Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-20
LAUTERIO'S STORY.
He is on Cross Examination
for Nearly Two Days.
WHO STOLE THE COUNTY FUNDS
The Ex-Deputy Being Probed to Cleal
His Chief of the Charge of
Crime in Office.

In the case of the People against A. A.
Montana, ex-County Auditor, for issuing
fraudulent warrants, his deputy, Frank
Lauterio, who is the prosecuting witness
was kept on the stand all day yesterday
after being on nearly all the previous
day. The greater part of the time the
witness has been under a rigid cross
examination at the hands of Hon. S. M
White.
Taking tue case up where it wal
dropped on Tuesday evening, the investi
cation thus went on:
Q.-Do you remember when the Re
publican County Convention was held i,
1888?
Al think it was in the latter part o
June. / cannot state whether it was two
weeks or three weeks before the conven
ton was held when this warrant Wal
drawn. By my own recollection can
not state whether it was in June or not
/ base my opinion on the examination
of the Treasurer's reports and of th'
warrant books in the Office of the Au
ditor. was not keeping the books a
that time. When l had time | woull
assist Montaflo.
Q.-What other work did you do il
the office?
ALI that was required Of me.
Q.-What do you mean by keeping
books to some extent?
A.-Well, by assisting in keeping wha
is called the fund book. think tht
book will show for itself.
The witness was then shown the funG
book of 1888, and requested to examine
the handwriting on page 8. After
looking at it for a moment he replied
that q portion of it was in Montafio'l
and portion his.
Mr.. White then offered the book il
evidence, to which the State objected.
The defense stated that they desired tx
introduce the above for the purpose O.
rebuttal, and would show that the wit
ness not only knew about the warrant il
question, but that he had himself che exec
off the same from the Treasurer's return
checks or receipts.
Mr.. White then read from page ;
An entry of gross amount made OF
June 30, 1888, and asked in whose hand
writing it was.
Alt is in my handwriting. I made
the entry from statement of the County
Treasurer, eupposing it to be correct
The Treasurer made these reports every
month. The warrants were returned
with the statements.
Q-What is that document you hole
in your hand?
Alt is the Treasurer g report of June
1888. probably made all the entries ir
the hook known as the Auditors funds
in the month of June, 1888. was il
the Auditors office during all the yea
1888, to the best of my recollection.
Q-Whoee handwriting is this in
showing witness certain warrant.
Al decline to answer.
Q-Why?
The State objected to the question, ant
Mr.. White again stated that he held il
his hand ten other warrants which haC
been illegally drawn by the witness, anc
that he coul0 prove that if any fraud haC
been perpetrated it had been done by
this witness.
The court sustained the objection.
Witness was then shown another writ
ten document, and asked in whose hand
writing it was.
Al decline to answer.
Q-Why?
Alt would tend to criminate mysel
and others. some of your clients.
Q-You need not fear for my clients
Would it tend to convict you of fel
ony?
Al don't know how far it woult
49,, 30 =.
me and others.
Q-When did you leave the Auditor
office?
AIN June, 1889.
Q-Are you acquainted with Genera
E. Bouton?
A.-Yes, sir; l had q conversation
with him about the time the Board o
Supervisors made a demand upon Mon
tafio to straighten up the shortage men
toned. 1t was at the corner of eprin,
and Market streets. There was no on,
present but ourselves. There was SOM
talk about shortage of 3,840.
Odd you in that conversation tel
General Bouton substantially that Mon
tsflo knew nothing about the warran
involved in this case?
A.-No, sir.
Q.-When did you first have a con
versation with Mr.. Kelly about thi
case?
Alt was when l was in the count,
Jail. l don't remember how many con
versations l had with him in regard II
this case when was in the county Jail
I remember when he came to the jai
with Justice Savage. He requested M
g. ~ n tasx onoivcf MnnfCf1n @
the time.
Odd you not hesitate long tim
before signing it? Did you not DECLINE
to sign it?
A.-No, 1 did not at that time. hat
made up my mind what to do. dit
decline to sign it at one time. Mr.. Kell,
told me to do as l pleased. The com
plant was not brought to me when
hesitated. I hesitated at first becaus,
Montana was a good friend of mine
Mr.. Kelly merely said to me that ther'
were come cases still pending agains
me. said to him that expected tina
he would do his duty by me and others
that I had come here to do what wa
right.
Q-Where did you come from?
A.-The mountains.
Q.-Who did you come with?
A.-With the Sheriff of San Bernardin
county.
Odd you have any conversation
with Mr.. Kelly apart from Mr.. Savage
Al do not remember.
Q-About when were you released
from jail?
A In November last year.
Q.-Do you remember having a con