The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-04
SAY THEY HAVE HOLD-UP MAN
POLICE ARREST "SAND ROCk'
SMITH, WHO WEARS GUNS.
Clue Found by Recovery OF College Boys
watch In neutrality-suspicious. said 10
Have Dragged OF woerz and Other
Lone Hand Raids-Asixs for Carbolic.

Lone Hand Hatds-Asks Tor GarDolic.
The capture Of the Woerz hold-up man
was announced by the police last night.
At a late hour Capt. o'Brien. in charge oil
the Detective Bureau. said he was sure
that his prisoner was the man who robbed
Fred G. Heighe in the Alpha Delta Phi
fraternity house in West nth street, near
the Columbia University grounds. Capt
o'Brien was also quite confident that he
was the same man who robbed Brewer
Ernest G.. II. Woerz and +. l.. Shipman
within the last few weeks.
The prisoner is Christopher Smith. 10
years old who Ia known to the police as
sand Rock Smith. He was arrested in
Pop" Andsey's two and a half cent pool
room at II Lawrence street late last night.
This is the story OF the capture as told by
Detective Sergeants McCauley, Dewey
and Oppenheim;
The Heighe boy WAS robbed on Jan. ~.
The highwayman who held up the butler
in the frat" house got a gold watch and
small amount Of money from Heighe. For
ty-fve minutes after the robbery the de-
tectives found the watch in Simpsons
pawnshop in West Forty second street.
IL had been pawned for $50. From the
pawnbroker the detectives got descrip-
ton Of the man who had pawned 1t. The
description tailed exactly with Smith
In some manner not thoroughly explained
the detectives next picked up John l..
Collins Of Lawrence street. He said he
knew Smith, who often went to Lindsey's
place to play pool. Collins said that Smith
carried two or three big revolvers strapped
to a belt and always went armed. Collins
said he once asked Smith why he carried
the guns.
Then. according TO what Collins told the
detectives Smith told them that he was
responsible for the Woerz and other rob-
berries.
few days later the detectives made the
acquaintance of Cleveland Miller OF 36s
West i2eth street. Miller said he knew
Smith quite we'll and that he never saw
Smith without at least two revolvers In
his pockets.
Smith told him. he ga ~ that after robbing
the Shipmsn.house he called up the servant
on the telephone and told her that be was
sorry he had caused her so much trouble.
Smith also informed Miller that he got
twenty fve-dollar bills from BreveHWoerz.
Smith displayed a newspaper clipping
which told about the Woerz robbery and
was not back ward, Miller said in describ-
ing the details Of the Heigher robbery. NIL
Ter had q bag Of cartridges. which he said
Smith had given to him, and the handker-
chief which Smith had usedto cover his fhns
In one OF tbs ringie handed raids.
The three detectives decided to wait for
Smith Ia IAndsey's pool and billiard rooms
ia Lawrence street until he showed
up They went there late yesterday after
noon. dressed AZ longshoremen. and they
say they looked the part All afternoon
and until late last night they played pool.
Finally Smith walked in. and was arrested.
He was mum and refused to say another
word until he got to Police Headquarters.
There Capt O'Brien asked him II he wanted
something TO eat.
If you would get me little carbolio
acid. I would be much obliged. said Smith.
The detectives searched the back room
Of Lindseys place. They found suit
case which Lindsey said belonged to Smith.
In the case was box full of "A oalibre
cartridges. Next to the case was a "a
calibre revolver lying on the floor. Lindsey
said the revolver was Smiths also. When
he was arrested and searched there were
no weapons found on the young man.
The detectives found also in the suit
case long black ovorcoat and a brown
SLOUGH hat. In descriptions given the
police by people who had suffered through
the visits of the lone highwayman, his
clothing was invariably said to be long
black overcoat and felt hat either dark
gray OF black.
Smith IL about five feet six inches tall
and clean shaver Ia addition to the
woerz, Shipmnn and Heighe robberies'
the police think he is the man who tried to
rob DR.. Robert B. Talbot OF 81 West Sixty
eighth street on Jan. 20.
At Police Headquarters, Capt. O'Brien put
Smith on the griddle for over an hour
but not a word could he get out OF him.
Smith was arrested 80 late at night that
it was impossible to get any of the persons
who we're robbed to Headquarters last night
TO identify him