The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1922-11-16
NINE AND A HALF YEARS
FOR BANDIT SMITH
Asaailant of Woman and House Rob
Der Considered Bad Man to
Be at Large.

Victor Smith, alias Arthur Green
wood, was sentenced by Judge Frank
L. Fish in Washington county court on
| Wednesday afternoon to a term of
not less than nine years and six
months and not more than ten years
I at hard labor in states prison at
Windsor on his plea of guilty to a
charge Of assault with dangerous
weapon on Mrs Ella. Bailey of East
Montpelier with intent to rob. He Is
also to pay the costs Of prosecution.
Judge Fish gave orders for the mitt;-
mus to issue Immediately. When
called on by Clerk i. G. Moody Previ
GUS to the pronouncing Of sentence,
Smith had nothing to say.
The victim Of Smiths assault, Mrs.
A. w. Bailey, was in court during the
hearing, az was Mrs. G. L. Slack of
Berlin, whose home Smith admitted
breaking into. Mrs. Bailey is SO years
of age. States Attorney Charles B.
asked that the clerk read the informa
tion, which charged that the crime
was committed Nov. s. To the infor
nation Smith pleaded guilty. States
Attorney Adams then stated that in
justice to the court additional facts
than those contained in the informa-
tion should be given. He outlined the
crime, telling how Smith left stone
shed at which he was working in
Barre on Nov. and went afoot in the
direction of East Montpelier, stopping |
at several houses to ask for work, and |
finding the families at home in every |
case until he came to the Bailey farm,
where Mrs. Bailey was alone. Smith |
rest and then held Mrs. Bailey up with
a revolver, bound her and tied her to
hen bed. He then took rings from her
fingers and ransacked the house. Smith
had p rings. three gold watches and
other property in his room in Barre,
when he was arrested on Nov. 10 at l
the Genest stoneshed in Barre.
Mrs Bailey claimed criminal assault
by Smith, the states attorney said,
but the state preferred to accept
plea of guilty to the lesser crime rath-
er than to go to the expense of trial
on the other charge.
On the Friday previous, Smith broke
into the home of C. L. Slack in Berlin,
States Attorney Adams said, and
showed some of the property which
Smith had in his room which came
from the Slack home. On the Monday
before the Bailey crime, Mrs. Orrin
Lambert claims that Smith tried to
assault her at her home in Williams
town, the states attorney said, and
Smith is suspected Of two other epi-
sodes, one in Berlin and the other in
There are also two
breaks between Montpelier and Mid
ilesex, to which Smith is said to have
confessed. and break at the home of
Bert Smith In Barre Town of which
he is suspected, although the states
attorney did not mention them.
Part Of Smiths Record Previously.
A parole from the New Hampshire ,
'tate prison, issued to Arthur Green .
wood, was found in Smiths papers, the
'tate's attorney said, and correspond
,nce established the identity of the ,
;wo. II appears that Smith or Green
wood was sentenced to a term of three
o four years for burglary in the day i
ime at Lebanon, n. H., the offensa :
laving been committed Nov. l3, 1919.
Another man was arrested with him.
smith was keeping company with
married woman in White River juno
ion at this time, it appeared.
To the New Hampshire authorities
Ie gave his residence as Plainfield, N.
l., and his birthplace as Quebec, but
old the Vermont authorities that he
vas born in Maine. The report from :,
few Hampshire was that Smith could :
either read nor write, that he is
sd man who thinks might is right :,
nd that he has tuberculosis. State's !
attorney Adams asked for the maxi
num sentence of ten years. \
William A. Lord. assigned by Judge !
'ish as counsel for the respondent, :
aid that he had advised him of his :
sgal rights and had agreed with him Z
4 the wisdom of making the plea "a
lhich he did. Smiths history showed y
i'm as man to whom society has r
tuts MI LtAu Eai0f anu W W
i'm as a moral degenerate, born OF n
liked psrentage, who was cast out of =, Il
ome at the age of l3 and had never =
ad any home influence or days a
,hooling. A sentence for him would :,
e mercy, he said. as he would be able r
, have some comfort during his last =
avs with deadly illness. -
Judge Fish then instructed the clerk \,
, call on the respondent, which was y
one Smith had nothing to say why
'ntence should not be at once pro-
runced upon him.
Judge Fish. before pronouncing SEN
nee, said that from the statement "
nd appeal in court. il appeared that
Ie usual influences operating in
lch case could not be considered. Il
as evident, he said, that there was =.
, prospect Of reformation. 10
Smith was taken to the prison yes ~ ~
rday afternoon. :"