The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-22
POLICE ARREST SMITH
Charged With Disposing of Stolen
Property.
HE MAKES A GREAT BLUFF
The officers Give Him Bad Reputation
and Think He Is a Member of a
Gang of Notorious Thieves.
Was Lodged in Jeil.

7 Henry Smith, young fellow who.
gets a bad reputation from the police,
was arrested late night before last Tor
having in his possession and trying to
dispose of goods which the police be-
lieye to be stolen property. He was
taken to the county jail and is being
held while the police are endeavoring
to determine what crime to charge him
with. il any. whether burglary. grand
larceny or having stolen goods in his
possession.
The officers attention was called to
Smith by receiving notification that
man. was endeavoring to sell some
goods to the inmates of house in East
Mercury street, and that the prices he
asked We're so low as to suggest the
goods had been stolen. Police Captain
Dawson and Detective Murphy visited
the house at 1os East Mercury. and
learning that Smith had bargained off
some of the goods and was to come
back for his money, waited for him to
return.
During the wait the officers struck up
a conversation with the woman who
had bought the goods and was told
that during the dickering she had asked
Smith if he was not afraid the police
would get after him. to which he re-
piled that if they stopped him they
would stop bullet. From this the OIL
GERS rather looked for a fight when
Smith returned but he forgot his brag-
ging when he came face to face with
the officers and surrendered very meek
~. When searched a big 10 Colts re-
volyer was found in his inside coat
pocket ready for use, which would
doubtless have been used with disas-
trous results had the officers not been
warned and given him no opportu-
nifty.
Smith was very indignant at being
arrested. He claimed he had purchased
the goods regularly, had perfect right
to dispose of them as he pleased and
threatened the officers with all sorts of
dire consequences if he was not re-
LEASED Immediately. The talk availed
the man nothing, for the officers recog-
nized in him old offender. or be-
lieved they did. and he was taken 10
the police station and later to the coun-
ty jail.
The officers recovered two overcoats.
which answered the description of two
that have been reported missing. but
the losers have not yet identified the
property. Besides the coats, four dress
patterns and quantity of canton fan
mel We're recovered, which had quite
evidently come out of box car or off
the shelf of some store. but as vet no
I6one has been found to claim them The
police found Smiths cabin last even
ing and searched it. They found moth
ing more, but are satisfied they will
yet find where burglary has been
committed and recover more of the
goods They intimate also a belief in
the existence of an organized gang OF
plunderers, of whom they believe Smith
to be one. Some time ago be was ar
rested for having in his possession halt
q dozen cans of syrup which was be-
lieved to have been stolen and which
lie cit hold a nnljcp hpAdUn2rfpTS
no owner has ever been found The
police claim Smith is a morphine fiend
and an old-time offender in petty
thieyery.