The herald., 1893-07-09
JUSTICE FLEMING IN TROUBLE,
A Coronado Official in Serious
Difficulty.
Held to Answer on o Criminal
Charge.
However There are y Number OF Weak
Points in the Prosecution = One
Which May Result in
His Favor.

Edgar Fleming, justice OF the peace
for Coronado Beach. was examined
yesterday before Justice Seaman upon
the charge of obtaining property under
false pretenses.
1t appeared from the evidence that
Fleming came to Los Angeles on a spree,
and during his stay in the city drank to
such an extent that he was several times
on the verge OF breaking down.
While here he made the acquaintance
OF M. Myer, who owns secondhand
store on Main street. Fleming offered
to buy watch from Meyer, and ten
dered him check drawn ON the Consol-
idated National bank Of San Diego.
Myer accepted the check and gave up
the watch, but on returning to his store
talked the matter over with his son, who
persuaded him that he had done fool
ish thing in taking check from a
stranger. Thereupon Myer went to
Fleming and told him he did not like to
take the check, and the watch was re-
turned to him.
At that time Fleming was in saloon
and very drunk.
The defendant took Myer on one side
and showed him papers which went to
prove that their owner was justice of
the peace. This Satisfied Myer who,
figuratively, kicked himself for refusing
the check, and apologized to Fleming.
Myer then went to his store and pro-
curing two gold watches went back to
Fleming and offered to cell him the ar
ticles. Fleming agreed to buy them,
and gave Myer three checks for $46, $1S
and $40.
The checks we're drawn in Fleming's
favor by Geo. w. Beaman of San Diego.
Upon investigation, Myer states that be
discovered neither Fleming nor Beaman
had money in the bank. He therefore
caused Fleming to be arrested.
A peculiar feature of the affair is that
one of the banks lately suspending pay
ment is the Consolidated National bank
OF San Diego, upon which the checks
were drawn. On account of the closing
OF that institution no official proof was
adduced yesterday which showed that
Beaman and Fleming were not depos-
itors in the bank. Detective Goodman
testified to Fleming telling him that he
was aware the checks were no good, and
that he had done the same thing before.
He knew he was doing wrong.
A gentleman who was present in the
saloon when the watches were sold,
stated that Fleming was on the verge OF
delirium tremens and hardly knew what
he was doing. He thought that it served
Myer right for attempting to sell prop
erty to a man in such condition.
At the conclusion of the testimony J..
F. Olalen, the attorney for the defense,
made powerful argument for his
client, arguing that Myer sold the
watches relying more on the fact that
the purchaser was a Justice of the peacs
than on the reliability of the checks
Also, argued the attorney, ther,
was no proof beyond Myers wore
that the checksiY would q not b,
henored when theoO Consolidated Ma.
tional bank resumed business. quoo
District Attorney, Dillon then, gave
the defendant an energetic, word lash
ing, in which the demand that tht
same justiceabe fieted out to Fleming
as that worthywssin9thshab OF giving
others when she held the honorable
position of justice of the peace.
Justice Seaman stated that he fell
obliged to hold the defendant over to
the superior court in bonds of $500.
Fleming, white-haired man of about
30 years, appeared overcome at the re.
suit of the examination, and seemed to
realize his position deeply.