The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-17
RECORD OF FRANK SMITH is very BAD:
TRUE name IS LAvEND0SKI; P0LANDER
From Mondays Daily.

IL
the Southern Illinois penitentiary at
Chester for violating his parole. For
three years the fellow has been living
under an assumed name, and up to
the latter part of November the Off
Gals of the Illinois states prison were
not aware of his present residence
They have expressed desire to take
Smith off Blue Earth county's hands
and return him to the bastile where
he served one term and part of another
for the crime of forgery.
In Lincoln, H., Smith was known
by the nickname, Laughing Frank"
Was Born in Poland.
Lavendoski. alias Smith. was born
in Poland about thirty three years
ago. He has repeatedly stated that
he was born in Pittsburg. Pa. Just
how many years he has been in this
country no one knows but himself.
For twelve wears he lived in Logan
county. Illinois. He was married in
auardt He was farm hand in
Logan county: and his first criminal
act in Logan county was the alleged
'fhcft of horse and buggy. The case
was settled out of court.
guilty VI rUtYcIy.
Early in 1901 Smith committed for
gerv. He was arrested. stood trial. was
convicted. and on March of that
wear he was committed to tine South
ern Illinois penitentiarv for q short
term. His number while there was
1928. During his trial on the charge
of which he was convicted Smith made
a strenuous fight to save himself from
~ - 4 10
witness box and testified that he could
neither read nor write. but the jury
was convinced that he told an I'M
truth.
After serving his sentence. Smith re.
turned, to Lincoln. but his freedom was
not of long duration. In the latter
part of the year 1904 ne forged an
other check. was arrested. placed on
trial. and swore again that he could
neither read nor write. However, he
was convicted and given three-year-
term in the Southern Illinois peniten-
tiary at Chester. He served until Oct.
"a, 1906. ard was paroled. His num-
Der while in prison the second time
was 1913. On leaving the prison Smith
boarded a train and travelled as far
as Springfield, ILL.,, where he alighted.
Committed Forgery Third Time.
He had not been in Springfield long
when his nimble fingers penned a tele-
gram to the German National bank
at Lincoln, requesting that institution
to send him $25, using the name of
John Click, a well-known resident of
Lincoln, to further his scheme of OBJ
tanning money in criminal manner.
After committing this crime Smith lost
no time in getting out of Illinois. He
changed his name and was successful
in eluding pursuit. His get away
from Springfield was in keeping with
his cunning.
When Smith was placed on trial the
second time for forgery, he swore that
the act was that of mis- father in law,
Mr.. Marquardt, is the statement of
Sheriff Devine of Logan county.
Wife Obtained a Divorce.
, 1t was while Smith was serving his
first term in the penitentiary that
his wife obtained divorce from MIN.
He had never treated her as husband
should treat a wife. He had never
supported her properly and she was
glad to rid herself of him. An effort
was made to have Mrs Lavendoski
come to Mankato to act as witness,
but she could not appear owing to i'll
ness.
Prison Official and Sheriff Here
During the past week the number of
witnesses called to Mankato on ac-
count of the trial of Frank Smith
was augmented by the addition of two
from Illinois. They were Charles
Dowell, first assistant warden of the
Southern Illinois penitentiary, and
John Devine, sheriff of Logan county
They know Smith very well and are
acquainted with his criminal record
These officials came to Mankato about
the middle of the week and were
guests at the Saulpaugh. The news
papers were requested not to mention
the arrival of these gentlemen, as the
prosecution was to spring surprise
on Smith, VINO intended to take the
stand as witness, but on account OF
the manner in which the matter was
handled the fact leaked out to Smith
that these Illinois officials were here
to identify him. The presence of
strangers in the city and in public
consultation with attorneys connected
with the prosecution was quite enough
to arouse suspicion on the part OF
the defense. That is the prime reason
why Smith was not placed in the
witness box. The jury was not given
an opportunity to listen to the bad
record which the defendant had ac-
eumulated before he made his appear
ance in Mankato and secured employ
ment on the Ledbeter farm. However,
the public is entitled to know what
evidence of that character the prose
cution had in its possession, and which
failed to reach the twelve men who
are to decide Smiths fate.
Doweu and Devine Call on Smith.
Late Saturday afternoon Messrs
Dowell and Devine called at the jail
and requested an interview with
Smith. They were accompanied by
County Attorney Plymat. Sheriff Don
ahue was not disposed to permit the
gentlemen from Illinois to talk to his
prisoner, inasmuch as they were wit
nesses in the case The sheriff felt
that it would not be proper for wit
nesses for the prosecution to talk with
the defendant, and it was not until
County Attorney Plymat and Arthur
Schaub, attorney for Smith, consented
to the interview, although Mr.. Schaub
made strenuous objections at first, that
Dowell and Devine were allowed to
converse with the prisoner.