The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-01
PULLING FOR HANDLEY.
Attempt to Secure a Fircbue's Liber
on . Forged Bond.

Attempt to Secure Ffrcbug's Liberty
. Forged Bond.
Fire Marshal Towe and Detective Rogers
are investigating what appears to have
been daring attempt TO secure the release
OF Martin III. Handley ON a bond, to which
the signatures had been forged.
1t will be remembered that Handley and
his wife Kate were examined OH charge
Of arson, in having set fire to their abode
on Dolores street. in order to secure $500
insurance on some WORKOUT furniture.
Judge Love committed them for trial in the
Superior Court. fixing bonds in the sum of
$1,000 for Mrs. Handley and 5000 for Hand
ley. Mrs. Handley's relatives soon secured
a bond for her release, but Handley re-
mains in Jail.
When Fire Marshal Towe entered the
witness-room of the Grand Jury last Friday
he saw Dick Belau and Daniel and louis
Jones, who figured conspicuousIy in the
Elwood Bruner scapdal, in conversation
with District Attorney Barnes. At least
Belau was doing the talking for the two.
THREE wELL-KNowN MEN.
Towe knew that Belau and the Joneses
were close friends of Handley, as they
visited him daily during his incarceration
in the City Prison.
'These gentlemen have Just been asking
me to approve a bond for Handley," said
Mr.. Barnes 10 the Fire Marshal, ''and as
am in doubt desire your advice on the
matter"
While the District Attorney was en-
gagged the trio quietly slipped from the
room. This was regarded as very sus-
piciouS circumstance.
The next day Belau appeared before Judge
Love and asked him to sign an order fixing
bail in Handley's case. As the bail had al
ready been set in $1,000. the Judge deemed
such an order unnecessary, and Belau de-
parted without explaining his reasons for
trying to obtain IL.
Last Monday District Attorney Barnes
notified Towe that bond for the release of
Handley had been filed with Judge Slack
but not accepted. The sureties on the bond
were Joseph Boardmau of 715 Howard
street and ID. j. Darby of 1909 Sacramento
street. When Towe went 10 the Assessors
office to ascertain IL the sureties had any
property he discovered that Boardm ans
signature to the bond was a forgery. 1t was
also learned that ID. Il. Darby lives In Ala
media. Neither OF the men whose names ap-
pear on the bond could be found yesterday.
THE MEN WHO QUALIFIED.
Judge Slack said that the sureties who
qualified before him were both young men
and their description is similar to that OF
Handley's friends. B9ariman. who is quite
an aged man, could not have been one of
those who qualified on the bond.
While the Fire Marshal was in the Dis
trict Attorneys Office Wednesday the tele-
phone bell rang ana Mr.. Barnes answered it.
This is Fire Marshal Towe," sounded a
deep voice over the wire. ~ have investi-
gated the bond In the Handley case and find
il all right"
The District Attorney could scarcely be-
lieve what he heard. and TO make sure lie
asked, who Is sDeakingp
This Is Fire Marshal Towe," came the
answer, aud communication ceased
Now the officers are searching for the
men who peTsonated Towe and the sureties
given on the bond. 1t Is said that HandIey
knows well enough who they are. but the
chances ara he will not be induced 10 tell
Just at present.