The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-10-02
| Office
| BURKE
| BUILDING
LAFAYETTE SMITHS
STIRRING ADVENTURES

The vidocq of Waymart with the
Historical Name Tells the Tribune
Man of His Experiences with
Fishermen from Over the Moosic
Mountains-He Serves Notice on
Trespassers and Describes His Ad-
ventures in His Own Unique Way.
What His Narrative Covered.
The Tribune man had the pleasure
If meeting In Honesdae this week
Lafayette Smith. the vidocq OF Way
mart. the vigilant and sharp-witted
officer of that village, the hero of the
downfall of the "capitol of Waymart,
A "hotcl' on the side on Alexander
farm. hero also of the unraveling OF
the mystery of the destruction by fire
Of the saw mill at Waymart and the
man who above all others is the terror
to trans Moosic fishermen who tres
pass on the waters of Lake Lodore and
nearby lakes and boldly lure away the
bass and pckerel in the keeping of
this alert policeman.
The game of chasing game fishermen
is l.afc's speciality these days. land
Jod rot them" said he, with a know
ing and threatening glance. they
haint agoin' to fish in them ponds; not
while I'm supposed to be doin' my
duty and can lay hands on nv army
rife. You know" concluded the earn
est slcuth With IL convincing shake OF
the head you know, | carried that
rifle for four years in the army. yep,
four years and there haint no one
goin' to get any when | get the drop
on EN-. No. sir: no. sir" as he reached
the tonc Of voice of the colored par
son when he says. land now. bethrun
Brudder Gardner will take up de col
lrctShun.'
Speaking of exciting and heroic ven
lures, those undertaken by Layafette
in enforcing the law. for which he has
such a sacred regard. offer material
for almost any kind of book. This
is one of the few things the reading
public is missing these days.
Lafayctte's presence in Honesdale
when the Tribune man met him. was
due to his attendance at court to make
his return 1t was Grand Jury day
and Detective Smith was there with his
uIutIltE O'lttIS " supS'i'Dt " lhN
county's clean bill of health from Il
moral standpoint On this occasion
added testimony was given to Lafe's
circumspection and his zeal as an Off
Ger by the fact that he returned one
vioator of the law. man who sold
cider of his own making. which haG
outcrown the weakness of its early
days and had taken on about a one
horsepower strength.
The Tribune man acknowledged his
thanks to his esteemed Waymart ac-
quaintance for having given him the
opportunity of some stories for his de.
partment.
That's all right, that's all right
rolled out Lafayette's serio-comit
voice, as he made a graceful bow an(
commanding double gesture. Dom
say word about it. Them pieces
We're all right. But say" as he gath.
cred together for an explosive laugh
'somc ones gittin jealous O. seem my
name in the papers. Han't that so
eh? hoh-hobed the village policeman
as he slapped his newspaper friend or
the back to convince him of the hu.
NOR of the thing.
1t might be mentioned that some oi
Lafayette's brother officers are bi
Jealous of his achievements, partcu.
larly the newspaper notorety thai
they naturally brought him.
But say earnestly resumed Laf.
ayette. while his face assumed 6
;tatesman-like seriousness and grave.
ness. II wish you'd let them fishermen
know that they can't come arounC
them ponds while it's my duty tt
watch things and see that there hahn,
nothin wrong goin' on. Now If mar
comes there in a boat. it's all right
certainly tits; yes, that's right, yes
sir"
Lafayette grew cautious as he re.
lated an experience with some tres.
passing fishermen from over the Moo.
sizes week ago. and what he sale
came in confidential whisperings while
his eyes rolled menacing look to.
wards possible intruders in the con.
versat lion.
II was over on the picnic grounds,
he said. II think twas week ago las
Thursday. see two fellows afishin',
Got a boat" says l.
Got what" says they. We aim
got nothin' but some fish: and yo,
trot along" says they, cor We'll throw
you into the pond. One of 'em sale
somethun about not liking buckwhea