The San Francisco call., 1895-12-03
Captain Lees Expresses His
Opinion Of Bayard
Saville.
HE IS CHARGED WITH FORGERY.
Passed Checks Purporting to Be Signed
by Mrs. Bell, Widow Of the
Late Capitalist.

Bayard Savllle was brought from Oak
land last evening by Sergeant Duncan and
booked at the City Prison on the charge
of forgery.
On November Saville went to III. P.
Wakelee's drugstore, on Polk and Sutter
streets, and asked III. L. Pockman, the
manager, TO cash a check for $50. The
check was drawn on the Bank of Califor-
mia, and purported to be signed by Teresa
Bell, widow of the late Thomas Bell, the
capitalist.
Pockman knew Saville as an empIoye of
Mrs. Bell and as he did not have the
money himself he crossed over to the Office
of the Sutter-street Railroad Company and
got the check cashed by Secretary Stevens.
Stevens had occasion to go downtown. and
he presented the check at the bank for
payment. To his surprise ne was told it
was worthless.
Saville had meantime returned to Wake
lees drugstore and asked Pockman to
oblige him by cashing another check for
$500. While they were talking Stevens
entered the store and informed Saville that
the bank refused to cash the check. Sa
vile expressed his regret and said Mrs.
Bell must have made mistake by getting
hold of the wrong checkbook. he would
go at once and see about it and would leave
his valise just to show that he would re-
turn. He did not return, and when the
valise was opened it was found to contain
two or three shirts and some pairs of socks.
A few days later Saville presented
check for $3.50 on the Bank of California
signed by Mrs. Bell to William McCracken
of the Lick House Laundry. McCracken
advanced him $50 and $50 at different
times on the check and then he found it
was worthless. He reported the matter to
the police and Detective Ross Whitaker
was detailed on the case. Whitaker as
certained that Saville had gone across the
bay, and he sent his description to the po-
lice in Oakland and Alameda.
Detective Denny Holland arrested him
on Broadway, Oakland, yesterday morn
ing. Holland had learned that man
answering Saville's description had been
getting money from the Young Mems
Christian Association, Roman Catholic
priests and prominent citizens on the plea
that he was a penitent ex-convict, so he
determined to look out for him. When he
met him on Broadway he placed him
under arrest. Saville made grab for a
revolver that was in his hip pocket, but
Holland was too quick for him.
Let me have it, pleaded Saville. 81
don't want to lnjure you, but l want to
end my miserable existence
Holland kept hold of the weapon, how
ever, ard took his prisoner to the City
Prison. He then telephoned to police
headquarters here and Sergeant Duncan
was sent to bring him over.
| Wakelee, the druggist. has no intention
of prosecuting him, but McCracken swore
| to complaint charging him with forgery.
Saville came here seven or eight years
| ago with wife, who was victim of con-
sumption, and shortly after taking up
their residence here she died. He did not
come under the notice of the police till the
| fall of 1891. On August 81 he presented
| forged letters of introduction to the late
Senator James G. Fair, and on the strength
of them he got $500. He was arrested for
obtaining money by false pretenses. and
on October II he was sentenced to three
years in San Quentin.
He was discharged on January Is, 1894,
and soon afterward secured employment
on Mrs. Bells ranch, in Napa County,
where he remained till about two months
ago. 1t was through his employment on
this ranch that Pockman and McCracken
got acquainted with him.
He is welI-educated, fine-looking man,
of good address, and is said to belong to
wealthy family in Maryland. Captain
Lees says he is one of the cleverest conf
dence-men that has ever visited the coast,
and could get money out of the most stony
hearted of men by his nerve and plausible
ways.
Saville, when seen in the City Prison, re-
fused to say anything. He had not yet
consulted an attorney, nor had he seen any
OF his friends