People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-06-24
To the RefOrmatOry,

~ thC NClOi HidlOlJs
Acting Superintendent Lingenfel-
ter came down from Hutchinson last
Thursday and returned over the Rock
Island Friday morning with kid"
Belleville, H. D. Flint and Bill Smith,
all OF whom plead guilty at their pre-
liminary examinations and were SEN
fenced to the Hutchinson reform
atOry.
kid" Belleville is a young man of
good appearance, seemingly well
raised and fairly well educated. He
acknowledged stealing a hog from C.
L. RaCey, living south Of Caldwell in
the Strip, and selling it to Mich HOr-
ton, the Caldwell butcher. He was
captured in Portsmouth, Neb., about
two weeks ago. RaCey, the man from
whom the hog was stolen is an all
around shark and confidence man.
More than one newspaper in the
county holds bills against him for IN
paid real estate advertising. Racey
owns considerable land and live stock.
bought with the proceeds of electric
belt sales. He is the oily-tongued
individual who came to Wellington
few weeks ago and gulled $40 or $50
from the unsOphiStiCated ReubenS of
the town with vinegar-sOaked tin
belt which he represented would cure
any i'll that flesh was heir to-.
Fl. D. Flint is tall, gaunt and wears
a look OF dependence. He sat stole
ally at the depot next morning and
submitted to Lingenfelter'S handouts
while his fellow prisoners laughed and
cracked jokes when being shackled.
Flint hired bicycle of A. Fetters &
Son about ten days ago and rode it
out of town with thieving intent. He
encountered a rain storm at MedfOrd.
0. T.. and was forced to pull in and
wait for dry weather. He doesn't
look too bright to parade around in
public with a stolen wheel and 90 nm
der his own name. He was captured
at MedfOrd while taking his grip.
which had been sent there, from the
express office. A term in the reform
atOry will d. him good and thorough
course of study will brighten him up
some.
Bill Smith is one of the members of
the Smith gang of deSperadOS, who
are believed to be responsible for the
depot robbery at Oxford two moths
ago, the subsequent hold.up of Frisco
Agent Claiborne at Arkansas City
and numerous rObberies and thefts
committed in Southeast Sumner and
in COwley county. The only specific
charge against Smith, however, is
stealing a cultivatOr and resisting
arrest. He and his brother. the
notorious Sam Smith, stood off a dep.
uty sheriff and constable with their
guns and escaped from the country.
The brothers afterward fell out and
young Smith, fearing his life at his
brothers hands, came to Wellington
and surrendered himself. He ac-
knOwledged only the crime of helping
steal the farming implements ana re-
sisting arrest. Justice Ready SEN
fenced him, in company with Bellville
and Flint, to the refOrmatOry. Ever
since surrendering himself Smith has
manifested a desire to receive his
sentence and get where he would be
out OF harm from his brother. 1t is
said that Sam, The older of the two
boys, threatened the life of his
younger brother, and Swore vengeance
upon him at sight. Young Smith
was afraid of him and for hat reason
gave himself up. He is Young fel.
low, probably p or % years of age
and looks like an innocent pillow boy.
The influence of Sam, the black sheen
OF the family, and whom the officers
would like to get hold of Just once is
no doubt responsible for his wav.
WardnesS. In the refOrmatory he will
not only be out of reach of his mur.
derous brother, but will likely deyelon
into a bright, honest and Trustworthy
citizen.