The Bennington Evening Banner

ARREST MAN FLASHING SIGNALS
Deputy Sheriff Goes to Top of Mt.
Washington For Suspect.

Bretton Woods, N. H., Aug. 21.-Signals flashing from the summit of Mt. Washington aroused the suspicions of a deputy sheriff in Gorham, N. H., early yesterday and resulted in the arrest of Robert L. Smith of Boston, his wife, another woman and a man, whose names were withheld. The four were taken to the Glen house, at the foot of the mountain, to await the arrival of officers from the naval intelligence bureau, who had been notified of the arrest and planned to take Smith and his companions to Portsmouth for examination.

According to the deputy sheriff, Smith admitted that he was sending signals from the highest point in New England to Portland harbor with powerful electric flash lights. He said that his purpose was innocent and that as president of a portable electric flashlight company of Boston, he was carrying out experiments.

The deputy after his attention had been called by residents of Gorham to the strange flashes coming from the mountain-top, so brilliant as to be conspicuous in spite of the moonlight, spent a short time in making observations. He said last night that it seemed apparent to him that a regular code of signals was being used.

Deciding to take no chances of permitting the escape of any one who might be flashing communications to an enemy vessel, the deputy hurried. He called together a posse of more than 100 men. They were stationed at the entrances of all the trails leading to the summit of Mt. Washington and at the foot of the carriage road. Then the deputy made the eight-mile climb up the road from the glen by automobile. At the summit he found Smith and his companions, still operating the flashlights. They were plainly surprised at the appearance of the officer, but made no resistance when he placed them under arrest, although protesting their innocence of any evil purpose. The deputy lost no time in taking them down to the valley in his car and getting into telephone communication with the naval authorities at Portsmouth. When he had explained the circumstances he was ordered to hold his prisoners until naval intelligence officers arrived.