Los Angeles herald., 1890-07-22
J. M. Damron Numbered
Among the Missing.
He Fails to Appear for His
Examination.
An Attachment and Bench Warrant
Issued for His Arrest.
Several Stories as to How He Obtained
Funds on Checks-His Record
Before He Came Here.

ton of Assemblyman ]. M. Damron and
J. S. Chadwick, the real-estate agent,
upon the charge of forgery preferred
against them by Vice-President w. F.
Bosbyshell, of the Southern California
National Bank, Justice Austin's court
room was crowded to excess by densely
packed throng of politicians, lawyers and
others, all of whom appeared to be
deeply interested in the matter before
the court.
For some time before the case was
called the fact that the defendant, Chad
wick, was alone, had been commented
upon; and, as the hour drew near and
the co-defendant, Damron, still re-
mained absent. all sorts of conjectures
were made as to his non-appearance. 1t
was generally supposed, however, that
he was busily engaged in preparing for
examination and would arrive at the
last moment.
When the case was called Deputy Dis
trict Attorney Hardesty arose and an
nouncing his readiness on behalf of the
state to proceed, called the attention of
the court to DamrOn's absence, adding
that he had been informed that the de-
fendant's furniture had been removed
from his Office on Temple street, and
that he had not been seen since Satur-
day night. Justice Austin looked
troubled and ordered an officer to re-
quest the presence of Attorney G. G.
Stephens, who had volunteered to as
sist Damron. That gentleman appeared
few moments later and at once held
brief consultation with Mr.. Hardesty.
In the meantime an attachment had
been issued for Damron, returnable
forthwith by the court, and this docu-
ment was entrusted to Officer Wallin.
At 10 AS O'Clock the officer returned with
the announcement that the defendant
could not be found and the murmured
conversation which had been kept up in
cessantly during the interval suddenly
ceased, as the crowd with eager ex-
pectancy watched the attorneys, and
waited for the next movement.
Justice Austin and Mr.. Hardesty re-
tired for few minutes into the ante
room, and on returning into the court
room the latter moved the court to
make an order forfeiting the undertake
ings of the defendant, Damron, and
asked that continuance of the case be
had until Wednesday morning, and
that bench warrant be issued In the
meantime for the defendant.
Mr.. Stephens asked the court to wait
fifteen minutes longer, as he thought
Damron would appear, but, after q
brief discussion between counsel, JUS
tice Austin announced that the statutes
made no provision for grace in criminal
actions. AS regards the motion of the
district attorney, the court could only
take cognizance of the case which had
been set for that time, and therefore
only one undertaking would be de-
clared forfeited, namely, the first one
fled, for 81 900.
Mr.. Stephens then objected to con-
tinuance on behalf of the defendant
Chadwick, whom he announced was
present and anxious to have his case
disposed Of.
Mr.. Hardesty insisted that there
should be no segregation, and renewed
his motion for continuance, and the
matter was argued by counsel at some
length, Justice Austin finally sustaining
the motion of the district attorney, anc
continuing the case until 9 AS O'Clock
tomorrow morning. Mr.. Stephens tool
exception to the ruling of the court, anC
remarked that his client should secure
his release on a writ of habeas corpus
within an hour.
At the close of the proceedings the
crowd slowly filed out of the court room
and in a few minutes the rumor of Dam
ron's flight had spread over the city, anC
for the rest of the day formed the sole
topic OF discussion on the streets. Thai
Damron's sudden departure was pre-
meditated, and not the result of a sud
den impulse, as some of his friends have
alleged, is shown by the fact that ht
had moved all of his furniture out O
his office on Temple street, and that h,
had disposed OF his law books to
secondhand book dealer.
Two impressions appear to prevail
one to the effect that he left the city OF
Saturday night, and the other that ht
did not leave until Sunday night. A
few believe that he has been secreted by
some of his friends in the city to be pro
duced at the proper time. 1t was stated
that he was last seen at the Hollenbecl
hotel late Saturday night and that ht
has not since been seen. Other parties
state that they certainly saw him or
Spring street walking hurriedly south
ward on Sunday night, but up to late
hour last night no clue had been OBJ
tanned as to his whereabouts, although
kilograms had been sent in all directions
asking for his arrest.
Now that he has departed, number
of stories are told in relation to his
methods of raising money. Among
others is one that was limited of wher
he was candidate for election tt
the state assembly. At that time
it was stated that he wal
fugitive from justice in Illinois, where
he was wanted on three indictments fo
malfeasance in Office. 1t was said tina
he was the district attorney of Alexande
county, Illinois, and that hearing of the
indictments, he suddenly crossed the
Mississippi river into Missouri. In the
town he visited he had an acquaintance
with the postmaster, whom he visited an(
told story about needing some money
which he could not get, as the banks
were closed. He asked his friend the
postmaster to cash a $40 check for him
and then he disappeared from view
The next the postmaster heard was thai
Damron was located in Los Angeles
Shortly afterward Major Horace Bel
received letter from the postmaster
asking if Damron was here. Major
Bell wrote in reply that he was, ant
soon received letter recounting tn
circumstances of the check, which hat
been dishonored, and enclosing tn
paper for collection. Major Bell paid
visit to Damron and told him that h