Los Angeles herald., 1892-03-23
WESTBROOK BACK.
HE COMES CHAPERONED BY CON.
STABLE JOHNSON.
He Is Very Quiet and Does Not Discuss His
Case-His Story About His Trip to
Honolulu Credited.

Deputy Constable Harry Johnston re-
turned to Los Angeles at 8 l5 yesterday
afternoon from San Francisco, bringing
with him Moses d. Westbrook, the de-
fsulting clerk OF the Santa Fe land de-
partment. Westbrook seemed nervous
and gloomy, and, when seen in Justice
Austin's court room, refused to talk Of
his trouble. He also asked the court to
postpone the arraignment until this
morning, and was locked up in the
county Jail in the mean time. On the
way down here the prisoner was very
quiet and did not discuss the difficulties
in which he has entangled himself.
He convinced Mr.. Johnston, however,
that he had really been in Honolulu,
and that he was anxious to come back to
Los Angeles and face the music.
In this connection a peculiar trait OF
the San Francisco detectives may be
mentioned-a trait which showed itself
with remarkable plainness in the case of
Westbrook's arrest. 1t is that of a jaun-
diced professional jealousy, which does
not enable the San Francisco Hawk
shaws to place the credit for good work
where it deservedly belongs. The San
Francisco Chronicle cf last Saturday
says:
"The police OF this city located him
(Westbrook) several days ago at lodg-
ing house on Bush street, near Mont
gomery, but deferred his arrest until
further communication could be had
with the Los Angeles authorities. Mean
while Westbrook was closely shadowed,
and not for moment lost sight Of Last
evening about Z 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 accompanied them to police head
quarters without parley."
To any one conversant with the facts
in the matter, this statement is ridicu
lous. OF course it must be assumed that
the Chronicle received its account from
the sleuth-hounds of the San Francisco
ehadowforce, and the untruthful state
ments published are therefore attributa-
Bile to the standardization which seems
to be the predominant characteristic of
Bay city detective.
The real manner in which "the police
located him several days ago." is shown
by the following text Of telegram sent
to San Francisco by Chief Glass:
Los ANGELES, Ma-ch IS, 1892.
p. Crowley, Chief of Police, San Francisco.
Arrest for felony embezzlement NJ. C.
Westbrook, alias Charles Westbrook,
alias George H. Bates, now at room 46,
No. 3l4 Bush street. Consult card with
photograph sent you few days since
by Constable Clement of this city. Ii
arrested wire at once at my expense.
j. NJ. GLASS, Chief Police.
This was the first intimation the San
Francisco police had that Westbrook
was right underltheir noses, and after
such plain tip as to his where abouts
it can hardly be looked upon as re-
markable piece of detective work that
Detectives Byram and Whitaker so
Gated him several days ago." 1t seems
evident that the San Francisco reporters
were not informed by the mysterious
s'fy-cops" of the manner in which the
location and arrest were achieved. The
been distinguishing itself by the cap
ture of big game, and ought to get all
the credit it earns.