Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-18
THE GREAT STEAL.
LauteriO's Confessions and
What They Contain.
THREE MEN WHO WROTE ALIKE.
The Whole Gang of BOOdlers are tC
be Brought up on the Short
Turn Soon.


Turn Soon.
Yesterday a HERALD reporter visited
Frank Lauterio in the County Jail, to
try and CLEAN from him some informa.
ton relating to statements be is known
10 have made i'm plicstipg certain others
in the steal in the county treasury. The
ex.Deputy Auditor came down stairs in
answer to call. In substance he sd-
nitted that he had made written state
ment, which he intended should have
been given to his wife, who in turn was
to give it to Sheriff Aguirre, that he
might lay it before the Grand Jury.
Lauterio admits that this document is
now in the hands of the officials, and
will be laid before the Grand Jury to-
morrow. He would not explain how 1t
came that the paper had been diverted
90 long from its proper purpose, nor how
It had been recovered. He also admitted
that when he thought the first
statement had been lost he had
written out another statement, cor
responding, as nearly as possible, with
the first one in all it's details. In this
confession the defaulter seems to have
made q clean breast, duplicating all those
who had hand in the steal. He would
not say who these persons are. But he
admitted that there were about half a
dozen of them. This count includes
himself and his chief, A. A. Montsfio.
Besides these two, it is generally under
stood that there are one OF the Deputy
Clerks, person who is a sort OF hanger
on in all the county offices, particularly
the Auditors, and one Of Mr.. Bulls
deputies in the Tax Collectors Office.
And this list is probably quite complete.
Lauterio says he has more than inti-
mated who are the guilty parties, that
his statements will show who they are.
District Attorney Kelly is of different
opinion, and gives as his excuse for de-
lay the fact that there are no specific
charges in the Lauterio confession. The
defaulter in his confession yesterday
stated that if his directions were fol-
lowed, there would not a guilty man
escape, provided the officers would do
their duty. He said further that he
thought the officers we're disposed so to
do. He remarked that public opinion
seemed to hold that the Sheriff and he
being OF the same race would be point
in his favor, but he said that is an error.
Aguirre, he said, has done al
be could to bring all parties
10 justice, irrespective of race or
other consideration. He thought the fact
that he and Montafio we're in Jail, and
none others, was pretty good proof that
no clemency was being exercised towards
do
my mind that all concerned in the affair
shall be prosecuted 30 far as any act OF
mine will bring it about"
The reporter asked him if he thought
the books had been overhauled, and if
in his opinion the total amount CT the
deficits had been brought to light.
Frank Lsuterio's face assumed very
grave and thoughtful expression; he did
mot speak for little while,
then he said that Mr.. Black
man had gone twice over the
books, and then third time, and that it
was in the third examination that the
defalcations were found. He did not
think all the raised and fraudulent ac-
counts had yet been discovered. He
thought it very possible that there might
bs q good deal more behind.
As to his own property, he said he
never had three or four lots, all unim.
proved, in the city. They were not free
from incumbrance, end the value of his
equity in them not large. He had trans
fsrred them to his wife about the time
Of his flight, and the had sold them
since, he did not know to whom. As to
his personal property, he said it was
not valuable. His wife had a piano, on
which she had paid one installment and
the dealer took it back. His wife's jew
elry he said was not worth much.
In the big hall of the Jail while this
conversation went on, but on the other
side of it far away, sat Monta1o. The
two men have never shaken hands since
the day Lauterio came back. The latter
said he was not playing even on his chief
for giving him away to the Sheriff. He
said he knew who gave him away that
he never had better friend than Mon
tafio, but that he was going now to have
the whole steal exposed and no one
Hhouid be spared.
Montafio said in relation to his prop
erty, after Frank Lauterio had gone back
to his cell, that the place out on Pear
street had never bsen clear of incum.
brance, that it has a five or six-room
house. that he would sell it gladly 70,
81 900, and that it is mortgsged for $4,-
200, with some accrued interest.
He also called the attention of the re-
porter to an attachment which had been
levied on him by reason of a suit insti-
tinted by John Parcovich. In 1885, as
Montafio tells the story, a man whom
he wished to oblige came to
him and asked for $50. He did
not have the money, and the man said /:
"Give me your note and can get in on
that" The man made out note for the
sum and Montsfio signed it. In short
time Parcovich presented the note for
payment, but Montafio had only $40,
this he paid on account. A few days
later Parcovich came again, and he gave
him $40 more. About two or three
months later the holder of the note made
q third demand, and Montafio said he
had paid the note. Parcovich said
he had paid the principal, but
that there was $50 interest due
on the $50 note. This called for an
explanation, and the man who signed it
was surprised to learn that it drew ten
per cent. interest per month. compounded
monthly. Montana claims that he and
Parcovich theroupon compromised by his
paying 1926, on the holder of the note
promising to destroy the same as soon as
he got to his office. The next Montafio
heard of the affair was on Friday, when
ha WAS sued for S646 70 on this same