The San Francisco call., 1905-05-03
Says He Was About
To Make His
Surrender
WOMAN is IN JAIL
IS Found at Swell
Hotel as Mrs.
Smith.
CRIES ABOUT WIFE
When Told of Her
Illness. Breaks
Down.
WANTS TO RETURN
CRIES ABOUT WIFE
WANTS TO RETURN

,~4f 80. - .
ST. LOUIS, Mo-. May. 2.-Edward J.
Smith, the absconding Tax Collector
who stole over 100000, was captured
here to-day. His infatuation for
Leona Brooks, the woman whose story
was printed exclusively in The San
Francisco Call. led to his capture. He
followed the woman for whom he had
sacrificed honor and honesty, deserted
his wife and betrayed his friends.
Leona Brooks is also in custody.
Smith was arrested as he was board
ing Rock Island train en- route for
san francisco. He at first denied
Identity, but later confessed and ex-
pressed readiness to return to the Pa
cine Coast at moments notice. with
out requisition papers. The woman in
the case was not with him at the time
of the arrest, but she was the lure
that drew him here. She was reg
istered at the Hotel Jefferson as. Mrs.
b. Smith. The absconder met her
there and registered as B. Smith.
The Pinkerton agency shadowed the
Smith woman and in following her to
the Jefferson Hotel incidentally ran
across Smiths signature on the regis
ter The signature was recognized
from fac simile printed by the Pink
erton agency, copy of which Super
intendent II. w. Minister of the local
Pinkerton force had in his possession
Mrs Smith, who is really Leona
Brooks. was taken into custody at 2:30
o'clock Wednesday morning and held
subject to the chiefs orders. The po-
lice are trying to connect her with the
defaulter and jim their efforts to do
this, got the handsome Westerner out
of bed at midnight for thorough
sweating.
The police would not say just what
admissions the woman made or what
Information of value was obtained from
her, but her arrest followed shortly after
the force assigned to the case reported
TO headquarters. Smiths appearance
has greatly altered since he left the
coast. his face ig careworn and he
rarely, If ever. smiles. He broke down
when told that his wife was in q dying
condition in San Francisco.
Il never neglected my wife" he We
hemently cried, "and I've got the
sweetest baby on earth"
Smith would implicare no ono and
stoutly declared that he alone was
responsible for the shortages and
that he would fully explain the details
Of his.peculations at the proper time In
San Francisco.
At the Four Courts Smith again con-
fessed his guilt, and agreed to go back
10 Dan francisco without requ1Sit10n
papers. He said that he was on his
way to Los Angeles, where he intended
to take a short rest. after which he in
tended to surrender to the authorities
and make a clean breast of the whole
affair.
The STORY of Smiths infatuation for
Leona Brooks. which was printed ex-
clusively in The Call, gave the Pinker-
ton detactive agency the clew to the
defaulter's whereabouts. B. F. Kem-
BILE. the head of the local Pinkerton OF
flee, wired to watch her.
She was shadowed from the time she
reached ST. Louis and registered as
Mrs. B. Smith. Kemble was confident
that tina absconder would follow the
woman for whom he probably went
into his recent crimes. and the suppo-
sition proved correct.
District Attorney Byington and
Foreman Andrews were at the Orphe-
um wl1en the news was announced to
them. They Immediately came to The
Call office to have the news verified.
, am pleased with the capture:
said Foreman Andrews This wifi be
a warming to other grafters.'
He must be convicted" said the
District Attorney An example
should be made OF him.
The rfstrict Attorney and Foreman
Andrews believe that Smith will make