Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1921-03-25


either Intercepted his letter or obtained
the information from the woman.
Smith is said to have entered the Salt
Lake City postoffice to inquire for the
expected answer. The inspectors were
waiting. i.
To Waive Examinations
= Smith has agreed to waive examina.
tion and consented to be brought back
to Minnesota without extradition pro.
ceedings, dispatches stated.
In his confession, Smith declared
that the actual looting of the mail car
was done after he had fired oil the car
tridges in his rcvolver.~ With his emp
ty gun, he "put up bluff and cowed
the two clerks remaining after Strong
been shot.
Capture Clears Case
His capture marks apparently a clean
sweep in clearing up the case. Inspec.
tor R. M. Hugdal virtually asserts that
all the stolen money has been recovered,
and that all Smith 3 accomplices, four
women, have been arrested.
Patrons Flee to Street
/ IN in for it, but I am glad that it
is all over,' said Smith few minutes
after his arrest. "I was constantly in
fear. As walked down the street,
felt at any minute that some one would
grab me. It is an awful feeling. I
fred at that man without thinking. 1
read Of his death two days later, and
was sorry. I didn' It intend to do it..
Conversation Leads to Arrest
GA conversation carried on between
Smith and the three postal clerks a few
minutes before the robbery led to his
arrest, inspectors said. Smith asked thass
clerks if they knew Pat Hendrickss
They replied that they did, and asked
Smith if he was acquainted with him.
'tNo, I don't know him." he is said
to have replied, "but I know his daugh'
ter, Grace Mcdonald, mighty we'll. ,"
Patrick Hendricks is a postal clerk
working out Of st, Paul, and the hus.
band Of Mrs. Alice Hendricks, but has
not been living with her, it is said.
Taking the "tip" regarding Mrs. Nc.
Donald, the inspectors established hex
relations with Smith and recovered the
bulk of the loot in her apartment.
Smith says that he is 18 years old,
but the inspectors contend that he was
20 years old last June. He has light
curly hair, blue eyes and boyish face.
Smith had only 90 cents in his posses
sion at the time of his arrest. He told
the inspectors that he had spent 81 300
of the money stolen.
The night of February II, he boarded
the North Coast Limited at st. Cloud,
and entered the mail car. few min
utes later. He presented his forged card
and told the clerks he was employed at
St. Paul.
When the train was near Elk River,
Smith suddenly pulled his revolver,
and ordered the clerks to put up their
hands. They thought he, was Joking,
but he fred twice into the floor and
frightened them.
Strong picked up light canceling
stamp and threw it at Smith, who shot
him three times, fatally wounding him.
These shots EN- mptied Smiths gun, but
the postal clerks did not know it.
Left Train Near Mill City
Smith already had forced Harry M.
Christensen of St. Paul. to tie the
hands and feet of G. L. Brown, Mime:
apolis, the third clerk. He then forced
christensen into locker and proceed
ed to rifle the registered mail pouches.
Smith jumped off the train near. the
Minneapolis city limits. He hired q
small motor truck to bring him to st.
Paul. He went first to Mrs. Melon:
AIDS apartment at Asbury avenue and
Charles street, and left the bulk Of the
$4,000. He then took q taxi to Mrs'
Hendrick' cottage at Wildwood:
After depositing the remainder Of
the loot with his women friends, Smith SIN,
fed.
I Rewards amounting to $500 were
offered for his capture.
Alfred Jacques, United States district
attorney, declared Smith would be ar
raigned on the Federal charge Of rob-
berry Of the mails, with dangerous
weapons and committing murder in the
attempt. This offense is punishable by
twenty-five years in prison.