Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-01
A Handsome Young Woman
Arrested.
Santa Monica Society Lights
Cause a Sensation.
The Proceedings in the Case Yes
terday.
The Trouble IL All About Check.
Mr. Barrows Pronounced 1t
Forgery-It Was Paid to
His Wife.

Minnie r. BarrOWB was arralSneO yes
to-day morning before Justice Austin on
q charge of forgery. She had been ar
rested the night before by Detective
Bosqui, and that officer, as we'll as most
other persons interested in the case,
showed strong inclination to keep the
facts OF the case from the public.
The defendant in the case is stately,
handsome young woman, and claims to
be the wife of O. A. Barrows, who has
the reputation of being well-to-do. Both
she and her husband during several
seasons have occupied house at Santa
Monica, and have moved in rather swell
society.
Recently Mr.. Barrows has been in i'll
health, and has gone to the Soldiers
home as an invalid, because he disliked
to be treated at hospital. He is a
veteran of the rebellion, and has there
fore the privileges of the home, where,
besides, he has many friends.
Mrs. Barrows, as she calls herself, has
not shown any great solicitude about
the condition of the patient, but has
been living in Los Angeles. Whether
she has had any difficulties with Mr..
Barrows could not be learned, but it
seems probable that she did.
On March 10th the defendant came to
the Los Angeles National bank and pre-
sented check which read as follows:
Los ANGELES. CAL, March 16, 1892.
Los Angeles National Bank
Pay to Minnie P. Barrows or bearer
$500 (three hundred dollars.)
G. A. BARRows,
This check is now in evidence, and on
the back of it bears the bank stamp !:
'Paid March IS, 1892"
A few days later, the alleged signer OF
the check came to the city, called on his
bankers, and was surprised to find that
the check for 5000 had been drawn. He
demanded the order, and as soon as he
saw it pronounced it forgery. He at
once made demand for the money
in the bank and received the amount.
The bank officials at once adopted
measures to secure themselves against
loss. They reported the case to the
police department, and Detective 3osqui
was detailed on the case. The officer
located Mrs. Barrows and explained to
her the situation. The woman at once
agreed to return the money and gave a
certified check on another local bank to
the Los Angeles National. ..... -,..
All parties to the affair then were
Agreeable 10 plan To hueh the matter,
and came very near succeeding. The
district attorneys Office, however, had
obtained wind of the matter, and de-
cided that they would not be banked
in bringing the culprit to Justice. The
district attorney obtained such informa-
tion as he could, and upon information
and belief filed the complaint in Justice
Austin's court on last Wednesday. A
warrant was issued, placed in Detective
Bosqui's hands for service, and the
arrest followed.
At the arraignment yesterday morn
ing the examination was set for
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. A SUBJ
pGna was issued for G. A. Barrows, and
Constable Clement was sent to the Sol
diers' home to serve it. When the
time for the examination arrived, a po-
lice court lawyer, OF counsel for the de-
tense, moved the court to hold session
with closed doors. District Attorney
Phibbs objected, but Justice Austin held
that he had no discretion in the matter,
and ordered the doors to be closed.
Constable Clement had not returned
at 4 O'Clock, but soon thereafter the
court was informed that Mr.. Barrows
was too i'll to be moved from the Sol
diers' home. The case was therefore
continued until this afternoon in order
to allow deposition to be taken from
the invalid witness.
Mrs. Barrows, whose true name is un-
known, claims that she has been Mr..
Barrow's secretary for some time, and
that she has frequently signed docu-
ments in his name.