The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-24
LAST REMNANT
OF "SOAPY" SMITHS
GANG Is GUILTY.
Foster. Bowers and Van Trfpietf.
Who Robbed kIondiker Stewart.
Giyea Their Deserts at juneau
Verdict Rendered in Minutes.

The last 81 the ''Soapy'' Smith gang in
Alaska has CONS 10 grief: in fact the last
three members Of II are on ta1s way 10 the
paaKenslary having been convicted Of lar
ceny at Juneau on Dec moeE 10
These three men are Van Triplett, Doc
Powers and Foater, who robbed j. u,
Stewart. a kIoadikeT. og s.. 20 In gold dust
iast summer az skaSR ,. II required tust
eight minutes for Jury ~ Juneau 10 fiEa
them guilty.
THIS is the case over which 'Soapy'
Smith, the most notorious confidence man
ct the west. LOST his lie and which was
the Gauss too II the death OF Engineer
Reid OF Skagway. "Scapy'' hal led q
bcid and successful life wherever he hap
pened ia operate. from Denver 10 Alaska,
and sfe cl4Gg OF people with whom he
ISOLATED aeknow lodged his leadership.
Foster, Bowers and Tr.plet1 were MEM
bers Of the gang AT Skagsay the bold
operations Of which had aroused the law
abiding citizens Of tie town. When they
robbed ssswar: OF his money ia an even
b0aor fashion than usual. a meeting or
citizens was called, at which Smith was
shot By Engineer Reid when "S3apy" at
tempted to disperse the gathering.
The three men who robbed Stewart we're
arrested ana it is their trail taat has just
besn concluded al Juneau before the United
States court
stewart Tells How He was Robbed.
Stewart on the witness stand related how
after coming from lhe Kloudlke he met
Howers aud Foster. who were very anx-
ioGs 10 know about the kI3ndike regions
They went into saloon 10 have a drink.
when Bowers asked him 10 go into room
and see ,the b!ra eat" Tie bartender
was to feed the bird and It was such an
amusing sight Stewart WAS informed that
he should Sc Is.
About thls time Van TripIett came along
ard got Into conversation about the Yu-
kon. He sad tina, he had lost some mon
- gambling. bat had paid she gambler s.
50 show nfa how the trick WAS done and
he wanted 10 show IL 70 Stewart. Foster
and Boeera Foster said he knew the
Trick aud wanted s. TO bet against Van
Tf4ple;t Stewart demurred. but finally
pulled out So. which he had in his pocket
at the time. Foster took the whole amount
placed IL IN u box and in a moment Van
Triplett said nc had Won II.
Rest of the Dust Disappears.
s.ewar. then told how he lost the re-
msinder Of his dust. some $500 which he
had left AZ kaufmap's store;
Il told Foster should hold him fer the
money. ard she old man. Van rriplstt.
said wc acted AIS IL NC could not trust him.
nfNi gave some Of :hS money back and
then said he woald give chance tn
win Il. so F'estet turned the right card and
started u give him tae money. but stid.
'EtfpEn%iHE HAS bet fE8t n earnest.
al sou have the money 20 pat up Fos-
ter said. Ma, and turning 10 ms said
'Yau have ire money ana / said no. / did
rot have any money that he took il all
la; he said. Won have Some dust aud
wanted ne 10 Eef 81. just TO show the old
iaan that we h8d the money IN case the
bet had beea real one. Bowers and |
went 10 kauTuan'S store - ges NJ money
ard Tsn fflpless and Foster rgn aimed he
bind We CAME back with the ssust and I
unrolIrt :. asa showed then the sack. ana
The eii gssssn Ssid Uc 4si know Il that
WAS gold, sud bowers said. Open IL and
Hhow 70 to him ~ he don't know soll daS;
wisef9 he sefsa t.. hai sSid not open t. and
uas ius. asp0ug 81 roll x up again, when
Tester 8rahtva it aas handing il to thu.
old Enau sat3. 1sit'' and / started ta grab
the cid gsaa. when they held me and said
Il made noise Z would tsot iss well fr
9ss I lssled away from t0en ana started
after the ola .nae. bat ssot.i5 aas $50 hi.a
atfti s1snu weet assro~s Gae street and asked
s. 1ssTty where There an etigrr, that I
hat lre~f robbed of $3,so oy some men
b, they saw the Struggle.
A Z BsQer testified shss he sax Sew
SIT senHH1e IN tne alley w3t6 lhsTe sne;3.
whoas he knew 10 be saernters ~ s3apz-.'
SAITH gam@
Frank 4 baras. secretary os the eI;l-
aeas committee. Testified as d.a also
Nasffa'sto. a." proprietor ~ tae Stoee a.
wfi 3 Stewart ha3 To. sis money
Tne .itfen- isars Fad no witnesses Aut
a@hel for a. ceefiuaance. Tets was re-
ft3sea ~ Ihe souTt. mho presented the
cexe - tHa t1rF
I'm e3Stts minutes tas venAas of guilty
ass russgi sd
other Gases in Court
A. tAe Same .eruo e etsurs fsstSrna Russ
~ AS convicted ~ s.li3ag isqaoe ~fthos4t q
33ceN$e aHd WAS sentences 10 tAyss years
oa Ms Nsl5-s sSiaua
The caee < i4@ rultet States as-airss
a ljsian - asta aasi E'fei Mcg ana f5r the
.ssfaY ~ -as st@&rS was continued