The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-09-14
IN THE TOLLS AGAIN,
Ex-POIiCe Officer lack Smith Arrested
on a Charge of Stealing From the
Person of Thomas HarkinS.
CRIME OF TWO YEARS AGO.

Smi b Finally Arrested With the Jewelry
IN His Pocket and Valves Examination
and is Bound over to the Circuit Court.
Bail Fixed at $500 and Smith Returns
to Jail to Await Trial :. Case Causes
Some Comment.
Jack Smith, a former police officer
and we11-known resident of the North
side, was arrested by Chief of Police
Owen O'Hare yesterday afternoon on
charge of stealing from the person.
The crime of which Smith is accused
dates back for several years, and the
arrest of Smith is one of the prettiest
pieces of police work ever done in this
city. A complaint was made against
Smith this morning by Thomas
Harkins, who alleges that some time
during the month of October, 1897,
Smith took a gold watch valued at S55
from his pocket. The story of the
robbery as told by the complaining
witness is as follows: On a night in
the latter part of October, Smith, HAIR
kins, Joseph Sweeper and another man
had been having a jolly time and had
finished up the evening at K1eist's
saloon. About midnight the three
started to go home and after they had
gone a short distance Smith left the
party When Harkins reached home
he discovered that his gold watch had
been taken from his pocket since he
o+
suspected of the crime and the police
were at once notified of the robbery.
However, Smith denied all knowledge
of the affair and no evidence could be
found to show that the stolen watch
was in his possession. The case was
turned over to Chief O'Hare, who was
at the time serving on the police force.
Every effort was made to find the
watch but it never turned up. Smith
never was seen but that the officer took
care to see whether Or not he had the
watch. Finally about six months ago,
thinking that the affair had been for
gotten, Smith sent the watch to Racine
10 have it cleaned and adjusted. This
was the first c1ew of the property dis
covered, and as soon as O'Hare found
that Smith had the watch the case
was started anew.
Last evening Chief of Police O'Hare
saw Smith take watch out of his
pocket and a short time afterward he
had him in the tolls. The watch was
at once identified as the one which had
been stolen from Harkins and the lat
ter at once made a complaint. Smith
refused to say anything in regard to
the matter, but it is reported that
every effort was made to settle the
case for a money consideration. All
these offers were refused and com
plant charging Smith with stealing
from the person was made out by JUS
tice Slater at the request of Harkins.
The police claim that the case against
Smith is very strong one and that
the evidence is conclusive.
Smith is we'll known in the city and
his friends refuse to believe that he is
guilty of the crime of which he is
charged. He was arrested short time
ago on a charge of having indecent
relations with some children on the
North side, but the complaining wit
ness in the case refused to testify and
Smith was released. Smith is married
and his wife is broken hearted over his
strange actions.
Smith was taken before Justice
Slater this morning and waived exam
nation. He was bound over to await
the action of the Circuit Court. Bail
was fixed at $500. Late this afternoon
bail was furnished and Smith was re-
leased.