Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1889-09-12
A TRUSTED EMPLOYEE.
g. X. Drane wanted for Embezzle.
mcnt of Funds.


ment of Funds.
It is pretty we'll understood that the
Grand Jury brought in an Indictment
yesterday charging 9. X. Drane with en-
bezzlement, and placing him under bond
of So, 0O0-that is to say he will be placed
under that bond if he can be found and
brought back to LoslAngeles. Itappears
from what evidence can be obtained by
the detectives, that he is now on his way
to Australia, having started from San
Francisco on the Goth Of August.
Drane is young man of 80 years of
age, who has for the last three years
been in the employ of the San Pedro
Lumber Company as head book-keeper
and cashier. He came to this State from
Lexington, KY, where he held position
of trust and responsibility, but found it
necessary to leave on account of trouble
with woman. He had good letters,
and was Immediately given employment
by the lumber company. Through the
period of the "boom," when the COM
pany was doing an enormous business,
he was trusted with the handling of all
the funds and was found perfectly reli-
able. He lived quiet and respectable
1Io III tuo tOWu Vi Dull OOfCs 0Ie pay
was advanced, and finally reached the
figure of $3.50 month.
About year ago he began to branch
out in society, both that of the monde
and of the demi.monde. He would come
up every Saturday night, and after at
tending some party in the swell part of
town would go down to the Alameda
street end and finish up the night in
reckless dissipation. He would fire.
quently spend two or three hundred dol
lars on one spree. Finally he took up
with a woman named Dolly Sample, and
put her in a private lodging house on
Commercial street. When it was learned
that the couple were not man and wife
they were driven out. He then hired
part of house on Eighth street, for
which he paid 500 month. To avoid
exciting the suspicious of his employers
he kept room in the Ramona for him
self alone, but rarely slept there,
He lavished great deal of money on
Dolly. purchasing at one time nearly
$1,000 worth of diamonds for her. She
dressed in elegant style, and the couple
drove about town in q fine equipage, be-
hind fast horses. About two weeks ago
he began to get jealous of the woman,
and after number of rows took place
she left him and went to San Francisco.
He still maintained his place in society,
and after the departure of his mistress
he became very intimate with two mar
ried women and well known divorced.
It was on the 18th of last month that
he came up to Los Angeles as was his
regular habit of Sunday, but he failed
to return on Monday. A whole week
passed and the company, fearing that
something was WRONG with him, asked
the Lawson Agency to make inquiries.
No suspicion was entertained of his dis.
honesty as his books were carefully
kept and the company were oblivious Of
the record he was making in Los An
geles as "blood." 1t was thought that
perhaps he was ill.
The detectives began their search and
heard that on the 21st of August new
trunk had been taken to his room at the
Ramona and shortly afterwards con-
veyed away packed full to the depot. At
1913 that evening he had taken Pull
man passage for San Francisco. The new
trunk was easily followed in San Fran
cisco, and it was learned that Drane had
left on the 26th in q steamer bound for
Melbourne.
An expert was sent for who studied
through Mr.. Drane's books, and learned
that he had been robbing the company
by very adroit system, which it was
quite impossible for anyone not sus-
picious of what was going on to detect.
In the lumber business an inventory of
the stock is long and costly job, and as
Drane was entrusted with all the cash,
it was quite easy for him to carry on his
scheme. AS to the amount which has
been embezzled, it is hard to make any
estimate. 1t will probably be several
thousand dollars. Mr.. Hooper was
quoted as putting the figures at 1000,
but he denies this.
A member of the Lawson force went
to San Francisco night before last and
has started for Melbourne. A descrip-
ton of Drane has been telegraphed, and
he will probably be arrested on his
arrival.