The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-03-12
MAN
OF MYSTERY
O|ES SUDDENLY
BERT SMITH STARTS ON LONG.
LONG TRAIL REFUSING TO
GIVE FACTS ABOUT SELF.


about % or 90 years, died of pneu-
monia at his room in Hotel Beldine,
Friday morning at 10 minutes to 3
o'clock, following an illness of about
week, during which time every eff
fort was made by the hotel manage
ment to save the mans life, despite
the fact that he was apparently with
out money and without friends, other
than those he had made while in this
city.
Smith was a singular character, in
that for the length of time that he
was in this city no person ever heard
him say where his former home was,
what his former occupation was, or
anything connected with his life be-
fore he came to Belding last fall and
took up his residence in the local hotel
where he remained until his death
Friday morning when he carried the
great secret of his past life, which
he had SO closely guarded with him
on the long, long trail through the
mysterious valley to appear before
his judge and where secrets, how
ever deep, count for naught.
Smith blew into the city one day
last fall just about the time when
German spy stories were circulating
at their thickest. He took a room
at Hotel Belding, paid his bills, was
silent about himself and took great
interest In everything about the city
and it was generally supposed that
he was some sort of plain clothes
government man. To all questions
as to his business or anythir~ about
himself, however, he kept strictly sill
ent or gave some evasive answer.
Not even those who came in contac
with him mcst knew the first thing
about him TIC some he stated that
he had just settled up his mothers
estate in CHICAGO. to others he stated
his home was in Toledo and he claim
ed that he went there to vote last
fall. He received a great deal of
mail which bore postmarks IF Nev
York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Detroit,
Kansas City and many other large
cities but these he carefully destroy
ed whenever they were of a personal
nature and the only letters whicp
could be found after his death were
from business houses with which he
had dealings. Thursday, after the
hotel management had called a spec
ialist from Grand Rapids and the lat
ter had stated that Smith could live
by Mayor Fales, w. p. Hetherington
and the physicians to get him to dis
close where his relatives were so
word could be sent them. To these
questions he paid no attention, al
though conscious at the time and
when he died not a clew as to his
identity could be found. outside of
the fact that his name was Bert
Smith.
His remains were taken to the un-
dertaking rooms of the Miller & Har-
ris Furniture Co., and MAJ r-les,
F. A. Washburn and w. p. Hetherinp-
ton went THROUGH the dead mans
trunk and effects spain but to no
avail. Finally Leslie Calkins said
that he knew of a barber in Grand
Rapids who knew Smith. The bar
Der was telephoned to and said his
acquaintance with Smith dated back
to 1913 when he lived in Detroit. The
barber also stated that Smith had
been married at Traverse City some
years ago and that a dauohter had
been born to the union, but that he
had left his wife.
The police at Traverse City were
asked to look up the matter and after
investigating informed Mayor Fales
that they were unable to throw any
light upon the case A letter in his
effects signed "Rose" and giving a
Kansas City address was found and
telegram sent to this -erson She
replied that she had never me. Smith
but had been corresponding fer
time with him but that so far as she
knew he had no friends outside of
Belding.
About this time Mrs. A. M. Hall
remembered of hearing Herb" An
gel now of Alto, but formerly of
Traverse City, tell of a young widow
at that place whose husband had left
her and Mayor Fales at once COM
municated with Mr.. Angel at Alto
and in this way obtained the address
and name of the parties at Traverse
City with whom he wished to talk. 1t
was learned that Smith had left his
wife and child there several years
ago, after selling off all the family
valuables and they had heard nothing
from him since. The father of
Smiths wife, j. M. Isgrig, manager of
the Traverse City Milling Co., with
whom Mayor Fales was talking,
stated that a brother of the dead man
resided at Beaver Dam, Wis. A
telegram stating the facts in the case
was sent TO the chief OF police at
Beaver Dam, who on looking into the
matter wired back that the brother
was unable TO have anything to do
with the disposition Of the body.
Owing to these facts the mortal
remains of Bert Smith, derelict
upon the sea of life, were tenderly
cared for and burial befitting thar
of a gentleman such as he had shown
himself to be while in this city was
arranged for. Fundral services
were held in the Miller & Harris
Furniture rooms Monday afternoon at
8 o'clock, Rev. w. J. Rookie officiat-
ing.
Smiths remains reDosed in q neat
black casket. covered with many
beautiful floral pieces. Large palma
gave a fittinp aspect to the tragic
little scene which was enacted. A
photograph played "Beautiful Isle Of
q