The daily sentinel., 1907-03-30
"ShOOt and Be Damned
Awful Ending of Alis-spent Life
Young Robber Meets
Death.


this awful fact more fully and clearly
demonstrated than last night when
Howard Smith, a young man reckless
ly trodding down the downward
path. was shot to death at the little
town of Clifton by H. +. Munson,
deputized by the sheriff's office to ar
rest Smith on the charge of burglary.
Smith alone was responsible for
the fate that he met. Mr.. Munson
was fully justified in shooting the
young man down, although he did
not shoot with the intention of kill
ing Smith.
1t was a most unfortunate affair
but conducting himself as he has for
several years Smith was certain soon
er or later to meet such an end.
About -thre weeks ago two young
man came to this city from Ely, Ne
vada, Howard Smith, aged 81 years
and Wilson Stranger, a boon compan-
ion, several years Smiths senior.
The two young men applied for work
at the livery barn of Barton & Ter
refill and Smith was given employ
ment in doing odd jobs about the
barn while the other fellow was not
employed. Smith was allowed to sleep
in one of the rooms in the second
story of the barn and his friend,
Stranger who had secured work out
In the city, was allowed by Manager
Barton to room with Smith,
Smith soon proved himself to be
worthless. shiftless fellow and was
discharged by Mr.. Barton after he
had been working but a few days.
However Smith prevailed upon Mr..
Barton to allow him to continue to
sleep in the barn until he could, find
another job seeing no reason to
object, Mr. Barton graciously permit
ted the young fellow to do so. Stran-
ger, the other young fellow, also
continued to room in the barn. Now
and then Smith would help around
the barn to pay for his room rent.
A few days ago he went with Mr. Bar
ton to the depot to unload some ma
chinery and in doing the work hurt
two of his fingers pretty badly.
On Thursday night about eleven
O'Clock the regular night man at the
barn went to the Barton home and
asked Mr.. Barton to give him the
keys SO that he could get into the
sample rooms. Mr.. Barton inform
ed him that the transfer driver had
them as he had failed to return them
that night to the barn. The night
man went back to the barn and
young Smith hearing him talking
about the keys volunteered to go to
the home of the transfer man and
get the keys for him. This ne was
permitted to do. The night man,
who is thoroughly trustworthy. then
proceeded to wash buggy pending
Smith s return. Presently Smith
came back with the keys and went
into the buiness office of the barn
night man to finish the buggy and
then would go with him after the
load of trunks for the sample room.
The night man states that several
times Smith walked out of the office
and then back again in a careless
manner but this did not arouse his
suspicion. After a while Smith came
out and told the night man that ne
would walk down to the Abbey saloon
and meet him there as he drove TO
the depot. This was the last that the
night man or anyone else connected
with the barn saw of Smith until
they viewed his body today.
There is no question but that all
the time that Smith was in the barn
office he was ransacking the hrms
safe,
The next morning the night man
turned the keys over 10 MI pei .oH,
little dreaming that the safe had
been robbed. Later in the morning
Mr.. Barton found that the money
drawer in the safe had been robbed
of about $50. in silver and $40 In
currency. He at once suspected
Smith but could not locate him and
the officers were notified. The com
bination on the safe had not been
turned Thursday night and smith
evidently knew this and knew that
the key to the little money drawer
was on the key ring, hence his eager
ness to go after the keys. 1t is pc
lieyed that he had been planning
for a long period to rob the safe'
1t was learned yesterday that smith
had exchanged some silver for cur
rency at the Abbey saloon shortly
after he committed the robbery An
day Yesterday the sheriff's ONCE
searched for Smith and other
towns were notified. 1t was learned
Yesterday that he spent the latter
part of Thursday night at a house OF
i'll fame and was also at one the
greater part of yesterday morning
There is no doubt but that he was re-
lleved of most of his money at these
houses.