The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1901-11-20
MESSENGER
SMITH HOME
Returns From St. Louis. Where
He Identified Prisoner.
IS ONE OF THE BANDITS
No Doubt but What the Man Under Arrest
Helped in the Wagner Train
Robbery.
IS ONE OF THE BANDITS

Express Messenger c. IL. Smith of
this city, who was III charge Of the
express car during the famous Great
Northern holdup at Wagner, last
July, returned Monday night from
ST. Louis, Mo. where he had gone to
identity the man under arrest in that
city. Thc latter was arrested under
the suspicion Of being one Of the
three bandits who conducted the hold
up, and Ii WAS thoughI that he was
the famous bandit Harry l.onga
baugh.
Mr. Smith had no trouble in idcn-
titying the man as one OF the out
laws bul, uf course, he was not able
% give his name, for, as he remarked
% a reporter OF The Bee, upon his
return. The bandits did not give
ne their cards, and at the time no
ntroductions wero made. But that
he was implicated in the robbery
there is no doubt, as the fireman.
Charles uNeill, who was ON the en-
gino Of No. ) AT the time, had no
hesitancy in declaring that he was
the man who climbed over the ten
der and covered the engine crew
with his guns.
More than that, O'Ncill positively
Identified one of the guns found in
the prisoners possession as the one
he had seen used at the robbery.
The bandit when captured had two
ugly looking rcvolVers on his person,
one being new, while the other had
evidently seen much service. 1t was
the latter which ONeill recognized.
MIR. Smith related in an entertain
ing manner the events which led up
to the capture of the prisoner and
the manner in which it was done. His
story is as follows:
On Thursday, November Z, some
time during the day, the man under
arrest had purchased watch i'll one
OF the many pawnshops in ST. Louis,
and i'll payment for same had turned
over four $40 bills. At the time the
JSW in charge Of the shop had no
suspicion that anything was wrong
and readily accepted the money, in
fact paying no attention to it. Be
fore the banks closed for the day
he deposited his money as usual, but
the officials refused to accept the
money, claiming it was some of the
train at the time of the robbery.
The fact that the bills We're all new
and had apparently never been used
had aroused their curiosity and they
had carefully looked it over with the
result mentioned.
Fortunately for himself, but unfor-
tunately for the robber, the proprie-
tor OF the paWnShOp had TAX Ii a
good look at his customer and was
able to give minute description OF
him. even to the smallest details Inc
| bank officials lost no time in iHrn-
| ing the matter over to the CHIEF OF
police and soon the entire depart
ment was on the lookout for a man
| answering the description as given
| by the paWnbrolier. Six detectives
under the charge OF Detective Gu.on,
who We're working on the case, soon
| got on the track OF a man anSWc: III ;
| the description, and who apparently
was taking in the city.
He was driving about the city ia
a hack, making frequent stops ut So
looms, where he would purchase a
| few bottles of beer, always giving in
payment some of the stolen money
| and receiving good money in eX-
change. The detectives followed their
man around town for several ho,rs
and when he entered Il dive on OGC
of the low streets of the city they d =
| cided it was time to affect his cap
| ture. Accordingly their plans were
laid and fleming to be very drank
they entered the resort, but ioun'!
/ /
| joining rooms with one of the girls
| employed at the place.
| Still acting in an intoxicated maI-
ner, the men reeled to the door OF
| the room and apparently by a
! drunken accident they fell up agalns'
| the door, forcing the lock and falling
| headlong into the room. Even then
! the suspect did not take alarm bat
remained seated at a table ana be
| yond slancing up when the dCS1ctlyo$
| entered he paid no attenuJn 20 them
| Regaining his feet Guion reelai oveI
towards him and again fell. This
time he fell against the outlaw and
grabbed his right hand. Quick as q
flash the bandits left mana went &c
his hip pocket, but before he could
use the gun which was there, he was
overpowered by the Other detectives
and made prisoner.
| The bandit seeing no chance OF es
Icape sank into a state of sullen sub
mission. refusing to answer an!
Iquestions, AMI when taken before the
CHIEF Of police he preserved a dog
ICED silence. When searched at the
police station a quantity of the
money was found and among Other
things a hotel key. The officers i'm