Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-06-26
Dl)MAS ONLY A CA1SPAW
FOR men Higher Up IS
CLAIM MADE BY SLEUTH

; terry. Fut it isn't sufficient to war
rant the arrest of many other alleged
prominent men said to have been the
ruling. planning heads of the organ
izaton in which Mayor Dumas wa:
but a part.
How smyth Worked.
Some time ago it was claimed Mayor
Dumas approached Smyth with a pro
} posal to the effect that he was willing
to rob and burn the Smyth building
at Puposky for 500. 1t is thought
here that the building is owned by
Smyths father, although this could
not be definitely learned here. 1t
seems that Dumas learned that the
building had been for sale for some
time, but that a purchaser had not
been found for it, which gave him
foundation for the belief that Smyti
would be willing to destroy it for the
insurance money which could be col
lected if he could do so without be-
coming implicated criminally, direct
ly therefor.
1t seems that Smyth encouraged
Dumas, but did not close the deal with
him for the purpose of leading him
along, as we'll as to gain time. In
stead OF shocked surprise and heat
ed refusal he acted the role in a
consummate manner. Dumas wasn't
given the slightest inkling from Mr..
Smytf's actions that he was not fully
in accord with the proposal.
Made an Officer.
Keeping Dumas and his numerous
friends in the dark as to his inten-
tons he got in touch with the state
| authorities, giving them the facts
which he had gathered. Although the
state officials had suspected the exist.
ence of such a gang as has been un-
earthed. they heretofore had no den-
mite information as to the identity OF
Its members.
Smyth was Immediately employed
as a deputy state fire marshal which
protected him to the extent that he
was acting as an officer of the law in
his future operations. Smyth kept
the St. Paul officials posted as to all
moves which were being made by
Dumas and his confederates.
When the plot began to reach the
|ripening stage he was supplied with
800 in marked bills by Fullerton WHO
forwarded them to him from st. Paul
bank. These he paid over to Du-
mas, and these are believed to figure
in the $40 of marked money which
the officials have since stated could be
traced to Dumas and which form one
link of the chain of evidence which is
being wound about him.
Later Dumas came to Smyth and
declared that the 500 which he had
already received was not enough for
the job. Smyth protested, further
showing his good judgment. but In
the end he gave Dumas a check for
5000. This is the 5000 check, it is
claimed, which was taken from the |
pocket of DR.. Dumas when he was ar
rested at Hibbing. where he accom-
panied the Cass Lake baseball team,
Of which he was manager. The |
check was signed "R. E. Smyth." Dr.
Dumas claimed that the check was |
given him by Smyth for medical serv-
ices.
Smyth Moving Factor.
Smyth was the moving factor in
conjunction with the detectives in
leading Dumas into the saloon where
the Puposky robbery and fire was
planned. He and Dumas went to
Larson's saloon in Bemidji together.
At the bar Dumas is said to have told
the bartender that if any strangers
asked for him he would be in GER
boil IN, h0 nh =, !
ignated. These stalls are similar to
others which are found in saloon wine
rooms. The sides do not reach to
the ceiling and are from eight to ten
feet in height.
The yeggs Joined Dumas in the stall
a short time after, and the robbery
was planned. The four witnesses of
whom the detectives have been speak
ing were the bartender, the propri-
etor of the saloon and two detectives
who were in the next stall where
they could hear all that went on.
They found out when the robbery was
to be committed and the manner in
which it was to be done. 1t is stated
that every detail was exposed at that
time in the hearing of the witnesses
who had been stationed there.
Took Dumas Weapons.
One interesting incident relative to
the guns which were to be used took
place at that time One of the yeggs
said to be Davis, told the doctor that
he didn't have any shooting iron,
the doctor went to a local
hardware store to purchase one for
him. He is said to have returned
with large .3S calibre Colt. When he
turned it over to Davis the yegg is
said to have exclaimed. What am
to do with this big thing? Where
upon Dumas is said to have exchanged
it for the automatic Savage which
Davis is now said to the armed with.
Mr.. Fullerton had but a short time
this morning in which to catch his
train but he confirmed the main
points of the facts in the possession
of the news service, but could not
be published because the person who
gave them refused to allow them to
be printed unless they came from
some other source.
DAVIS NOT CAUGHT.
BEMlDJ1. Mimi, June 26.-Sneriff
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