The Lamar register., 1919-01-08
ATTEMPTED MURDER OF BANK
PRESIDENT
society-Leader Cashier Embezxles
100000 and Makes Murderous A.
sault on President.

sault on President
I..iwreneeVlile May l5.-J. Montague
Smith. cashier Of the Lawrenceville Bank
and Trust company, and leader ia the
Lawrenceviile younger set. is today a fu-
gitive from justice with a price on his
head. At a late hour last night the
watchman 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. II transpired
that the president had been the victim OF
murderous assault Discovering upon
his return to the city yesterday evening
that the cashier had beer 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 unproyoked and desperate
assault upon his superior officer. beating
linn into insensibility and leaving him for
dead. Since 1t Is known that lie did not
board any OF the night trains east west.
Smith is supposed to be In hiding some
where in the vicinity Of tine city. A war
rant is out. and "A reward OF 1850 for his
arrest and detention has been offered by
the bank. II is not thought possible that
lie can escape. II was currently reported
not long since that Smith was engaged to
prominent young society woman OF
lawrenceviile, but this has proved to be
untrue.
He folded the newspaper and put II
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 II now but II
complete disappearance: exile.
change af identity. and an absolute
severance with his past.
When he had gone n little distance
he found that the wagon road crossed
the right of wny 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 materinl
over the railroad so there would be lit
tie huuling by wagon. But there were
automobile tracks in the dust. and
shortly after he had passed the mate
rial yard the tramp heard ear com
ing up behind him. II was six-cyiin-
der roadster and It's motor was miss
ing badly.
Its single occupant was n big, beard
ed man. wearing his gray tweeds ~
one to whom clothes were merely
convenience. He was chewing black
cigar. and the unoccupled side OF his
mouth was busy at the passing moment
heaping objurgatlons upon the limp
Ing motor. A hundred yards farther
along the motor gave n spasnodic 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 pie
turesque enough to make the young
man stop and grin uppreciatiyely.
'Gone bad on youf" he inquired.
Col. Dexter Baldwin, the Timanyonrs
largest landowner. and n breeder Of
fine horses who tolerated motorcnrs
only because they could be driven hard
and were lnsensate and fit subjects for
abusive language, took his head out
of the hood.
''The third time this morning" he
snapped. I'D rather drive team of
wind-broken mustangs, any day in the
year,
II used to drive ear while back"
said the tramp. LET me look her
over"
The colonel STOOD aslue, NipihE me-
hands on piece of waste, while the
Young man sought for the trouble. II
was found presently in loosened
magnetic wire found and cleverly cor
rected. The tramp went around in
front and spun the motor. and when II
had been throttled down, Colonel Bald
win had his hand In his pocket.
.s'rhut's something like" he said
The garage man said II was carbon.
You take hold as If you knew how.
What's your fee7"
The tramp shook his head and smiled
good-naturedly.
Nothing: for bit OF neighborly
help like that"
The colonel put his coat On. and ia
the act took II better measure Of The
stalwart yonng fellow who looked like ,
a hobo and talked and behaved ike
Gentleman.