The Evening standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1910-1913, 1910-12-30
OFFICERS DO NOT
BELIEVE ElOEVEN
MN Chicago Robbed Ogden Roomng House and
an Innocent in Prison for the Crime-History
of the Robbery

arrest and taken 70 the station. soon
TO be released. because the officers
could plainly see that he was not the
holdup. When he returned to the
hotel, Lang stated. Smith took him
upstairs and, IN his presence. took
the money from under the carpet of
one of the rooms and, accompanied
by Lang, went across the street and
hid the money back of blllboards that
were standing there at the time. The
money was never recovered, though.
as 1t was impossible for Lang 10 state
tho exact spot where 1t was left. A
careful search was made, but the Ger
uiicates were not in evidence.
Morris Kohn, confined In the county
jail while Smith was there. testi-
fled that Smith confessed the entire
affair and told him practically the
same story that Lang told on the wit
ness stand He and Smith at first
were chummy In the jail. Smith con-
flding his secrets to him. They az
forwards had falling out and Smith
abused Kohn It was then that Kohn
unveiled the secret 10 the officers.
and he was called TO testify against
Smith.
History Of the Case.
A brief history OF the case is that
on January s. 1905. a man by the
name of Miller took up lodging at the
Ogden rooming house on Twenty
fifth street, n few doors west of LIN
coin avenue, and left eighteen s5
clearing house certificates with the
clerk. Joseph Smith, brother of George
b. Smith who had leased the place
from William Lucas. the proprietor
of the house. The certificates were
placed in the safe In the office Dur
Ing that night George Smith report
ed to the police station that his place
had been held up by a highwayman
and the safe robbed OF the clearing
house certificates and q gold watch.
The officers made n careful investlga-
tlon of the affair and finally came to
the conclusion that Smith had not
been held up, but had faxed a holdup
and himself had stolen the money.
He was charged with grand larceny
and was given trial in the district
court in the latter part of March, a
verdict of guilty having been rend-
cred by a jury He was sentenced to
serve years In tho penitentiary and
Is now serving that time
Others Implicated.
Joseph Smith n brother Of George.
received the certificates from Miller,
he having been at the office when NJ
ler came In, and. 1t is believed by
those who have kept close track of
the affair. that the young man, as
socinted with Red, a fellow well
known TO the police officers. knew
where the cache was made behind
the bill boards and that he played
the money at the faro table In some Of
the gambling houses Both young
Smith and Red" made their hasty
exit from the city at the time and
have not been seen since.
May be "Red."
Some are inclined TO think Red
Is the fellow who Is making the
stall" with the Chicago officers, his
purpose being, perhaps. TO get free
transportation to Utah and create a
small sensation.
William Lucas of the Ogden hotel.
states that George Smith told him
that his brother Joe wns responsible
for the loss of the certificates and
rather than see him so TO the peni'
tentiary he would assume the respon-
sibility.