The times., 1899-08-29

Jesse F. Smith, the London merchant
being a fugitive embezzler from. Chicago
has been released and will continue his
tour Of the country with an experience
which seldom falls to the lot of the average
visitor from abroad. Mr.. Smith was ar
rested Sunday morning at the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad station as he was about
to leave for Pittsburg, where he said he
had business. He answered exactly the
description of w R. Davis, alias w R.
Rice, an alleged embezzler, which was sent
out by the chief of the Chicago police
almost two months ago, except that he
was two and one-half inches shorter, and
weighed about twenty-five pounds less
Smith was taken to Police Headquarters.
where he was questioned by Acting In
spector Carter, who was satisfied that
Smith was the man wanted. He was taken
20 No. l police station and locked up pend
ing investigation, and a telegram was i'm
mediately sent to the Chicago police an
nouncing the capture. together with a sug-
gestion from Inspector Carter that they
see Mr.. Woodside. the Chicago manager
of a large pickle firm, who knew the Lon
don man. The despatch was sent about IL
o'clock.
Mr. Smith made no resistance to arrest.
and said he held no grudge against the
police for the manner in which they had
treated him. He said they were perfectly
right in holding him. but that-he- was not
the man who was wanted and as soon as
the Chicago authorities called upon Mr..
Woodside he would be released. A long
wait for reply from Chicago ensued. All
day yesterday the detectives hoped to get
word and clear up the matter, but none
came. When Major Sylvester reached his
desk this morning he sent a personal des-
patch to Chicago asking the cause for the
delay in answering the first message.
There came no reply to this and the major
was about to order the release of the sus-
pect when a message came from the Chi
cago police superintendent requesting the
Washington authorities to hold the man
for further investigation. He fitted the
description of Davis exactly, he stated.
The telegram made no reference to Mr..
Woodside, and there was no intimation
that any trouble had been taken TO lock
up the friend of the prisoner. During the
wait for the message there We're not more
than one or two men on the detective force
who were not willing TO testify that they
had captured the right man. The detect
ives took this view, Notwithstanding the
fact that they had found the mans bag
gage and every piece of linen marked
either with the initials or the full name
Jesse F. Smith. Besides this there we're
money orders and Masonic insignia which
Enthusiastically belonged TO the London mer-
chant and not to the Chicago thief.
About $3.50 o'clock in the afternoon an
other message was received at headquar-
ters from Chicago stating that on being
shown the description OF Davis or Rice
the Mr.. Woodside mentioned by the pris-
oner had declared it TO be an accurate de-
scription of his friend Smith, of London,
VINO was on his way TO Pittsburg and the
West. This despatch settled the identity
of the man in custody and Major Sylvester
ordered his release. Inspector Carter inn
mediately set out for the stationhouse,
where on his arrival he found that the
prisoner had already been identified by a
former customer who Smith said he did
not know. The customer knew Smith, how
ever, and stated that he had often been
in his store in London. That settled the
matter and Mr.. Smith, with his identity
thoroughly established and Inspector Car
ter at his elbow, marched out of No. ] sta
ton free man. He was driven to head
quarters in a carriage and secured the
property he had left there, amounting to
about 5000 in cash and several hundred
dollars worth of diamonds, which had been
taken from his person when he was ar
rested.
Throughout all the trouble Mr.. Smith
conducted himself coolly. He praised the
police OF this city and said he could not
have been treated better had he been their
honored guest Major Sylvester had con-
ference with Smith at headquarters and
explained the situation. Mr.. Smith replied
that he had suffered nothing except the in
convenience of missing his train and be-
ing detained in the city two days longer
than he expected, which would cut short
his trim