Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-16
ROBBER SUSPECT
WALKS INTO JAIL
CALLS TO SEE PRISONER; is
ARRESTED
Stranger Appears at Sheriff's Office,
Enters to Converse with Moore
and Is Seized on Sus-
picion

Voluntarily entering the forbidding
precincts of the county Jail, apparently
in the belief that a bold demeanor
would dispel suspicion and prevent his
occupancy of cell already open to re-
ceive him, G. A. Smith, a man about 30
years of age, clean shaver and neatly
dressed, was placed under arrest by
Sheriff Hammel yesterday.
In Smith the officers believe they
have captured the leader of the gang
that tried to blow open the vault OF
the state bank at Burbank Tuesday
night, and failing in this gathered up
$54 from the cashiers desk and es-
capped.
Smith entered the sherifss Office at
noon yesterday, accompanied by II. M.
Rex, an attorney. The attorney told
Under Sheriff Dishman he wanted to
see D. w. Moore, jr., the 18-year-old
youth captured Wednesday night in the
railroad yards at Burbank with kit
of burglar tools in his possession. No
attention was paid at the time to Rex S
companion, and the attorney was told
to return later, as the prisoners were
at dinner.
Given Pass to Jail
Two hours later Rex and the stranger
reappeared and the former was given
a pass to the Jail by Deputy Sheriff
Wood. The pass allowed the admission
of two persons, to see Moore, and the
name gave no information to Deputy
Wood, as he had just reached the city
from San Francisco and knew nothing
about the arrest of young Moore.
Jailer Doyle's suspicious were aroused
when he read the pass. He quickly
surveyed the attorneys companion, and
Sheriff Hammel was summoned. 1t
was evident at first glance that the
stranger answered in part the descrip-
ton Of the leader in the bank robbery,
given by young Moore after his ar
rest.
Smith evinced the utmost indigna-
ton when placed under arrest. "You
will pay for thisi' he declared, as he
was led to an upstairs room by the
sheriff.
Attorney Rex said he had no knowl-
edge concerning Smith. "The man
came to me this morning" he said,
''and said he had read in the papers
that a young man named Moore had
been arrested. He wanted to see him,
believing he was a friend who had &C
companied him to Los Angeles from
San Francisco. That is all 1 know
about the matter"
Smith, says the officers, fits the de-
scription of the .robber leader given by
Moore, and the stories told by both
men coincide in many respects, but
conflict where the bank robbery Is con-
cerned. Smith and Moore both ac-
knowledge they came to Los Angeles
from San Francisco, arriving at San
Pedro on the steamship Santa Rosa
January 4.
Moore says they went to the Revere
rooming house on South Los Angeles
street, and that the first robbery they
committed was when they stole cloth
ing, shoes and gloves from a store in
Burbank the day before the bank rob-
berry.
Smith denied that he roomed with
Moore, but Immediately after his arrest
he was taken to the rooming house by
Sheriff Hammell and Constable Charles
Cat1in Of Burbank and was identified
by the landlady. The officers also found
a parcel check in one of Smiths pock-
cts and when this was presented at
check stand a suitcase was given up
which contained articles resembling
those taken from the Burbank store.
Moore Confesses
Moore made a full confession regard
ing the bank robbery yesterday. His
story is that he waited outside the bank
while his companion entered.
ST hid behind a tree near one of the
windows said Moore ST believe every
person in Burbank carries a lantern
and that the whole population passed
that tree Tuesday night. 1 wore a track
about the foot of it trying ia dodge
passersby. We left the place at mid
night and reached Los Angeles in the
morning"
Smith declares he knows nothing
about the bank robbery. 81 picked
Moore up in San Francisco" he says,
sand we came to Los Angeles together.
He was always out late at night, and I
did not know what he was doing"
While Smith denied any connection
with the robbery of hte State bank, it
is understood he confessed to the sheriff
that he is wanted elsewhere to answer
to criminal charges. 1t is also believed
that the name he has given to officers
is assumed.