Evening star., 1928-10-29
NOTED HORSEMAN
ROBBED OF $4,000
r. H. Smith Seized and Beat.
en- by Masked Bandits
Near Laurel, Md.

Dazed from blows on his head, F. H.
Smith, 67-year-old race horse owner
and trainer of Covington, KY, stag
gered into Laurel, Md, at dawn yester-
day to tell friends he had been beaten
and robbed of $4,000 by two masked
highwaylnen, who wavlaid him while he
was on his way to his stables near the
Laurel race track.
The Laurel police, investigating the
case, said the highwaymen left no trail
behind them as they dashed off in their
automobile, from which they are said
to have thrown their victim at lonely
spot on the road between Laurel and
Bowie, after having beaten him over
the head with a blunt instrument
Baltimore police are joining in the
search. but as the Laurel station was
not notified of the robbery until late
in the afternoon. no trace of the BAN
dts was reported.
The men who robbed Smith evidently
were familiar with his regular habits
during the running at the Laurel meet
of leaving the home of E. M. Fisher,
on the Washington Boulevard, with
whom he rooms, about o'clock in the
morning to go to the Dayton stables,
where he keeps his string of horses.
The meet closed Saturday. and Mr..
Fisher and Smith left about the same
hour yesterday morning to arrange
for the shipping of his horses to an
other track.
Bandit Displays Pistol.
As he approached Montgomery street
near the railroad tracks on the out
skirts Of Laurel two masked men came
cf Nf h h i'm n
8 pISr6 and the other man jumped be-
hind Smith, hitting him over the head
several times wIvh blunt instrument.
Smith later told friends the men
seemed to spring up from nowhere"
He saw no one until the highwaymen
Jumped from their hiding place, one of
them commanding him to keep still"
Before he had chance to raise his
hands he was struck over the head.
Collapsing under the blows, Smith
was caught in the arms of the assailant
behind him and thrust into a nearby
machine. The bandits carried him off
in the direction of Bowie and ransacked
his clothing. When they found his wal
let containing $4,000 they tossed him
OF on the side of the road.
Smith lay on the road in a dazed con-
dition until he was able to make his
way toward Laurel, where he told
friends of the attack. He was taken to
the Office of Dr. N. B. Steward in
Laurel, who treated him for cuts on his
head His condition, however, is not
serious.
Laurel Police Informed.
Friends evidently thought the police
had been informed about the assault
and robbery, but the Laurel station had
no intimation of it until late in the
afternoon, when friends of Smith sent
In report.
Smith is in the habit of carrying
large sums of money with him at all
times, it was said, and Saturday, while
at the race track, he took large roll
Of bills from his pocket to lend some
money to a friend. Police believe the
robbers saw him with the roll" and
waited until favorable chance, know
ing his habit of leaving his house early
in the morning
Smith explained his failure to notify
the police by saying he thought it use
less, as he could give no information in
the way of identification The race
track man is owner of a string of
horses, including Prickly Heat, Sun
Persian, Sun Flower and Fair Rowena,
which are stabbed at the Dayton Farm
He is said also to have two horses at
the Kentucky tracks.