The herald., 1897-03-26
Arthur Brayton at His Old
Tricks Again
A GIRLS NARROW ESCAPE
PROMISED BIG PAY TO GET HER
IN HIS CLUTCHES
The Scheme Failed by the Watchful-
ness Of the Father-Apparently
Very Straight Case

1t Is more than probable that if one
Arthur Brayton. alias Frank Williams,
does not get out of the state within the
next twenty-1our hours he Will find HIM
self behind the bars. Some seven or
eight months ago the fellow gained con-
siderable unenvlable notoriety In police
circles by trying to inveigle young girls
TO leave tho city under the guise of Sc
curing them lucrative positions for de
tective work" or in theatrical compa-
nies at remunerative wages. with light
work. He made use of the employment
agencies for accomplishing his purpose,
and did succeed in partially getting one
girl in his power, but his character was
discovered in time, and when he found
that he had been detected, he dropped out
of sight. For a time he was employed
about the private detective offices, but
his services had to be dispensed with.
and, as he had not been heard from for
some time, 1t was supposed that he had
left this part of the country. Recent
developments, however, show that this
Is not the case, and thinking that his
previous record has been forgotten, he
is again at his old tricks.
On Saturday last Brayton, under the
name of Frank Williams, left an order
at one of the employment agencies for
an intelligent young woman Of good
address, saying that she was wanted for
detective work, but that he did not
want this fact advertised, and that she
must be at the Office the following Sun
day afternoon at o'clock, as it was
important. The employment agents no.
titled the young women on their lists
whom they thought would fill the bill,
among them being one who was tenn
porarily engaged at Azusa. AS the
chance looked fiattering, she was noti-
fed by telegraph and came in on the
train the next morning. Sunday after
noon some three or four of the young
women put In an appearance at the EN-
ployment office, where Brayton was
awaiting them. He finally decided on
the young woman from Azusa, and told
her that he wanted her for detective
work" shadowing rich woman at the
Hotel Coronado She would be paid
81 so per day for her services, and would
live at the hotel as a guest while the
party remained there. The girl was
pleased with the prospect and said that
she would at once notify her parents
and secure their consent for her to take
the place. He accompanied the girl to
her home and said that he would return
in the evening to take her where the
people were stopping that she was to
shadow"
The fellow promptly put in an ap-
pearance as he had promised. The girls
parents, however, We're not entirely sat-
isfied with Brayton's story, and her
father after cautioning her not to go
into room with Brayton alone, gave
her revolver and told her to go with
the man. while he would follow to see
that no harm came to her. AS the girl
and Brayton left the front door the
father slipped out the back way and fol-
lowed them on the opposite side of the
street. Brayton first went to the Hotel
Van Nuys, where he stood on the side
walk and pointed out party of guests,
saying they were the people she was to
shadow. He then proposed to the girl
that she go to his room, as he wished to
give her the final instructions This the
girl declined TO do. and Brayton then
suggested that they go to some private
place, where they could sit down and
talk. The girl proposed Sixth street
park, which he agreed to, and there
they went. followed by the father.
Shortly after reaching there Brayton
discovered in some manner that the
girl had revolver, and asked her what
she carried, 1t for. She replied to pro-
tSCt HeIsSil Wlul, anu dIter some general
talk, he took her home, saying he would
notify her when she was wanted, and
left.
The girls father was not satisfied with
the turn affairs had taken, and the fol-
lowing day instituted inquiries, easily
discovering Brayton's antecedents. He
then told his daughter what he had found
out, and later in the day a note was re-
ceived by the girl from Brayton telling
her to come to his room at Main street
lodging house. and If he was not In to
go certain number and wait for him.
OF course the girl did not go, and the
father on entering the council chamber
recognized In the so-called detective one
of the witnesses in the Main street paw
ing investigation. He was in the gal
lery at the time and did not wish 10
make scene, hoping to catch the fellow
when he came outside. In some way he
missed him and has not since got on
his trail
1t is probable that the matter will be
placed before Chief Glass today and
an investigation will be made. If there
is any law that will cover the case, Bray
ton will be arrested.