Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-25
Identified by Deputy Sheriff
BuckIin Of litchtieId.
Held in Portland for Breaking
And Entering al Siandish.
Stolen Horse and Other Plumber
Identified by Kennebec Officer.

formed the important service Of JUS
tice OF identifying a couple giving their
names as Mr. and Mrs. Henry Blanch-
ara, who We're held in that city up-
on the charge OF breaking and enter
inE-a cottage in StandiSh, as Fred
Smith and Pearl Smith of Gardiner, for
whom the officers in this county have
ioeen securing the countryside since
Smiths escape from the EalloWcll lock-
up about three weeks ago.
Deputy Sheriff Bucklin was informed
late "Wednesday evening by Hon. Leroy
Pike, of Cornish, a member of Governor
Fernald's Council. who has an extern
3iNc acquaintance in this section, that
the man held in Portland under the
name Of Henry Blanchard bore a Strik-
in" resemblance to newspaper descrip-
<ionS of the young man for whom the
Knnnebec county officials were looking.
Accordingly Mr.. Bucklin went to Port
lana Thursday and was able to make
Il positive Identification of both Fred
ard Pearl Smith.
Smith was arrested 10 days ago by
Deputy sheriff NJ l.. Watkins of Cor
nish at a point near the New Hamp-
shire line and was apparently making
tor the border of the adjoining state as
fast as The horse. which he was driv-
ing would carry him. He was bound
over upon the charge of breaking and
entering at StanGisn in the sum of 5000
TO the May term of court and the same
disposal was made of the case against
his wife, who was with him at the
time ne was arrested.
He said that the team, which he was
driving when arrested was his own and
gave a bill of sale of the animal to
George S. Murphy. the Portland attor-
ney, who defended him. The lawyer
sold the horse to Henry A. Miles OF
West Baldwin. A conversation over
the telephone between Mr.. Miles and
Deputy Sheriff 7Bucklin convinced the
new owner of the animal that beyond
a doubt the horse was the one taken
from Melvin G. WadSworth of West
Gardiner which Smith employed to
make good his escape from Kcnnebec
county.
The wagon was loaded down with
plumber wnen the Smiths were cap
trred by Deputy Sheriff Watkins.
Among the goods found in the wagon
were large quantity of table cloths
and spices, IA pairs of stockings. yarn.
q sleigh robe. wool ready to spin, and
several rolls of flannel cloth. The
S:liths explained tnexpresence of the
goods to the officer by Saying that they
We're Just starting out in the peddling
usincSS. v
Deputy Sheriff Buckin was given
IN opportunity to look over the loot
gathered by the Smiths and was able
to identify some portion of the plumber.
A United States flag and two geog-
raj hes We're placed as taken from the
schoolhouse at Iitchfield Plains and
number of quilts and bedding the Of
fcer found were taken from the resi-
dance of Mary A. Small at Litchfield
Both Smith and his wife We're very
much surprised when confronted with
the Kennebec county deputy in the
Jail at Portland Thursday morning
They at first attempted to deny their
identity and Smith said he came from
Oklahoma to Portland and bought the
horse which he had with him at the
line of his capture in Portland. The
was 50 positive, how
ever, that he only kept up the bluff
few minutes and then confessed that
he stole the horse from the stable OF
Mr. Wadsworth at West Gardiner and
the bedding from the Small residence
in Litchfield. He also confessed to
breaking into the summer home of AS
;ociate Justice Albert NJ. Spear of
Gardiner at Litchfield and sleeping
there one night. but denied taking
Smith has a bad criminal record fol
a young man. having served a year il
the Maine State prison at Thomaston
before attaining his minority. His
wife is about two years younger than
he and the officers of the various coun-
ties in which their career has been
run unite in saying that they are the
Slipperiest pair of young criminals
that it was ever their lot to encounter.
Smith was confined in the Hallowell
police station on the charge of steal
ing a load of hay and was awaiting
when he made his escape
His years sentence at Thomaston was
for breaking and entering the Gray
Hildreth store at Randolph. His wire
was implicated in this break but was
not sentenced on account of i'll health.
The Smiths in this break backed a
cart up at the front window Of the
store unuer the glare OF brig. al
light and loaded down the cart with
groceries and took them to the house
in Randolph in which they We're then
living. The cart they afterwards sunk
in the waters of the Togus stream but
it was later recovered by the officers.
They escaped from Deputy Sheriff
Martin Burns and other officers after
their arrest in this case and were only
captured after a chase extending over
several days. A similar attempt was
made by them to escape from Deputy
Watkins after they were
brought to Portland by him. but they
were unsuccessful in this.
The Smiths will undoubtedly be
residents of Thomaston for some time
to come, for after their sent" Hce
county is served out, pro-
vided they are indicted by the s.a.u
jury, the numerous offences committed
in kennebec county still remain 10 DO
atoned for These include the stealing
of the hay at HalloweIl and the several
cases OF breaking and entering and
larceny in Litchfield and West Gardi-