Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-09-12
A WOMAN ROBBED.
The Smooth Game a Milk
man Played.
lie SUDDENLY DISAPPEARS.
How He Found Out where Mrs,
j. 8. Peet Kept Her
Ready Money.

About week ago, Mrs. Jeanne 8.
Feet, an artist, arrived in this city from
New York and established herself in a
suite of rooms in the Vickery Block on
the corner of Main and Sonora streets.
Her son, lad of about fifteen years,
had been in Los Angeles for abont q
month and when his mother arrived
went to live with her. On the first day
OF her arrival man who gave the name
of @. E. Roberts called on her and
solicited her patronage, stating that he
was driving a milk-wagon for Gibbs &
Son. Mrs. Peet agreed to take milk
from him and he accordingly came to
the house every morning. Upon the
occasion of his second or third visit, he
made some remark about her son, which
pleased Mrs. Peet and she spoke to
Roberts about securing the boy position
as she thought it would be well to have
him employed. Roberts promised to do
all be could for the lad as he said that
he had taken great liking to him A
day or two ago he told Mrs Peet that it
was his intention to purchase dairy
and milk route and suggested that her
son pay half the purchase money and
enter into pal tnership with him, stating
that he would rather have the lad than
g great many men, and that he could do
the collecting, bookkeeping and other
Office work. Mrs. Peet thought this ar
rangement would be just the thing for
her son, as she had been very favorably
impressed with the appearance and man
ner OF Roberts, and after talkingthe mat
ter over decided to give her son sufficient
to pay for his share in the business.
Roberts, after she had come to this con-
clusion questioned her as to her sons
honesty, stating that although he be-
lieved the boy was all right, there was
nothing like being satisfied. Mrs. Peet
to prove her sons uprightness and hon.
esty pointed to small secretary which
stands in corner of the studio, and said
that she. always kept from$10O to 5000 in it,
and that she had never known the boy
to touch it. Roberts appeared satisfied
with this and went away saying that he
would Immediately make arrangements
for the formation of partnership and
the purchase OF the business. On Tues
day evening just after dinner he called
at Mrs. Peet's rooms and told her that
he had secured an option on q good
ranch for which he agreed to pay $50 as
an earnest of his good faith. Mrs. Peet
gave him $25, her sons share and he
left after giving her a receipt. Yesterday
morning he was again on hand and an
nounced that he had quarreled with his
employers and resigned his position, and
wished to start Immediately in the new
business with her son. He said that he
had already paid $3.50, in addition to the
500, and that the business was owned by
him, and he suggested that Mrs. Peet
give him the balance necessary to give
her son half interest in the concern.
She said she could not spare the money
at that time, but would soon be ready to
pay it all. Roberts complained of ner-
vous headache and Mrs. Peet told him
to lie down and take nap, and she re-
tur ned to the other room to finish her
breakfast. A few minutes after she left,
Roberts raped on the door between
the two rooms and asked her for
sheet of paper and an envel-
ope, which she obtained for him and
left him seated at the secretary writing,
and again returned to her unfinished
breakfast. Roberts soon finished his
letter, and called to Mrs. Pest that he
was going out to post it, but would re-
turn in short time and drive her son
out to their ranch, and left the room.
On the way down stairs he met the boy,
to whom he told the same story. Roberts
did not come back as soon as Mrs. Peet
expected, and although she did not sus-
pect him Of anything wrong, it suddenly
occurred to her that she was careless in
leaving her money in the secretary, and
went to the drawer in which she kept it,
and was surprised to find her $160 gone.
She realized instantly that she had been
duped by Roberts and that he was the
thief, so she went to Chief Glass and
told her story. The best detectives on
the force were put on the case, and all
the outgoing trains were watched, but
up to late hour last night no trace of
Roberts had been found.
Acquitted.