The times., 1899-08-07

legs was broken. His reputation among
his neighbors is that he is very close ana
quite quarrelsome.
SHELLS temperament is phIegmatic. He
Is very slnggish in his movements and
speech. One OF the policemen who does
duty on the beat on which he lives said TO
a Times reporter yesterday: There amt
drop Of game blood in his body. Every
little "scrapper" in the neighborhood was
next TO him He wouldn't fight a rat,
though he talked a good deal about his
strength. ] have seen fellows Of one-third
his weight call him down hard -"
Pat Creagh the policeman who took
Saeli into custody, has one Of the fairest
records on the force. He has made num-
Der OF good captures He was with Lieu
tenant Kelly in the Sixth precinct for sew
eral years. and saw rough service on the
Schotts alley beat. He was made mount
ed policeman last December. and was
transferred to the Ninth precinct. He has
been stationed al Benning since his trans
fer
Nervous and Restless.
When seen in his cell last night by a
Times reporter. Smell presented sorry
appearance. He was nervous in the ex-
treme. and so restless that he could not
remain in one position for any length of
lime. Frequently be shifted his reclining
position on the iron bench ia his cell which
served him as bed.
As has been stated, the man is a YER
ftable giant IN stature and the narrow
bench was easily buried under his massive
frame. Though the man was disinclined
10 talk TO the policemen and others who
questioned him ne occasionally showed that
he was aware of what WAS going on about
him and of what Was being said to him by
the Croans which escaped him. In answer
TO all questions concerning his crime the
man replied that he remembered nothins
OF it, He claimed that as far as he could
remember he had done nothing and pre-
tended not TO know when he last saw his
little victim
The police piled Smell with questions,
but with only the cne result. When yis-
tied by a Times reporter at midnight the
man arose from his reclining position to
q sitting posture, and when told that sore
one wanted to talk with him, said: Il
suppose il is another one of those re-
porters ] have nothing TO say, and viii
not make q statement until the proper
time" Smell was then introduced to the
reporter and recognized the Introduction
by sliding along the bench until he
reached the door OF the cell through which
he extended his hand to the reporter.
II do not remember anything about the
affair." he said in answer to a question
They say that ! have done this thing. hut
] cannot believe il.
During the conversation il was apparent
that the man was fully cognizant Of his
crime and that the Nervousness of il was
more than realized. The man showed
clearly, too, that he was shrewd to q
marked degree and although his nervous
condition caused him at times to forget
himself and make contradictory and con-
fiicting statements. be was not slow 10
recover himself and attempt to straighten
out matters. Mcreover, Smell appeared TO
realize that ne was better of saying as
little as possible and TO that end he ap-
peared TO be feigning a condition Of mental
aberraticn-
He also created The impression that he
wanted those about him 10 feel that he was
in pitiable condition, deserving of sym
pathy and more sinned against than sin
ming. There was no evidence Of the cold
blood which one would naturally have ex-
pected 10 find in a man who had been
guilty OF so revolving a crime. Because
of his nervous state the polica gave the
man drink OF whisky during the cay,
and at night when he could not sleep Smell
asked that he be given another drink. sup
plementing his request with the remark
that about half the quantity given him ar
first would suffice Tor his purpose.
His Replies Esasisc.
When asked II there was any motive for
the crime committed Smell answered.
whisky was at the bottom of it, and then
he quickly added. What crime? II have
done anything il must have been when
I was drunk Yes, I was drinking
Saturday night I do not remember any
thing after / got up yesterday morning
until was arrested. Between those two
periods my mind is a blank. There are
other things, too that do not remember :"
Were you not at the flying horses with
the little girl Saturday night" was asked
by the reporter.
Yes. / was replied Smell. and then.
"So-what girl don't remember any
thing about it,
At this point Policeman Vandershafter.
who was doing guard duty outside the cell
of the murderer, interjected, -'Oh, yes; he
was, ! saw him there with a little girl >
There was silence for few minutes, and
then Smell slowly drawied out: Let me
see. oh. yes, / was at the flying horses
with little girl and a little boy. and |
bought the girl one ticket for a ride. ]
just recalled that fact No. the girl was
not Lizzie. / have stated that / do rot
care 10 talk and would prefer that you ask
no more questions. ] viii make a full
statement IL the morning, when my mini
Is more clear. and / will in all probability
be able TO recall things"
n answer TO the question. did you
sleep well Saturday night2" Smell replied:
''No-yes-I-I must haye-I don't remem-
Der. No. couldn't have slept well; / am
50 nervous now ] can't sleep now; | want
something 10 quiet my nerves."
The impression prevails that Smell saw
little Lizzie Saturday, and that the chile
then informed him that she had acquainted
her mother with the details OF his conduct
II is argued that after the man left the
child he began 20 think of the serious
results which would naturally ensue when
the mother decided TO make public the
truth and seek to ayenge the honor OF
her daughter. After thinking the matter
over Il is supposed that Smell sought "a
verify the statement made by the child
10 him, and II he discovered that the story
OF the assaults had been divuiged he would
seal the lips Of the child forever and ther
escape.
In order TO learn whether the child had
really done as she claimed would appeal
TO have been the object Of Smells early
visit TO the Weisenberger home yesterda,
morning. II would also appear that hl
had another object in the early visit Smell
In q shrewd man, and is well educated
and he realized evidently that to learr
the truth early would give him an oppor
tHnity TO put his supposed design intS
effect and get good start OF the police.
In the hope that the man in his nervous
and muddled state might thoughtiessly ss.
something which would reveal whether hs
saw the little girl Saturday, and thus
strengthen the theory generally adhered
10. Smell was asked II he saw Lizzie Sat
urday. The reply was the usual: Il don'i
wish to discuss the matter until later
viii, as I said, probably be able 10 reoal