The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-04-07
Knew Smith Well


Knew Smith Well
Bert Smith was Ike a brother to
me-" declared Butcher as he stood on
the hillside Of his farm on the Salt
Lake road. Bert started to work
for me soon after he returned from
Alaska, where he served in the army
during the war. We worked together
for about three years. He quit in
March, 1922. and if it had not been for
the murder he would have been work
ing right here now, for he promised
me to come here this week.
I'VE went on automobile trips to-
gether We hunted, hshed and
camped together. This is the truck
we used on our three weeks camping
trip 10 Madison. Ind. We were just
like brothers. You see Bert was some
times confidential with me. In fact
moro so than with any other person.
That was the way I learned that he
was married and that Mrs. Perry was
divorced from Fred Z. Perry.
Trip Taken in 1921
TT was in October or November Of
1921 that Bert and Theresa took a
trip. I don't know Just where they
went. He later told me they went to
Brown county where she had interest
In a fam.
TT was soon after that that Bert
asked me If he could bring Theresa
10 my farm. When l hesitated he told
me that they were married and he
could prove it I didn't ask him any
more about It for thought that If he
wanted to tell me he would. Theresa
never came to my farm, though be-
cause thought It better that she not
be brought here"
Before that time Bert had shown
mo some letters. One Of these stated
that Fred Perry had obtained a di-
vorce from Theresa. Soon after that
letter was received Bert told me he
was going West to see Perry. Bert
made the trip to Oregon. and after
brief stay in the West returned
here. I note that the papers say
Perry went West two years ago, but
/ am sure It was more than that for
II must have been three or more
years ago. The letter Bert read to
me, written by Perry, said not only
that he had obtained a divorce but
that he had lost his love for Theresa,
and that he loved another woman"
Called Him Every Day
Theresa met Bert Smith few
days after ne returned from the army
At first I thought she was his sister.
She called him by telephone every
day. Sometimes he would go away to
get away from her. She would, how
ever, appear at my stand on the city
market every Saturday night to see
II Bert was working. They would
quarrel sometimes, but Bert loved her
until last fail, when she caused his
arrest and had him sent to the Indiana
State farm for an alleged attack on
her. Bert never got over that
Smiths Character Defended
Bert Smith I do not believe will
ever be taken alive He would kill
himself before he would surrender.
He Is wonderful man in the woods.
He knows every tree and every bird.
L
ever saw He had 'bummed rides on
trains all over the United States, but
he never begs. He works for what he
eats. He knew everything about a
garden and he was a hard worker.
Bert never saved any letters but de-
stroyed them soon after reading them.
The only pictures he ever had taken
were those in Alaska He took those
with him when he left my house. One
day we met a soldier who Bert called
Whitley. He lives in northern Indiana,
and he has the films Of the picutres
taken in Alaska. One thing more that
makes me believe that Bert and The
resa were married" concluded Butch
er. 'is that Bert was not the type Of
man who would 60 with a married
woman not divorced, or who would live
with q woman not his wife,