he. without saying anything about the
matter, resolved to be on hand, ready to
assist the sheriffs deputies in case there
was any danger Of one of the robbers
getting away. It was owing to an un-
forseen incident that he was not on hand.
Shortly after midnight Of Friday fire
alarm was rung in from box 20 and the
sergeant was compelled to go to the
scene of the blaze. 1t was found to be a
false alarm, and Smith at once came
back and proceeded to the rear of the
saloon, arriving about 1920. He posted
himself where he could see all that was
going on and waited in vain until after
2 o'clock. He had understood that the
affair was to take place between the
hours Of and 2. but the burglars had
been promptly on time and Flint was
captured at about 1:05.
The stool-pigeon and Flint met in the
back yard of the saloon. Flint was lifted
SO that he could raise one of the windows,
entered the building. and, after remov-
ing his shoes, came around to open the
door to admit his partner I'M crime, who
had meanwhile made himself scarce, and
was confronted by the officer, who clap
ped the irons on his wrists. The GRIM
iral had been taken, and the ma jesty of
the law was vindicated. That the other
man was not also taken before he made
his hasty escape can probably be attrib-
uted to the fact that but one officer was
present, and he had to look after the one
inside the building. Had Sergeant
Smith not been unfortunately detained
by the unlucky false alarm there would
have been another prisoner, or else
dead burglar, as he went to the spot re-
solved to see that no guilty man got
away.
H. c. Vignes, proprietor of the saloon
where the burglary came off, was seen
and questioned in regard to the affair.
Yes, knew that the burglary was to
be committed here" he replied, In an
swer to- question. lone of the sheriff's
deputies came in, in company with an
other man and said that scheme had
been laid to rob my place. He knew all
o1, ,nr,t = L L
to catch the burglar. He wanted to tell
me about 1t, so that if should discover
that some one was in the place no one
would be hurt. The officer said that rob-
berry was to- have been committed several
days earlier, but for some reason or an
other 1t had been postponed.
II agreed to the plan, and when Fri
day night came fixed things for them.
All the money was taken out of the
place.
II do not know who the man who ac-
companied the officer was. had never
seen him before, and have not since.
The whole thing was done very quietly.
and have told you all that know about
it, although, to tell you the truth, the
whole thing seemed little strange to
me, and Inever quite understood It,"
Frank Smith, or, to be precise. Doane
Flint, for that, he asserts, Is his true
name, Is quite an elderly appearing man
with iron-gray hair and physique that
gives evidence Of being sadly run down.
Upon being asked yesterday what he had
to say regarding the novel mode Of his
capture he spoke with apparent frank
ness and did not seek to extenuate any
thing.
We'll, was caught in the place, sure
enough he remarked. "and guess it
cont amount to much my saying that
I'm innocent in the face Of that confess
slons but its'true, all the same. I'll just
say this, as 1t covers the bill, that I'm
mend and for year past I've been
taking cocaine. Five or six times I've
tried to stop 1t, and have for time, and,
know II 1t hadn't been for the drug I'd
never have been trapped by any such
smooth skull-duggery as this burglary
business"
''Yes. mean, just what say" as a
question was interpolated as to what he
meant. Twas jobbed, sure enough. ana
was 30 full Of dope that / couldn't real
lze the fact at the time. It came about n
this way: had been roomina down at
siS East Thirdstreet and nor about three 4
weeks had been standing BY my partner.
who was sick eW were bofh down
pn our luck, but he fnally eo4 some