The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-27
in Her BIG AUTO.
How Edith Simmons Willitts-
Smedley Cut a Dash.
Long a Striking Figure on
Denver Streets.
HER ACTIONS STRANGE.
Lived at the Brown Palace Hotel
for a Time.
Her Bank Account Attached for
Jewelry Bill.
for Gems One of
WOman's characteristics.
HER ACTIONS STRANGE

II seems that Mrs Edith l. Smedley
did not confine her "Chadwickian" ex-
periences entirely to innocent, unso-
phisticated farmers from Nebraska and
young and frnpressionable lawyers from
Texas. Some of her victims are in Den
yer, though here she merely bought
things and gave her notes in payment.
When Mrs. Smedley returned from Lin
coin with the Sc 900 obtained from Jo-
seph Wells reposing snugly in her
bodice, she made a bee line for the First
National bank and added the amount
to a bank account there under the name
/ OF Scott Smedley.
Saturday afternoon this bank account
was attached by the Lewis Jewelry
Supply company to ensure the payment
of notes amounting to $3.50, which she
had given to Joseph I. Schwartz, a jew
eler. at 500 Sixteenth street, in payment
for various articles of adornment.
Three months ago Mrs. Smedley went
to the Schwartz store and purchased
three diamond rings, a diamond brace
let and diamond scarf pin. the bill for
the whole amounting to sonnet thing
more than 81, 900. She paid part down
and gave her notes for the balance, one
for $500 and another for $3.50. These
Jewelry company by Schwartz The
notes are not yet due, but when
Schwartz heard of the arrest of Mrs.
Smedley he concluded he had better get
on the safe side of the fence Hence
the attachment
1t is said that other jewelers. of the
city, as well as number of the down
town stores, also hold similar notes
signed by Mrs. Smedley. Other attach
ments of the bank account are expect
ed. One has already been fled on the
Smedley automobile, to cover garage
charges.
Wells was not the only Lincoln man
whom Mrs. Snledley, or Mrs. Simmons,
as she was then known, ensnared- A
former Lincoln man, who now lives in
Denver, says that some time ago a
prominent man of that city became en-
tangled and that Mrs. Smedley demand
ed $4,000 to satisfy her claims. The case
was finally compromised for $3,O0O it is
The Smedleys e'putting a bold front
on it, anyway. This telegram was re-
ceived from Scott SmedIey by his broth
er-in-laW, Albert Simmons, last night:
Everything fixed. Tell Mcdonald not
to worry. Well be home soon."
This in spite of the fact that the
Smedleys are in Jail in Lincoln; that
they have not yet succeeded in secur-
ing bail, and that Joseph Wells stub
bornly refuses to talk of compromise.
Made Wells Cut Minister'S.
The devotion of Joseph Wells, her
aged admirer, was remarked last Sun
day by the acquaintance of the Smed-
leys when he came to pay Mrs. Smed-
ley a visit. When he arrived, a long
white beard reached almost to his waist.
This did not meet with Mrs. Smedley's
approval it is said, and before he had
been in Denver two hours the beard
was shorn.
Wells was introduced here by Mrs.
Smedley as her guardian. He was de-
scribed by those who met him as look
ing like prosperous farmer
llorv ool-
cording to those who knew her best.
Automobiling was her hobby. Every
day, rain or shine, her red touring car
might be seen whizzing down the main
streets or ripping around corners at a
speed that threatened instant destruc-
ton to unwary pedestrians For Mrs. |
Smedley never felt that she was really
motoring unless the machine was go
ing at a break-neck pace.
Striking Picture.
In her motoring costume she made a
stricking picture. Clad in a chic leather |
auto coat, her blonde hair surmount- |
ed always by violet toque, about |
which a white veil was sometimes |
draped, she never failed to draw the |
eyes of the crowd The viofet toque |
was always in evidence though the rain
might be fairly sluicing down.
She usually drove alone. except for |
her chauffeur. Harry SkiIlman, and |
where she went during her daily pill |
grimages she never made public. In |
the evening she and her husband often |
went out together in the machine.
Another fad of Mrs Smedley's was !
rings. Opals in particular were her IA |
vorites One, weighing about five carats |
and surrounded by tiny diamonds, was I
her especial pride. Smaller opals and |
the fingers OF both hands almost to the |
knuckles.
Claude Simmons Talks.
Claude Simmons talked to the Post
last night at length concerning what
he knows of his sister, Simmons Smed-
ley, which, according to his own story,
is mighty little. 1t was the first inter-
view on the case he has given to any
newspaper.
II really don't know much about
her of late years. he said She was
born in Louisville, Ky, 25 years ago.
Some of the papers have stated her
age as 30, but that isn't So She is
but three years older than L and I II
am %. A little less than three years n
after her birth our parents moved to H
Topeka. Kan, where I was born. and II
where we spent our childhood. l left
nome at an early age and never went
back, except at long periods We
we're the only children. Our father
i've years ago, and since the mothers
ieath, Edith has been entirely alone,
10 far as relatives were concerned. I
eft home again after mothers death,
md 1 never saw Edith after that until
came to Denver a short time ago.
Then 1 found her living with Scott
smedley.''
How about all those reports of her
ife in Topeka, in Perry. in Fort
Dodge and in Lindsborg, Kan" was
Il don't know. I wasn't aware un-
il I read it in the Post that she had
yer been in Lindsborg or Fort
W. No. ,,az her first husband'sl