Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-07-19
THEY'VE MADE NE
COAT FOR OTHERS, J"
SAYS WYLIE SMITH
Elusive Atlanta Fugitive in
Jail at Juarezr Mexico, Says
~ Am Innocent"-Had Only
45>CentS When Arrested
Especial Dispatch to The Journal.)


Ell PASO, Tex, July 1s.-J. Wylie
Smith is again a prisoner. He was ar
rested last night in Ciudad Juarez, the
Mexican border town, opposite Ell Paso,
by an agent of the Pinkertons. The
tip received by American Consul T. ID.
Edwards that the former Atlanta BANK
er was in Juarez on Monday night, as
told in The Journal yesterday was
correct The detectives followed the
clew and arrested the man last night.
Smith had but 40 cents in his pocket
when arrested and declared that he
had been made "the goat for other
people.
MY family is penniless; I have
nothing: have not spent much money
in Mexico. 1 am innocent Of having
embezzled the sum they say I took.
This he told the detective who arrest
ed him. He admitted his identity with
out question, and went to the Mexican
prison without complaint He was i'm
mediately locked up and allowed to
say nothing more for the night He
did not declare 1T openly, but intimat-
ed that he was ready to go back to
Atlanta at once.
WANTED TO GIVE UP.
AS the rebels are about to abandon
be delivered by the rebels to the Amer
lean officials at once and be taken back TO
Atlanta without an extradition hearing
This is what the officers. here believe.
He had sent them word several weeks
ago that as soon as it was possible ne
would surrender and officers have
been expecting him at Juarez for sew
eral days to give himself up. When
he did not come and it was learned
that he had been released from The
Chihuahua prison two weeks ago, then
search was instituted although Il
was generally believed that Smith had
slipped out Of Juarez and gone west in
the United States. He was tipped
off" yesterday as being in hiding in
Juarez, as having been seen there IN
Tuesday night, and Wednesday the
town was carefully searched. When
found, Smith said that he had intend
ed giving himself UP but that his de-
termination failed him and he decided
to remain a few days longer in Juarez
and debate the prospects
SUFFERING. FROM FEYER.
Smith is Z sick man suffering from
fever at present, and appears to have
been failing in health. At noon today,
he sent for his lawyer and declared that
he would not make any further state
ment until he had consulted the attor-
ney. He intimated. however, that he
would fight extradition as long as pos
sible. He admitted the fact he was out
Of funds and said he had TO ask an
American tourist who visited the Jail
this morning for IS cents with which to
buy breakfast.
Smith was arrested last night at the
home of Capt. Franco of the Rebel
army, the same man who as a federal
officer arrested him in Chihauhau last
winter. A friendship has apparently
grown up between the two.
EVERYTHING READY.
Ponce de Leon, rebel secretary of state
for Chihuahua, declared this afternoon
that it was quite probable that Smith
would be left in Jail here when the
rebels depart and that when the federals
come it will probably be few days be-
fore the prisoner is turned over to the
United States officers.
De Leon was former secretary OF
state under the Federals and says he
has seen all the papers in the extra
dition case and that they are regular
and that only a word from Mexico City
is necessary when the federals come
to turn the man over to the United
States officials.
o. c. Turrell a Pinkerton operative,
is the man who arrested Smith.