Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-08-06
GROWING LIST OF
CLEVER CAPTURES
0verhauIing of 0hmstead at Pro-
vo While Bait Was Still
Out for Suckers.
RECALLS OTHER ARRESTS
Prisoner Book Contains Names of Fa-
nous Criminals Who Were Success
fully Pursued by Local Officers.

When the name Of Percy g. ohm
stead, impersonator Of q United States
naval officer, was written on the re-
cords Of the United States nlarshars
office this morning II became the most
recent In n long series of names of
prisoners who have been, each in his
turn, contributing to u notable history
| OF crime detection
That some fine pieces OF detective
| work have been done in Utah is well
| known by those who win look back
only to the running down of the
Gregory counterfeiting plant last April.
and of the arrest of Francisco Ciddio
here on January 20, These cases will
| occupy important places in the lore Of
| official headquarters. This one be
longs TO the marshal'S office. Ciddio's
| belongs partly to the archives of the
| Canadian secret service. the case of
CRATER PETER TO the postotfice in
Capt, Hare's branch OF the interior
| department.
ohmsteads game does not seem SD
shrewd today, since he was Caught
| with the goods but had the Salt Lake
| officials been two hours later in ar
rlving at Provo yesterday afternoon,
Salt Lake today would be enjoying a
celebrated mystery. while clever
schemer would be said to have turned
live trick and got away.
WOULD HAVE DISAPPEARED
While bringing Ohmstead back from
Provo last night, Deputy U. S. Mar
shall Smyth, who has had much ex
perience with men in his game, said
to Ohmstead: Tell me something
rye seen quite few fellows play
ing your game. How was it you
cashed checks on the treasury de-
partment knew they were sent to
Washington, knew they must newt
ably return. and knew they must over
fingered around the country? | never
saw an act apparently so stupid as
that.
And Ohmstead's answer was elucidat-
ing. III you fellows had got here aft
er the 3 o'clock train pulled out,
wouldn't be here for you 10 be asking
questions. / figured the time to Wash
ington, and I thought l had today to
make my getaway. More than that,
thought / could make it from Provo
as, we'll as salt Lake. The night be-
fore / had met these girls at Saltair
They wanted an automobile ride to
Provo-and well-it was a case of too
much petticoats. stayed over against
my best judgment, bird the automobile
ana brought lHtln upNn mere, bhl
never intended to do thing this aft
ernoon but make my get away"
TELEGRAPHIC ACTION.
The capture was a case of the depart
ment at Washington taking immediate
action. Hardly had the checks cashed
for Ohmstead, alleged recruiting OFF,
Ger, by the manager of the Hotel Met
ropole, reached the treasury department.
In
attorney general, and wire was on its
way to Utah ordering an immediate
arrest When the investigation here
developed the fact that Ohnlstsad was
In Provo. Deputy Marshal Smyth knew
too we'll the quick disappearance" clan
of which Beresford Hope was such
example, to expect that 1t
would be safe TO try the train service.
With Ohmstead one hour ahead of him |
by automobile, h. started his prepara- |
tons, and he reached his man in Provo |
lust a short time before the train was |
to leave for u ticket on which he |
was raising money when overtaken, by
,ashlng his bogus drafts. Catching him |
while his bait for suckers was still |
out, the officers secured a letterhead. |
on wtsch was wrttsn 'Hecruiting
Station, U. s Navy, Percy G. Ohm
stead, Lieutenant Commander" and
calling card on which was printed
Lieut. OhmsteLd, U. S. N. $ well as
1 hand bill advertising the opening or
4 recruiting station from Aug to 10.
Ohmstead was not arraigned this
morning before u. S. Commissioner
Baldwin.
AWAITING INSTRUCTIONS.
Dist. Atty. Booth is postponing this
lction awaiting the arrival OF papers
rom Washington, and to see If other
leople come forward with statements
hat they. too, were Induced to endorse
he bogus treasury department drafts.
eddie Smith, the chauffeur who drove
)hmstead on his hilarious trips over
,alt Lake, lost all his commissions and
lis time and in addition endorsed ono
# the drafts for $40, II Is yet to be
leard from. The $50 he secured In
'rovo is now in the possession of the
United States marshal's office. where
I viii remain as evidence until after
he trial At the metropole hotel the
mount OF checks cashed for him Is
tatel as $50.
IDENTIFIED FROM DESCRIPTION.
The manner of identifying Ohmstead
,as interesting. Smyth secured "A de-
crlptlon OF him from the proprietor
4 the MetrOpole and with only this
to help him spotted his
ave him the opportunity OF explaining
Tho he was. The same data was all
hat he had In making the arrest OF
he famous Ciddio, whom he lured out
{ Second South street Italian sa-
lon into the county Jail on the preteXt
hat II was his home, and he had
% there for Ciddio repairing water
ipe.
Walking up the street with Ciddio
e questioned him, and II was not I'M
4 he asked him his name and received
he reply Frank Bosso' which was
he alias Ciddio was known 10 use I'm
alt Lake, that smyth became certain
I his man,
CASE OF PEITlER.
The habits Of Ohmstead recall another
imous CRATER who worked while
4 Salt Lake caused the secret service
long hunt, and was finally brought
ack here 10 serve a term In the coGn-
z jail. This man was j. @ Peltier.
enough Peltier took 30 high
fe with the same abandon as ohm
cad, and one OF the men he worked
pom helped yesterday 10 detect ohm
cad, Peltier inVeglod Postmaster
love of Provo, into treating him TO a
while he conhded 10 Glove
lat these ordinary inspectors In tho
DstofIice secret service didn't amount
80 cents along side OF him" Glove
served In the detection IT
hlnstead by directing Deputy Marshal
myth In the direction his automobile
I'd passed with It's load of girls, after
myth had arrived In Provo, :
Peltier's operations We're carried on !