mene RN

When in Victoria, See

THE B. C. LAND & INVESTMENT
AGENCY LTD.
Established 1863
Real Estate Agents Money to Loan
Fire, Auto and Accident Insurance
Sole Agents for Phoenix of London

922 Government Street Victoria, B. C.
Phone G 4115

Drive a Really Good Car at Reasonable Cost

BURTON & WILLIAMS
MOTORS LTD.

NASH-LAFAYETTE AGENTS

Phone E 9415

1001 Blanshard St. Victoria, B. C.

HICKMAN TYE
HARDWARE CO. LTD.

Established 1858
Wholesale
SHELF AND HEAVY HARDWARE
Telephones G 8137 and G 8138

544-546 Yates St. Victoria, B.C.

The Original

Rogers’ Chocolates

Sold also at C.P.R. Hotel Vancouver, Van-
couver, B. C., and Empress Hotel, Victoria, B. C.

Phone G 7021 913 Gove:nment St.

"MORRIS”’

Car Dealers for Victoria

Jones Bros.

Corner Yates and Quadra

VICTORIA BRITISH COLUMBIA
: Phone E 4021

THE TOGGERY SHOP

D. W. Spence F. I. Doherty

CLOTHIERS, HATTERS and FURNISHERS

1105 Douglas Street

Victoria, B.C.

Compliments of

THE B. WILSON CO. LTD.

Ice and Cold Storage
Victoria, B.C.

Page Twenty

The case here was about to be classed
with other “unsolved crimes” when in Feb-
ruary, 1924, a cryptic message was received
at Headquarters from Commissioner Bryans
of Alberta.

“Have found trace of Ladner bonds,”
read part of the message; “we want Johnnie
Reid for Foremost job. Are you interested?”

Who was this Johnnie Reid?

In company with Superintendent J. D.
Nicholson, who was conducting the
Alberta investigation, Assistant Superin-
tendent Walter Owen went to Montana,
and through various police devices, the trio
wanted in Ladner were soon identified
through the conversations of informer, and
police information received.

The result was that on February 29,
1924, A. M. Manson, then Attorney-Gen-

Nicholson claimed first call on Reid, want-
ing him for the Foremost robbery, and it
was expected that extradition proceedings
would be started within a few days when
Reid pulled one of his many surprises.

He wanted to talk with the police, and he
wanted to talk seriously.

What transpired during the hours he
talked, his lawyer by his side, will never be
known, but the result soon became apparent.
For consideration, ‘Smiling Johnnie” Reid
was going to confess and take his chances
with Canadian justice.

Leaps PoLicE To Loor

He wanted leniency, and he wanted a
fair hearing.

Out of thin air, with a conviction staring
him in the face, he made the startling state-
ment that he was through with crime, but
his next words were even more convincing.

“I can dig you up a treasure in bonds

Judge Cayley shows
leniency.

eral of British Columbia, issued warrants
for the arrest of the following:

“Smiling Johnnie” Reid, alias Leslie
Ayers; described as being in his twenties,
good natured, a mechanic by trade.

“Whitey” Kline, alias Fred Kline, alias
“Eau Claire Whitey,” alias “The Geyser”;
listed as a public enemy from coast to coast,
aged about 40, five feet eight inches in
height, weighing 180 pounds, clean-shaven
fair complexion, dressed like a cheap
gambler.

“Sid the Duke,” an Australian about 28
years old, neat dresser, talked with a notice-
able Cockney accent.

“The Duke” was well known to Vancou-
ver police, having been arrested there in
1913 for vagrancy; arrested in Calgary in
1917 for having narcotics; again arrested on
suspicion in Vancouver in 1921, but re-
leased.

That was the trio, tentatively identified
as the perpetrators of the Ladner bank
robbery.

Good news shortly awaited the investigat-
ing officers. “Johnnie” Reid had been ar-
rested at Great Falls, and was being held
for Canadian police.

Inspector Bavin and Superintendent

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and cash,” he told police, “and I’m going
to do it.”

Not one word would Reid divulge about
who his companions were on his bank-rob-
bing forays, but so sincere was his plea that
wires hummed between the two countries,
telling that “Reid would waive extradition.
Reid to make full confession.”

Then came the dawn of March 18. A
quartette of men, bundled with blankets,
sweaters and hip boots, left Great Falls to
drive 30 miles northwest towards Havre,
Montana. Johnnie Reid, released from jail
in the custody of Sheriff Bob Gordon, and
Officers Owen, Bavin and Nicholson, told
the driver of the car to stop near three trees
at the side of a creek.

_Each member of the party took turns at
digging around the trees. One hour con-
vinced them that their tools were useless
with the frozen ground, and Sheriff Gordon

drove to Havre, returning with a sharp
pickaxe.

THE SHOULDER STRAP