Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-21
NICE In His WAYS.
Embezzler WestbrOOk Some
thing of a Dude.
The Santa Fe COmpany's Clerk
to Be Returned.
He Was Caught il San Francisco on
Friday Night.
He Claims He Intended to Return and
Give Himself Up-Re Went to
Honolulu aud Re-
turned.

81 am inclinded to be rather nice in
my ways and do not frequent low
places"
1t was not at all bad looking young
man that made this remark, says the
S. F. Chronicle of Saturday, but he was
in an exceedingly bad way, for the
words reached the ears OF Chronicle
reporter through the wicket of door
in cell OF the prison, and the voice
that spoke was that of Moses D. West
brook, formerly assistant secretary of
the Land and Improvement company of
Los Angeles, subsidiary corporation to
the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railway company, and now charged
with embezzling the company's funds.
He made the remark in explanation OF
the reason why the police, armed with
his photograph and perfect description
of him, had allowed him to remain for
the past week in San Francisco without
placing him under arrest.
IL suppose they have beer looking for
me in low groggeries and dives" said
Westbrook, but l have been passing
my time in the lobby of the Palace, for
am inclined to be rather nice in my
ways. and do not frequent low places.'
Westbrook was familiarly known in
Los Angeles as Charley" He had a
good salary with the Santa Fe company,
and was supposed to have saved some
thing. He owned some property there.
and had charming wife and two chill
dren, one a girl of three years and the
other little baby boy. He was known
fO ho o6H 70 hut
generally supposed to be honest
Shortly after February 1st he left Los
Angeles on short vacation. and when
he did not return at the expected time
it was thought best to make an investi-
cation of his accounts. This disclosed
shortage of something between $4,000
and $4,000, and it was shown also that
his peculations had extended over the
past eighteen or twenty months. His
wife was completely overcome by the
discovery OF her husbands crime and
by his desertion, and did everything in
her power to make restitution. Finally,
however, she took her little ones to the
home OF her parents in Michigan.
A warrant was issued for the arrest Of
WestbrOok on the charge of embezzle-
ment, and descriptive cards bearing his
photograph were circulated far and wide.
The police of this city located him
several days ago at lodging-house on
Bush street, near Montgomery, but de-
ferred his arrest until further COM
munication could be had with the Los
Angeles authorities. Meanwhile West
brook was closely shadowed, and not for
moment lost sight of. Last evening
about O'Clock Detectives Byram and
Whitaker knocked at the door of
Westbrook's room and announced their
errand. He simply remarked that he
had been expecting visit from them,
and accom- panied them to police head
quarters without parley. He admitted
to the police that there had been
shortage in his accounts with the COM
pany, and stated that he was perfectly
willing to 60 back and arrange matters.
A Chronicle reporter found Westbrook
solitaire. He did not seem at all put
out at the predicament he was in, but
professed perfect confidence in his abil.
ity to arrange matters satisfactorily.
"When 1 left Los Angeles" he said, '.I
took a run over to Santa Barbara for a
couple of weeks, and then came up here
and sailed ON the Australia for Homo.
lulu. l only stopped there four days,
for had made up my mind
to go back to Los Angeles
and face the music. did not wait for
steamer, but came back on sugar
boat. 1 got here last Sunday and have
been here ever since. l met several Los
Angeles people on the street and spoke
to them, and l supposed, of course the
police were looking for me. 1 went
dead broke day or two ago and wrote
to Los Angeles for money TO go there
with, and presume that letter led to
my arrest. Well, am glad of it. They
will pay my fare now.'
Westbrook is about 80 years OF age.
He says he was born in Atlanta, Ca,
and has lived in California five years.
He will probably be taken to Los Angeles
today.
[Westbrook is reported to have spent
most of the money he stole on the
demi-mondaines of the city and over the
poker table.