The record-union., 1892-06-21
4. ]. BECK CONVICTED.
He Admits That He Robbed His Busi-
ness Partner, W. |. 0rth.
An Attempt to Get Off on Lighter
Charge Fails-Recommended
for Mercy.

A. J. Beck, the commercial traveller,
who a few months ago gave up the
road to go into business with w. /.
Orth of this city, and who few weeks
later was caught stealing lSces, hosiery
and gloves in wholesale quantities from
Orth, was tried yesterday before Superior
Judge Van Fleet and a jury.
No facts other than those published in
the RECORD UNION at the time of the ar
rest We're developed by the prosecution.
Orth told the story of how he had con-
fded in Beck and was
SELLING OUT
His Sacramento business in this city so
as to Join Beck in an importing enter
prise in San Francisco; how Beck as
sisted him in selling out; how nicely
everything got along until the phenome-
nally rapid disappearance of certain of
the stock aroused his suspicious; how
Beck sold him a quantity of kid gloves
that he had stolen from the store: and
how, finally, the matter was placed IN
the hands Of the police, resulting in the
arrest OF Beck and a sensation in social
circles, of which Beck had become quite
q bright star.
The police officers told about the arrest
and the finding of the stolen goods in
Beck's apartments in the Golden Eagle
Hotel; Orths errand boy told about
Beck sending him to the hotel with pack
ages to be sent to his room, when Ortiz
was out to dinner; and John Morley, bell
boy at the hotel. told about taking the
packages to Beck's room after the errand
boy LETT them at the hotel.
BECK's CONFESSION.
It was a strong case against the
prisoner The latter and his attorney,
w. II. 5. Scott, knew it, too, and the
only defense made was that while Beck
took several hundred dollars worth OF
property altogether, he did not at any
one time take as much as $50 worth, con-
seguently he was guilty of no greater
offense than petty larceny.
Beck took the witness-Stand and ac-
knowledged the theitS He said, how
ever, that he had Intended to reimburse
Ortiz for all he had taken. He wanted to
go into business with Orth and lacked the
ready money necessary. ii e acknoWl
edged that he stole gloves from Orth and
then sold them back TO him, and that he
had sold some of the stolen hosiery to
Wasserman, Davis q Co. The first lot
that he spirited away from the store, he
said, was worth $40, the next S4S, the
next $50, the next S4S, and so on, but
never any lot worth $50. He knew just
the value of each lot, because he had
He denied that he had made these en-
tries in his memorandum book since his
arrest. In noting the value of the goods
stolen he figured on the cost price OF them,
not what Mr.. Ortiz sold them at, he said
BECK said Mr.. 0rth had been to see him
since his arrest, and he and his attorney
.Jud Brusie, offered TO compromise the
case for money consideration.
District Attorney Ryan subjected Beck
to an uumprclful crOSS-ex animation
which completely unnerqed him. The
prisoner insisted, however, that he in
tended to reimburse Orth, and that be
never took $50 worth of goods at one
lime.
In rebuttal Mr.. Orth testified that the
first lot of lace stolen from him was worth
SIS, and not $40, as testified TO by Beck.
Ortiz and Attorney Brusie both testified
that they never made any overtures to
Beck to compromise the case.
The case was submitted without argu-
ment on either side, and after Judge an
i leet read his instructions the Jury re-
tired. II was thought that the twelve
wise men would be back again, but to the
surprise OF the court officers they did not
agree right away.
BECK CONVICTED.
The fact of the matter was the jury
stayed out nearly four hours.
This was considered a good omen by
Beck and his attorney, and they con-
fidently expected verdict not worse
than petty larceny, and possibly some
thing better.
But juries are always uncertain. After
their lengthy absence, they returned
finally with verdict of grand larceny,
as charged. They recommended Beck to
the mercy of the court, however, on the
strength of his apparent repentance.
Judge Van Fleet ordered the fallen
social star to appear Friday for sentence.