Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-31
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF BANK
PRESIDENT.
Society-Leader Cashier EmbezzIes
100000 and Makes Murderous AS
sauIt on President

PiOO,OOO ana MAKES MuFOSFOuS AS
sauIt on President.
Lawrenceville, May ID. Montague
Smith, cashier of the Lawrenceville Bank
and Trust company, and a leader in the
LaWrenceville younger set, Is today a fu-
gltlve from Justice with a price on his
head At a late hour last night the
Waterman of the bank found President
Durham lying unconscious in front of his
desk. Help was summoned, and Mr.. Dun
ham, who was supposed to be suffering
from some sudden attack Of Illness was
taken to his hotel. Later, it transpired
that the president had been the victim of
murderous assault. Discovering upon
his return to the city yesterday evening
that the cashier had been using the banks
funds in an attempt to cover a stock spec
ulation of his own, Durham sent for
Smith and charged him with the crime
Smith made an unprovoked and desperate
assault upon his superior officer, beating
him into insensibility and leaving him for
dead. Since it is known that he did not
board any of the night trains east or west
Smith is supposed to be in hiding some
where in the vicinity of the city A war
rant is out, and a reward of $1,000 for his
arrest and detention has been offered e.,
the bank. 1t is not thought possible that
he can escape. It was currently reported
not long since that Smith was engaged t
prominent young society woman Of
Lawrenceville, but this has proved to be
untrue.
He folded the newspaper and put it
in his pocket. The thing was done,
and it could not be undOne. Having put
himself on the wrong side of the law.
there was nothing for it now but
complete disappearance; exile, a
change of identity, and an absolute
severance with his past.
When he had gone a little distance
he found that the wagon road crossed
the right of way twice before the con-
,StructiOn camp came into view. The
last Of the crossings was at the tenn
'pOrary material yard for which the
side track had been installed, and from
this point on, the wagon road held to
the river bank. The ditch people were
doubtless getting all their material
over the railroad so there would be lit
tie hauling by wagon. But there were
automobile tracks in the dust, and
shortly after he had passed the mate
rial yard the tramp heard a car COM
ing up behind him. It was a six-cylin-
der roadster, and it's motor was miss
ing badly.
Its single occupant was big, beard
ed man, wearing his gray tweeds as
one to whom clothes were merely g
convenience. He was chewing a black
cigar, and the unOccupied side of his
mouth was busy at the passing moment
heaping ObjurgatiC-s upon the limp
ing motor. A hundred yards farther
along the motor gave a spasmodic gasp
and stopped. When the young tramp
came up, the big man had climbed out
and had the hood open. What he was
saying to the stalled motor was pic
turesque enough to make the young
man stop and grin approximately.
s'Gone bad on you?" he inquired.
Col. Dexter Baldwin, the Tfmanyoni's
largest landowner, and a breeder of
fine horses who tolerated motorcars
only because they could be driven hard
and were insensate and fit subjects fer
abusive language, took his head out
of the hood.
''The third time this morning" he
snapped. I'D rather drive a team of
wind-broken mustangs, any day in the
year,
81 used to drive car while back"
said the tramp. LET me look her
over"
The colonel stood aside, wipfng his
hands on a piece of waste, while the
young man sought for the trouble. It
was found presently in a loosened
magnetic wire; found and cleverly cor
rected. The tramp went around in
front and spun the motor, and when it
had been throttled down, Colonel Bald
win had his hand in his pocket.
That's something like" he said. |
1.-THE garage man said it was carbon. |
You take hold as if you knew how. |
What's your fee?'
The tramp shook his head and smiled
good-naturedly.
Nothing; for a bit Of neighborly
help like that
The colonel put his coat on, and in
the act took a better measure of the +
stalwart young fellow who looked like j
a hobo and talked and behaved like a
gentleman