IT WAS A PUT UP JOB Gerding Was Encouraged by tbe Police to Rob the Train THEY WORKED HIM THROUGH SMITH He was to get a Reward and they would have Glory SMITH WAS A FIRST CLASS CHUMP The Authorities Promised That He Would Not Be Hurt, But The Messenger Shot Him In The Back Knoxville, Tenn.. November 5.—(Special.) William Smith, who was shot in the Knoxville and Ohio express car Friday night, at Coal Creek, tells an interesting story of the way in which he got into the trouble. Smith was at a hospital here. To a reporter yesterday he made a full statement. Smith's father stood at the cot in which he lay, with tears streaming down his ruddy cheeks. Two of Smith's sisters knelt by the side of the bed and Rev. Dr. Moore held the young man's hand while he talked. The eyes of the wounded man wandered restlessly about the room, never lingering for more than an instant upon any one object. He was suffering much pain, and moaned continuously. Smith asked Dr. Moore to pray. The reverend gentleman knelt by the bedside and asked those present to unite with him. It was an eloquent prayer that he offered, and Smith evidently deeply affected, When the prayer was finished, Smith turned his eyes to the preacher. "Do you think that will do me any good?" he asked, anxiously. "Yes", replied Dr. Moore, gently, "if you have faith and believe and are repentant of your sins." "I'm repentant", murmured Smith, "I want to be forgiven of my sins". Not a Professional "You all called me a robber in the paper", he gasped, turning to the reporter, "and now I want you to set me right. I ain't no professional robber. Last Monday I was coming up the street - Crozier street - and met Fred Gerding. He said to me 'Smith, I know where there is some good money, if we can get three or four men to help us. I asked him where the money was. He said he would tell me if I would promise to go in with him. I told him all right. He then told me of a plan to rob an express car on the East Teunessee. He said he was an extra messenger, and knew all about the express business and the combinations of the safes, and how to get at the money. He said he was going to see some other fellows, and said he would see me again. I left him and went home and told my father what Gerding had said to me. My father said that Gerding was trying to get me into trouble, and told me to go down town and tell Chief Atkins all about it. I started for police headquarters that afternoon, but met Barney Irwin on the way. I knew him, and told him about what Gerding had said. He told me to play in with Gerding, and that he would see Woodward, of the express company, and tell him about it, and see that I was treated right. Smith Was Not to Be Hurt "The next day I met Irwin and Woodward and explained Gerding's plan to rob the car as I knew it. Woodward told me to keep in with Gerding and agree to all his plans and he would see that I got out all right and was was rewarded by the express company. He said he could not tell me how much the company would give me, but he knew they would be liberal. The next dav I met Irwin and Woodward again and they told me more of their plans. They told me to keep in with Gerding and said I whould not be hurt if there was trouble. I met Fred Gerding on Thursday and agreed to go to Clinton with him. He said that he had asked Bunny McLemore to go into the deal, but that he had refused to do so and that we would have to go it alone. That evening I saw Irwin, Chief Atkins, Woodward and some others at the police station. Irwin gave me a revolver as he said so Gerding would have confidence in me. He also gave me money to pay my fare to Clinton. He told me to go on and make the attack and assured me that I would not be hurt. "They said they wanted me to go to jail a couple of days so as to keep down suspicion and said that I would be well paid for what I did." "I met Gerding on Crozier street that night," continued Smith, "and we went to the depot and took the train for Clinton. We got off there and walked to Coal Creek. We laid about there all day Friday until the train arrived at night. We boarded the train and ran into the car. It was agreed that I should cover the messenger while Gerding went through the safe. I did this and when the officers appeared, dropped on my knees and threw away my pistol. Then the messenger grabbed me and shot me through the back." The Officers Condemned. Smith will doubtless die. There are ugly rumors current here concerning the officers connected with the affair. It is said that Gerding at one time tried to back out of the affair, but the officers got Smith to urge him on, as they wanted glory in view of an approaching municipal election. Gerding's Connections are Good It seems that Gerding comes from noble descendants. The young fellow was visited by his aunt from Oliver Springs, who in an interview with The Constitution's correspondent today, Said: "When news came that Fred Gerding was connected with a train robbery, it settled like a pail of sorrow over Oliver Springs. Young Gerding is connected with the best families in the state. His father, Captain F. W. Gerding was for years a wholesale merchant in Louisville, Ky., is a member of the celebrated DeWarely Comrnandery Knights Templar, and is now retired from business. He is living on his farm two miles from Oliver Springs. The young man's mother, who is dead, was a daughter of Count Alphonso DeMontague of France. He was the minister of Napoleon's imperial staff. Fred*s grandfather, George F. Gerding, the founder of Wartburg, was prominent, both in this and the old world, and was a member of a noble German family. He was American minister to Belgium and other courts abroad for many years before the war. Why this beardless boy should bring such dishonor upon his people is the question on every one's lips. There is certainly something in it which is a mystery. N. S. Woodward, the Southern Express Company's route agent, who was mixed up with the affair, denies that he ever made any promises of reward to young Smith. Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, November 6, 1893