Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-07-14
<rHE VERMONT PHOENIX, BRATTLEBORO
BLACKMAILING SCHEME.
Deputy Sheriff Geo. w. Smith
of Barre Under Arrest

Charged with Attempting to Extort
500 from an italian Woman I'm Mont
peIier---A New Phase of the PrOhibI-
tory LRw---Caught Accepting the
Money.
Deputy Sheriff George w. Smith of
Barre was arrested in Montpelier Saturday
night by Sheriff Graves on the charge of
blackmail and malfeasance in office. Bail
was fixed at $1,000 at hearing in the city
court. His father offered to furnish bail
Sunday, but Judge Smile would not ac-
cept it on that day. Mrs. c. Bianchi, an Ital-
ian widow, consulted w. A. Lord few
days ago, stating that Smith came to her
house July with a search warrant Issued
from States Attorney Hoar's office. He
did not search her place, but said there was
a strong case against her, as 20 or more
witnesses were ready to swear that they
had bought liquor at her house. He told
her that settlement in the usual way would
cost $500 or $500, but if she would pay him
800 he would 'fx it up" so that she would
have no further trouble He said that he
must have the money Saturday night. Mr..
Lord summoned Sheriff Graves of Water
bury and the two went to the Banchi
house about 2. o'clock Saturday afternoon.
the living room by portieres.
After waiting until 8 o'clock, as Smith
did not appear, Mr.. Lord sent son of Mrs.
Bianchi to Barre to find Smith and to inform
him that his mother would not be at home
Sunday and that if he wished to see Mrs.
Bianchi he must come to Montpelier that
night. Smith returned to Montpelier with
the boy and entered the living room, where
he was plainly visible to the officer and Mr..
Lord. Following Mr.. Lords directions, Mrs.
Bianchi went through the original trade
with Smith, he assuring her that he would
settle not only this case but would let her
know when any search warrants were out
for her in the future and would keep her
informed-in other words, would give her
protection.
Finally, pleading poverty, she beat him
down from 500 to $40 and counted the
money out on the table. AS Smith reached
out to take the money, Mr.. Lord and Sher-
if Graves drew aside the portieres and
confronted him, Mr.. Graves taking the
money, which he now has in his possession.
Smith was dumbfounded for moment, but
recovered his self-possession, and Mrs. BIZ
anci having left the room asked Messrs.
Lord and Graves if they couldn't fix it up
for him. Both men were very indignant
and rejected his overtures by telling him
that they thought that already there had
been enough fixing things"
The penalty prescribed by the statute for
such an offence is that the officer shall be
deposed from office and debarred forever
from holding any Office in the state and
shall be imprisoned in state prison not more
than ten years, or fined $1,000. 1t is init
mated that another arrest will follow later
in connection with the Matchmaking scheme,
which is said to have been used to a con-
siderable extent among the ignorant Ital-
ans in Barre.
After Mr.. Smiths arrest he told Mr..
Lord that the money he had taken was to
be turned over to those who were behind
him. AS a result of this statement and be-
cause he had been the instigator of the
warrant States Attorney Hoar placed his
clerk Gordon, in the custody of Deputy
Sheriff Shepard Sunday for several hours,
but no positive evidence appearing against
him he was not held. Gordon told Mr..
Hoar after Smiths visit to Mrs. Bianchi's
last Tuesday that nothing was found there.
Smith is 30 years old and has wife and
three children. He has been deputy sher-
iff three years. He was first appointed by
Sheriff o. r. Collins and was reappointed
by Sheriff Graves last year. He was ar
rested for intoxication in Montpelier about
year ago.
At the hearing Monday Smiths bail was
fixed at $500. 1t was furnished by G. H.
| Campbell and A. E. Batchelder of Barre
and Smith was released from custody.