The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-13
ALLEGED SWINDLER
IN POLICE HANDS
Edward Smith, Wanted Here,
Held in Rochester, N. Y.
DISAPPEARED LAST DECEMBER
Washington Police Make Charge
that as the Inventor of Com
pressed Air Motor, which He De-
sired tn Promote, He Passed Num-
her of Worthless Checks.

The Washington police have won their
fight for possession Of Edward Smith, al
legged TO be one Of the most daring
swindlers in the country. who Is wanted
in this city for false pretenses and pass
bag several alleged worthless checks.
Smith is the famous compressed air
motor man" whose name has appeared
in nearly all Eastern papers in connec-
ton with his alleged illegal operations
in selling shares in patented compressed
air motor. which he claimed would revo-
lutionize the construction Of automobiles
lie disappeared from Washington in
December lest. after. the police say,
passing worthless checks on some OF the
most prominent business men OF the Ma
tionRl Capital He had been out of the
city only e few hours when Detectives
O'Dea and Evans were on his trail. Cir
culars containing descriptions OF the al
legged fugitive were sent to the police
OF every city IN the Eastern section OF
the country. and every method for cap
turing escaping lawbreskers was utilized
Traced 40 baltimore.
From Washington. Smith was traced
TO Baltimore. then TO Philadelphia, and
thence TO Paterson. n. J.. Buffalo. and
Rochester. on August p last Inspector
Boardman received a dispatch from the
chief of police OF Syracuse, y Y. saying
Smith was under arrest in that city
Inspector Boardman wired 20 hold the
prisoner. and Detective ODea was sent
to Syracuse to take charge Of him. When
the prisoner was erraigned before United
States Commissioner A. Judd Northrup.
preparatory 20 removal TO Washington.
legal point was raised which prevented
ODea from fulfilling his mission
O'Dea returned 10 Washington alone
and remained here while the legal fight
was continued. The detective made a
second trip to Syracuse about week
later, but Smith again won his fight
against the government and Commits
sloner Northrup upheld the prisoner in
his fight to remain in Syracuse until adj
dtional proof against him was produced.
O'Dea again returned to Washington and
waited another week when he went to
Rochester a third time
The last trip was as futile as the first.
and the detective returned home empty
handed. Commissioner Northrup refused
90 allow the prisoner 20 be given into
the custody OF a United States marshal
for removal 20 Washington 10 face trial,
and FOR a time it looked as though Smith
would regain his freedom
The Washington authorities were anX-
iOus 10 obtain possession Of Smith for
several reasons. A dispatch was received
here yesterday saying Smith would be
placed in the custody Of a marshal as
soon as legal technicallties were straight
ened out. and IL is likely ODea will leave
Washington for Syracuse In a few days
to accompany Smith 10 this city.
Information that the fight is won was
received with mild elaton in police
headquarters.
According to the police. Smith has a
bad record. Ii is alleged he was arrested
in Camden. y. j., on charge Of embezzle-
ment previous 10 his alleged unlawful
transactions in Washington When the
case was tried, the police say, Smith
pleaded for suspension OF sentence on the
ground that ne had a wife and four chill
dren 10 support. and the judge granted
the plea. His narrow escape did not have
the expected result. and shortly after
ward he appeared in this city.
He had obtained ownership OF the COM
pressed air motor, the police say, and