The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-14
Says Birmingham TWo-Gun
Man Whose Remains Are
! |eld At Ridouts Killed Three
Deputy u. S. MarshaIs At
Fort Smith, Ark, In 1918
ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY
ARE MADE SUNDAY BY 1925
Former Police Officer Of Lone
Star State Is Third To As
sociate Positively Dead Man
With Exploits Of Arch
Criminal Working In West

With the remains of A. l.. Smith.
who died suddenly at a rooming house
at 1867 First avenue, on May 4.
identified by NJ. Wilson. sos Twenty
third street, north, former Texas
ranger, as the same man he had re-
ceived photograph of in connection
with the Staying OF three United
States deputy marshals in Fort Smith.
Ark, in 1918 it is believed by police
that Smith is we'll known over the
country and has a criminal record.
Figures In Gun Battle.
Mr.. Wilson. according to employ es
al RidOuts, where the remains have
been held since Smiths death, stated
the three deputies were killed dur
ing gun battle in the Arkansas
city. Wilson received phitigraph
following the killing and was ordered
TO keep a close watch for the man,
as it was believed he was attempt
ing to escape through Texas into
Mexico. The man Is supposed to have
changed his route and went into the
east
Smith is supposed to have several
married sisters living in Fort Smith,
and kilograms were sent to the
sheriff and chief of police of Fort
Smith in an effort to find relatives.
Wilson's Identification makes the
third positive Identification of Smith.
William M. Moon. horse dealer, 231S
Third alley, has identified Smith a.
the man who killed James r. Rey-
nolds. St Clair Springs, on November
%. 1922, and robbed him of $50. w. F.
Beale, 203i2 Twenty-third street
north. also identified Smith as the
man who robbed him of s38 after
hitting him with blunt instrumen
and dragging him into First alley
at Twenty street about one
year ago.
J. l.. Spearman. operator of the
First Avenue garage. during an en-
ago, shot at Smith, the bullet clip
ping off the tip of Smiths right
thumb.
C. w. Worrell of Johns Undertake
ing company, after viewing the body
Saturday afternoon, stated Smith re-
last winter attempting to enter his
home.
Crowd Is Attracted.
One hunded and twenty-five peo-
pie visited Ridout's Sunday. While
only a few identified Smith with any
crime, others stated they had seen
smith on several OCCaSlOUS IN Dir
mingham. Many women were among
those who viewed the remains.
Smith did not have any one address
here. He lived at 1869 First avenue
the three nights prior to his death.
He is said to have had a room at
Second avenue and Twenty-fifth
street; also on Twenty-third street.
North. ]. c. Wood, 2201 Fourth ave-
rue, with whom Smith lived several
years ago. said Smith was very queer
in his habits and always wore brace
of revolvers. These guns were turned
over to the proprietor of the room
ing house at 1859 First avenue just
a few minutes before he died.
Police are continuing their investi-
CATION of Smiths whereabouts on
numerous occasions when robberies
and murders occurred. Finger prints.
taken posthumously, have been re-
turned from Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
as unknown" No replies have been
received by the bureau of Identified
ton from Tennessee authorities
where Smith was supposed to have
escaped from a penitentiary.
No hearing has been held by Cor
oner Russum. and the remains are
still being held by Ridouts pending
instructions.