The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-01
BOLD ROBBER CONFESSES
Man Who Has T~errorizei New York
City For Weeks is Caught.
WlSH;DTOE EMULATE "RAFFLES.'
Christopher Smith Tells Acting Inspector
O'Brien at Police Headquarters That
Money Was Not the Cause of His
Thefts-Laughed at His Many Victims
Left Valuable JeweIry Behind.

~
Left Valuable JeweIry Behind.
New York City.-Following his iden-
tiication Christopher Smith, alias
"Sand Rock confessed in his cell to
Acting Inspector O'Brien that he was
the "hold-up man," who for weeks has
created terror on the upper east and
west sides of the city.
According to Inspector O'Brier. he
not only admitted the bulk Of the hold
ups with which he :is charged. but also
confessed to a daring hold-up, which.
although committed last November,
has never been reported to the police.
He denies, however, any knowledge
either of the entry into General Nc
Cooks home or of 4 recent Fifth ave-
Il stage robbery.
He disclaimed any desire for plum
der and asserted that 4 wish to emulate
W. E. Hornung's "Raffies. the Amateur
Cracksman," which he had seen played,
largely inspired his acts.
AS proof that he was not "out for
the dough-" but mainly for the story,
lie cites instances in which he ignored
diamonds lying in plain sight. and also
the case of the unrecorded "hold-up,"
in which lie says he returned to 4
woman 4 marquise ring worth several
thousand dollars. Inspector O'Brien
estimates that on Smiths confession
the value Of the articles he has stolen
is ouly S12O.
Smith boasts that throughout his SER
les of hold-ups he never once ran
away. He derides the utility of certain
policemen on post duty, declaring that
OH several occasions. after emerging
from houses he had 'heid up" he
stood or walked in plain view within
4 few feet of detectives. He boasts
that his work was "easy" and that he
could have he'd up banks had he so
wished.
1t was at his own instance. Captain
O'Brien says, that Smith told the story
Of his crimes. He seemed particularly
amused at the fears be had excited,
but expressed sorrow that Miss Eva
Shipman. had bfen unnerved and made
ill by his visit to her fathers house.
He said he had tried to emulate the
exploits of Western bandits in addi-
ton to those Of "Rafies."
Captain O'Brien is having Smith
watched day and night, as when he
was, taken to Headquarters he said
when asked If he wanted something
to eat that he " 1uld prefer carbolic
acid.
Smith began by saying that he want.
ed especially to clear up inaccuracies
that had appeared in the published ac-
counts of his exploits. He boosted that
he could bit a ifty-cent- piece at fifty
yards ninety-nine times out Of 4 hun
bred with airevolver.
At the house of Mr.. Woerz, he said.
after he went into the house he had
backed Miss Hoffman, Mr.. Woerz's
niece. upstairs into the room where the
other women were, and had demanded
money.
They were all so frightened" he
continued. that they had to sit down.
I sat down. too. I had to turn my face
away so that they would not see that I
was laughing"
Smith denied that e had confeder-
ateS. beSlueS tue Sco tual ue Sot iloht
Mr.. Woerz. he Melted all told 81 at
the Delta Phi Club and $35 from pawn
ing Heighe's watch, which be got in the
Delta Phi Club house. He told with
great gusto of %telephoning to an even
ing paper which had offered $1,000 re.
ward for his capture.
"'Will you pay me the reward If |
60 down to the office" I asked them.
They wanted to know who I was. and
I said. I'm Raf1es. I'm the man you
want They said they would pay the
money if 1 went down to the Office.
but I never went