The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1920-11-18
SCHMIDT TRIAL
FOR ATTEMP Ting.
TO AID BREAK
AT Pen STARTS.
81 300 hidden in Can, Finances
Ex-Convict in His Defense
Against Charge.

" district court, the People OF the
State Of Colorado versus George
Smith. alias George Schmidt. alias
Albert Miller, is being tried before
Judge Jas. L. Cooper today. The
selection OF jurors was begun when
the court convened at o'clock this
morning and was completed at 1850
at which time a statement or the case
for the prosecution was made by Dis
trict Attorney T. Lee witcher-
prisoner. made a brief statement for
the defense. denying in general the
allegations made in the information
OF the district attorney.
The trial jury consists Of c. T.
Miller. d. d. Porter, c. l. Gours.
Philip Hayes, W. @. Banks. Thomas
John. Lawrence L. Garner. ". A. Potts
Gust Ludwick, A. c. Mead. George II
Deibert and Arthur Rohwider.
This case is an unusual one and OF
exceptional interest TO the community.
involving. as IL does, an attempt TO
produce an insurrection among the
eonvicts OF the state penitentiary by
placing weapons in their hands TO be
used against the constituted authort-
ties Of that institution. Smith. alias
Schmidt is charged with secreting
firearms In n stone quarry near the
north wall OF the prison for the use
OF the convicts in securing their free
dom. Under the laws Of Colorado this
is a felony and punishable, on con-
viction, with imprisonment At hard
labor for not less than ten years in
the state penitenuary.
Smith. who was released from the
penitentiary here on June 3rd. 1920.
at the expiration OF three years SEN
tence for burglary and larceny. is al
trict attorney with having purchased
some time In August, two revolvsrs
and Winchester rife OF 1910 calibre.
with something Ike 200 rounds OF am
munition. which he brot TO Canon
City one night . short time afterwards
ana secrssed in the stcns quarry. o.
tensfbly for the use Of the prisoners
employed there. and. presumably. IN
accordance with previous agreement
with them TO do so. One Of these wea-
pons and the ammunition designed
for II was discovered BY feeble mind
ed prisoner while working in the low
er part OF the quarry and one Of ths
rsvoiverr fred by him into the air
for two or three times. after which
be threw the weapon away. An In
evsugation Immediately took place
and the other revolver and the Win
chester ride, as well rs fve boxes Of
cartridges. were found by officials Of
the prison.
The wrapping paper on one OF the
boxes Of cartridges contained the
word '.riae," written with q lead pen
ell which was identified as being the
writing OF Smith, and II is was known
that be had previously lived at Lead
Vile, inquiries were instituted there to
ascertain II the guns and ammunition
had been purchssed there. AS the
laws of Colorado Aequire that the
number and description OF all hre-
arms sold in the state must be regis
tered by the seller. or dealer. no great
difficulty was experienced In locat-
ing in Leadville, the merchant who
had sold them TO Smith. The num-
bers on the revolvers and rile found
in the quarry here correspended -sa-
actly with the registration numbers
recorded by the merchant in Leadviile
as having been sold to the defendant
in this case.
Some ten days OF two weeks after
the firearms had been hidden in the
stone quarry here Warden lyman. who
was visiting Mt his sheep ranch near
, Yampa. in Routt county, met smith
dear his ranch, and, knowing he was
suspected OF the crime. took him IN
10 custody and brot him to Canon
City and turned him over to Sherin
Newcomb to be locked up in the coun-
ty Jail pending his trial in the district
court for the ofense.
Smith is a native of Germany, but
has lived In this country for "a years.
He located first in Michigan where he
was employed as a farm laborer. AZ
ter a short stay there he came west
and has resided in Colorado for q
years. most Of the time in Leadville
and vicinity, where he worked on the
railroad section and as mining
prospector.
He was arrested by Warden lyman
for the offense on which he is now
being tried on Adjust 2Sth. He had
mt that time hidden in tin can at his
home near Leadville the sum OF $l.,
500, which he was afraid to entru.t
TO the keeping and security OF bank
Judge Ibbotson is being assisted by
J. W. Foster in the defense OF the
prisoner on the charge Of which he
stands accused.