Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-02
BUTCHER
is UNDER
ARR EST
Charged With Killing
Chauffeur In
B1aWl
Police Say Man Admits
Police Say Man Admits
He Struck
Smilde
Several Persons Are Taken Into
Custody In Connection With
Midnight Murder of Auto
mobile Driver

Alfred e. G. Lane, a butcher living
at 139 Avenue Twenty mine, was ar
rested at o'clock yesterday afternoon
charged with killing John Smilde,
chauffeur. Tuesday night in San Fer
nando street
Two hours later Harry Doble, Lane s
companion at the scene of the fight,
was also arrested and held on sus-
picion.
Mrs. Doble, Walter Hickman and an
unidentified woman were the members
of the automobile party, the police say,
which was being driven about the city
by Smilde previous to meeting Lane
and Doble in San Fernando near Mar
chessault street.
1t is not believed any action will be
taken against Doble or the other mem
bers of the party, but they will be held
as witnesses urtil the mystery sur
rounding the affair is cleared up.
The police said last night Lane ad-
mitted he quarreed with Smilde and
struck him in the face and afterward
ran away when he saw the other man
lying apparently lifeless on the side
walk.
May Be Manslauehter
Detective Captain Flammer said the
charge against Lane would probably
be that of manslaughter. Under the
attendant circumstances, he said, he
did net believe the police would be JUS
tilted in asking the district attorney to
issue complaint charging murder
After working on the case ever since
Smilde was removed in a dying condi-
ton to the receiving hospital the police
and detectives believe they finally sue
ceeded in unraveling the whole story
when they arrested Lane at his room
about o'clock
Lane roomed with Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry Dobble, and last night went
uptown in company with Doble.
Near Campfs restaurant in San Fer
nando street, it is sid, Lane and Doble
came across Smide, who was entertain
ing an automobile party consisting of
Mrs. Doble. an unidentified woman and
Walter Hickman, a Southern Pacific
employe.
The police believe Doble upbraided
his wife for being in the party and this
led to quarrel in which Lane Joined.
1t was then that Lane struck Smilde,
the sidewalk, raining blows upon him.
1t is alleged that the blow which
landed on Smildes chin knocked him to
the sidewalk fracturing one of the YER
tebrae and causing cerebral hemor-
rhage.
Flee in Terror
Following the fight the party is said
to have fled in terror over the tragic
ending of the nights revelry.
10 e,nia rnI ft,a I,,;o.
dition and passed away just as he was
laid on the operating table at the re-
ceiving hospitl
The police ,Jere absolutely without
clew Tuesday night when the body of
Smilde was brought to the hospital.
Soon after his name was learned it
was ascertaned that he was chauffeur
for j. r. Bragdon of Pasadena, who
has real estate offices in the H. w.
Hellman building.
Snilde lived at 31S Croker street.
and early last evening telephoned his
wife he would not be out late.
Mrs Smilde sat up hour after hour
waiting for her husbands return until
informed early yesterday morning that
her husband was injured. 1t was not
until later in the day that she was told
her husband was killed by then un-
identified man.
The woman was proStrated by the
terrible blow and is now under the care
of q physician at her home The couple
were married about three years ago
and Were said to have been happy in
their domestic life.
They had no children.
Ooble is Arrested
1t is believed Smilde frequently took
Bragdon's automobile from the garage
of Memo & Bouanger, 607 North Main
street without permission and toured
about the city with parties of his
friends.
1t is thought probable he met Mrs
Doble and her woman friend in COM
pany with Walter Hickman and took
them riding. By mere chance, it is pre-
sumed, Doble and Lane came across
them just before the fight occurred.
Whether or not any of the party were
at the M. and M. club. 6O9h San Fer
nando street, the police do not know
positively.
After securing information as to the
occupants of the automobile the police
at once went to work to locate Doble
and Lane.
A watch was placed on the house in
Avenue Twenty-nine, but Lane did not
return until about o'clock Doble was
arrested at his home shortly after
o'clock.
Learns of Murder
Detective Captain Flammer gave out
the following statement last night:
"After talking with Lane for some
time he admitted to me he struck
Smilde on the face and afterward ran
away, fearing the consequences of
his act.
HE told me he went TO work Wednes-
day morning at Alfred Steiner's butcher
shop. 1896 East Main street
HE thought little about the death OF
Continued Gn page two.