The Washington herald., 1911-11-27

trail Of "Goldie" by Alexander A. Davis,
proprietor of the Star Theater, at Four
teenth and U streets northwest, where
she appeared in an act with Red Eagle.
Stout. "Paddlefoot," and Jack" yester-
day learned the identity of the woman
through Lewis Plotkin, grocer at Capitol
Heights, who employed "Goldie" before
her Incarceration at Marlboro.
With the trail much warmer, detectives
traced "Goldie" through a maze OF her
old haunts, learned she adopted the name
of Smith, when she posed as Smiths
wife, obtained a minute description of
her. and gathered other information
which they are certain soon will lead
them to the woman who is believed to
know all of Smiths secrets.
Plotkin, the grocer, remembered Cold
ie" well, recalled her sentence to jail
for the theft of clothing, and related
her relations with James Smith, which.
PlOtkin said, were close when the alleged
murderer was infatuated with the little
blond woman. Plotkin declared be can
identify "Goldie." and reassured the po-
Hce that she will be a valuable witness
against the prisoner.
Knew smith Well.
Amy Henderson and her son Ernest
are, in the opinion of the police, the most
important witnesses yet found against
James Smith in the case against him for
assault with intent to kill Morris Ben
net. Amy Henderson lives near the
home OF John Walker, where Smith
lived, knows Smith we'll and is certain
she saw him with a wallet in his hands
just after the attack on Bennett.
1t is a strange coincidence that the
most important witness in the Bennett
case and the most important witness in
the Mickle case against Smith are col
ored. Charles Davis, the colored coach
man, who testified he saw Smith in
Mickle's store with a package in his
hand just before Aickle was murdered
with a monkey wrench, is said by the
police to be the most valuable witness
to prove the theory that Smith murdered
the tobacconist.
After examining Amy Henderson, the
police temporarily abandoned the search
of the woods and fields for the hiding
place of the money taken from Bennett
by Smith, because the colored woman
showed they have been on the wrong
track in the search for the roll of bills,
which is valuable evidence against Smith
to prove he robbed the grocer after beat
ing him into insensibility.
The spot where Amy Henderson saw
Smith is on a line from the scene of
the crime to the Walker house, and the !
woman described the spot so accurately
that the police believe they can locate
it this morning without difficulty. II
Mrs. Bennett Identifies the wallet as her
husbands, the police are confident they
can convict Smith. The wallet contained
about $156 when it was taken from Ben
net.
Corroborated by Son.
Amy Henderson's testimony is made !
tion by her son Ernest, who declares he |
saw Smith standing behind some bushes |
with a long wallet in his hand. The boy |
verifies every detail of the story told by |
his mother. A gold watch which Bennett |
says was taken from his pocket will |
probably be found beside the wallet.
That James Smith has admitted serv-
ing a sentence in the Pontiac Oll) re-
formatory was learned by detectives who
examined the men who were comrades !
of Smith just before his arrest When
the Chicago and Washington police dis
covered James Smith is John KabustaSl
a notorious criminal, wanted for two |
murders in the Windy City, they wired to
the Pontiac reformatory for information
about the prisoner.
Smith declared he never had heard the
name of John Kabusta, and asserted he
was never in Chicago or its vicinity, but
yesterday three former friends of the al !
legged murderer told detectives that Smith
had spoken several times of having served
a sentence in reformatory near Chi
cago. John Walker, Cleveland Walker,
and Lawrence Britt, who lived in the
same house with Smith. vouched for the
fact that Smith has admitted serving a
term. |,
Valuable to Police. |
This information is variable only be-
cause it verifies the statement of police
officials that James Smith and John
Kabusta are the same. Smith has been
Identified as Kabusta by photographs,
finger prints, and Bertillon measure
ments. -
Bennett yesterday afternoon repeated
his assertion that the assault on him
was made by Jim Smith. Bennett can
hear perfectly, understands questions
asked him, and replies to test queries
so when he mods his head
yes to the question. Did James Smith
attack your the police declare there is
40. longer any mystery connected with
he Bennett case.