The times., 1899-08-28
SAYS POLICE BLUNDERED
a Prisoner Who Pleads a Case Of
Mistaken Identity.
he Claims He Is n Prosperous Eng
Ifsh Merchant. But the Detective
Who Arrested Him Thinks He IL n
Man Wanted i'm Chicago-He TaIes
His Detention PhiIosophicaIIy.

The grave responsibility Of arrezting man
. who apparently is a prosperous gentleman
because he answered description of man
wanted for embezziement and grand lar
ceny deyolyed upon Detective Mcdonald,
when he took into custody at the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad station yesterday after
noon Jesse r. Smith, who claims 10 be a
merchant in London. The man is now held
, At the Twelfth Street station, awaiting word
from Chicago, where he claims TO have q
friend The information expected viii come
IN answer TO a telegram to the Chief of Po-
lice OF Chicago sent last night, in which
. he was Informed that the local police had
under arrest man answering the descrip-
ton OF William d. Rice, alias William r.
Davis, sent out in a circular from Chicago
on July 10. AT q late hour last night no
answer had been received from Chicago.
Mr.. Smith denies that he is the man wanted
but admits that he certainly answers the
description in many particulars. That. be
claims, Is merely a matter OF coincidence,
and VIII be proved later.
Mr.. Smith was arrested while aboard a
train ready TO start for Pittsburg HE
was noticed hF Detective Mcdonald as he
walked about Or station, and so closely to
the mind OF Mcdonald did the man answer
the description OF Rice which the detective
had 10 his pocket, that he decided 10 place
the man under arrest. Mr.. Smith had
seated himself in the train when he was
approached by Mcdonald. who politely ex-
plaiued his mission. Mr.. Smith then denied
being the party wanted, but readily con-
sented TO go to headquarters where Act
ing Inspector Carter examined him with
the result that il was decided 10 hold the
man until an investigation could be made.
Mr. Smith, though he claims TO be a Brit
ish subject, made no effort 10 communicate
with the British Embassy but on the other
hand, took his arrest good naturedly and
expressed no concern over it other than to
Say that il had inconvenienced him ana
that he felt humiliated at being taken from
q train in the presence Of a number OF pas
Bengers.
The man whom Mr.. Smith was suspected
OF being is wanted in Chicago for en-
bezzlement and the larceny OF diamonds
valued al Sl5o- He is described as being
1Orty-ive years old. weighing about l90
pounds, five feet seven inches in height,
full face. yellowish grey eyes, heavy
blonde moustache, and bald head. His
clothing is described as consisting Of q
mixed grey and brown coat and pants
neglige shirt. and q soft straw hat. One
hundred dollars reward is offered for his
capture. Mr.. Smith answers the descrip-
tion IN many particulars, the only discrep-
encies aside from the clothing being thai
he is but FIVE feet four and one-half inches
IN height and is forty-seyen instead ol
forty-lve years OF age. When taken into
custody yesterday Mr.. Smith was attirec
in 2 suit OF brown duck Of light texture
dress shirt, and a soft straw hat His
clothes are OF a decidedly English cut
and his accent would stamp him anywhere
as an Englishman- Another point about
him which Tailed with the descriptive cir
cular was that he wore a large diamond
IN his shirt frcnt. Rice was described as
wearing such a stone. Mr.. Smith in ad-
dition 10 the diamond stud. wore hand
some diamong ring and a diamond collar
button. He had in his possession q large
sum Of money.
When seen at the Twelfth Street station
last night Mr. Smith was very cheerful
and talked freely concerning himsef He
stated that be had visited the Unitet
States several years ago. but had never
been to Chicago. He is an Englishman b.
birth. and is in business in London "A
present, so he claims doing fruit, veg
etable and canned and bottled goods trad,
at JAS and 149 Portobelo Road. Nottinl
Hui. London. He also claims TO be
large dealer ia the goods OF a well-knowI
pickIEng house in this country, and say.
that while his visit 20 this country wa
for the purpose of visiting the prineipa
cities he was also anxious TO see the plan
and various branches of the firm he pat
ronizes Mr. Smith claims that he lef
Southampton on August and landed II
New York on the St Paal on August Y.
He says he spent five days in New Yorl
a. the Waldorf Astoria Hotel; went Z