Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-09
With Meagre Description To
Work On Locates
And Arrests
His Man

Within a few hours of the time
that a call was received THURSDAY
from the Belfast police department,
notifying the Augusta police mat
young man named Harold Smith,
who was believed to have been I'M
plicated I'm a bold robbery in shat
city on Monday night. was thought
to be in Augusta, Officer Bert Fnw-
ker, to whom the case was assigned.
had apprehended him and taken him
to the police station 20 await the
action Of the Belfast police.
The message from The Belfast
police was to the effect that -
clothing store Of b. l.. Davis and the
adjoining barber shop of Villa II
Kendall in that city had been broken
into on Monday evening. The store
which is situated on Main street las
passed by many people before he
break was discovered at nfne o'clock
the same night. and as the moon
light was very bright the break was
one OF daring.
From the circumstances of the
crime it was apparent that the rob-
Der had been in the stare for con-
siderable period of time as ABOUT %
SUITE had been tried on and the en-
tire store had been ransacked. Two
suits we're thought to have been
taken and in odd coats left behind
several skeleton keyes. a Ford key
and hair pin were found.
Inquiry by the Belfast police de-
partment had led to a belief that a
young man named Harold Smith,
who had been in the town for a
short time was responsible for the
breaks. Smith. who it was under
stood, is a printer by trade, had left
that town late that night and had
heen given ride in an automobile
going toward Montville. He had
confided to the driver that he was
going to Augusta to get work
Ha'was described as of slight sta
ture and was thought to be wearing
light coat and cap, with q brown
suit coat and a blue double breasted
waistcoat
With this Information to work up
on Officer Bowker began a round of
the various printing establishments
IN the city. The first one visited was
the w. d. Kimball Co., as Mr. Burns
of that establishment had been ad-
vertising for man. Mr.. Burns told
the officer that a man answering
that description had applied for
work but that he had not been hired
as ne apparently did not have the
qualifications for the type of work
which they do.
Mr.. Bowker then went to the Ken
nebec journal office and explained
MS mission to Fred l.. Fose the
cashier. Mr.. Fogg told hir that a
rev man had been hired OF, Tuesday
alterooon and that h. had come &c
work there on "Wednesday The
description given by III. officer atteS
closely the man hirec and at tn.
.s1ueSt of Mr.. Bowkel they made
he'r way to the news room floor
where the man was then endowed
n'le the policeman waited outside
ms door. MIR. Fogg Wen, ir and ex-
o'Alhed to the mai thal there was
someone at the door who desired to
see him, ~
When he stepped out n. officer
,a"ed him and asked him II he were
'Io smith Upon receiving ar
Inrmative answer lie was placed nm
ger arrest. Smith asked upon what
charge and wa. TOLD that he was 10
"r" al the request OF the Belfast
r'ce 1or breaking and entering.
ntn 'hen asked ii the officer mad
a warrant ard Mr.. Bowker s,atsd
"a' ne ala not have one and That
ne was necessary. Smith declared
na' ne could not be arrested with.
III a warrant, and feeling that tho
'an might attempt to escape the OF.
"cer shpped handouts upon him
anu TOOK MIN to The police station.
Upon being questioned later AT The
police station the young man said
a n IL
mar MS home fs In Buffalo. N. Y.
although he has no near relatives
living. He said that he had found