The San Francisco call., 1905-04-27
POLICE BEGIN
ACTIVE HUNT
FOR FUGITIVE
Officers in Various
Towns Watching
for Smith.
Captain Burnett Sdus
Defdulter Mag Be
in South.

Detective Captain Burnett has done
everything possible to intercept the
fight of Defaulter Smith, but with the
five days start he may make his get
away. The police bulletin which is to
be issued this morning contains de-
scription of the defaulter which may
assist greatly in identifying any sus-
poets arrested on suspicion of being the
Tax Collector wanted here. On account
of the lateness of the report of the de-
falcation picture of Smith was not
printed in the report, but all the ave-
nues of escape are being closely
watched.
When Captain Burnett heard of the
embezZlement he Immediately cabled
Honolulu, but he does not think that
Smith would try this means of escape
on account of it's being so hard for
criminal to exist there without beccm-
ing suspect. The detectives have
wired the police in all the towns of the
the out-of- California. routes to look out
for Smith, but the captain is inclined
to the belief that Smith went to Los
Angeles and whatever further escape
he may have made has been from
there.
Since the embezzler is a man not used
comparative luxury, it is not thought
that he will segregate himself to any
extent from his fellows, and as he has
not travelled much he will be on his
own resources. A great many of the
felons from the United States have
crossed the line to Mexico, but Captain
Burnett does not think, with the pres
ent extradition laws of Mexico and the
United States, 1T will be a hard problem
to get him once he is discovered in
Mexico.
MAY HAVE LEFT COUNTRY.
The theory of the detectives is that
Smith will stay in some city where he
can live as he did at home, but he may
have gone to Honduras. in Central
America, where a colony of criminals
is said to exist there under police pro-
tectfon and it would be impossible to
return him to the United States be-
cause of the absence of extradition
laws between our country and Hondu-
raS.
Following out their system, descrip-
tons will be sent by local police to
every constable, sheriff, chief of police
and every city in the country will be
on the alert to capture him. Mexico
has already been notified and the po-
lice there are watching for the default
ter. He may have doubled on his trail
and gone north from Los Angeles or
from here, SO the police in the north
ern cities are watching every outgoing
boat and arriving train.
1t is not thought possible that he has
come back to San Francisco to remain
in hiding, as he is we'll known here,
having canvassed the city in two cleo
tions and having been resident for
many years. Wherever he goes out
side of the State he will be stranger
h !, hoe.
and because of the absence of friends,
who might aid him, the police think
1t will be only question of time when
he will be forced to come where they
will get a clew as to his whereabouts.
The rural police of Mexico have been
instructed to arrest every suspicious
character and all persons who cannot
give satisfactory explanation of their
presence in the country. Without
friends Smith will have a hard time to
hide in Mexico, as he cannot speak
Spanish and the natives are becoming
distrustful of the American who comes
into their country without visible pur-
pose to live.
MAYOR SENDS FOR CHIEF.
Because Of the theory that he went
to Los Angeles, Smith could have gone
East as well as to Lower California.
The trip to Los Angeles takes twenty
two hours, giving him four days
start from there in whatever direction
he chose.
Chief of Police Dinan and Captain
Burnett were sent for by the Mayer.
who informed them of Smiths disap-
pearance and the shortage in his ac-
counts. The Mayor urged them to use
every effort to trace the fugitive.
Captain Burnett said:
have known Ed Smith for twenty-five
years and he is about the last man I would
have suspected of doing anything of the kind
He was not drun1ard nor a spender of
money but rather the reverse, and 1 never
heard OF his associatng with dssolute people
His business seemed to be prosperous and
always understood that his domestic relations
were happy The last time I met him he
seemed to be as joviai as could be and acted
as II he hadn't a care In the world His
father was an honored member Of the Police
Department and his brother William was also
in the department for some years.
Los ANGELES POLICE ACTIVE.
LOS ANGELES, April 2e.-Actfng
upon telegraphic request from the
San Francisco Police Department.
Chief of Police Hammel tonight put
practically every member Of the Los
Angeles detective force to work in an
effort to locate Edward j. Smith. the
fugitive San Francisco Tax Collector.
The telegram indicated that the San
Francisco authorities believed Smith
had come to Los Angeles.
Armed with a complete description Of
the fugitive, the detectives are tonight
making a systematic search Of all ho-
tells and rooming houses; interviewing
persons who are known to know Smith
and who would be likely to know of his
whereabouts IL here, but as yet their
efforts have resulted in not the slight
est trace of the much wanted man. The
Los Angeles officers do not believe
Smith came here. The fact that he is
wanted was published here this after
noon and the officers assert that it is
improbable that he would openly an
nounce he was coming to this city IL
he intended to seek a refuge where he
would be safe until such a time as
would be necessary to escape from the
country. They are, nevertheless. de-
voting their entire time to the search.
There was an exchange of telegrams
between the two police departments
late tonight, the nature of which was
not made public.
Try the United States Laundry. 1905
Market street Telephone South 42o.