The San Francisco call., 1897-12-11
Successfully Swindled a Whole
sale Firm on Front
Street.
INDICTED BY THE GRAiD JURY.
The Police Has Ridiculous Bill of
Sale Which he Gave to
John Evans.

Robert Lawliss, the racetrack tout who
was acquitted several days ago on a
charge of swindling Ned" Greenway, the
society leader, out U: $S IS, as told in THE
CALL, was arrested last night by Detective
Tom Gibson on an Indictment found by
the Grand Jury yesterday charging him
with forgery.
Some time ago Lawless. who the police
say is an accomplished confidence opera.
tor, visited the office of Eugene a. Bresse,
at 412 Pine street, and after introd ucing
himself as Thomas Murphy, the we'll
known jockey, presented the following
telegram, dated New York and purporting
to be signed by Henry J. Crocker:
Thomas Murphy, Tnglestds Track san F. an
CISCO so TO l.. A Bresse,4 Pine street. Want
you to take stab.e of hoTses you had last year
Bresse viii give you all the money you need.
Lawliss when asked how much money
he wanted said he could get along with
$50.
Suspecting something wrong, Bresse
told him to call around the following day,
when he would give him the amount
Bresse went TO the Western Union Tele-
graph CffiCe and learned that the telegram
was forgery. He at once notified Chief
Lees, and Gibson was detailed to arrest
Lawhss.
In some way the astute tout learned
that Gibson was looking for him and he
did not return to the office of his supposed
victim.
a few days later he was apprehend ded
for bunkoing Ned Greenway and locked
up in the City Prison. A ter being dis
charged from custody the forged telegrsm m
was brought to the attention of the Grand
Jury, with the result that Lawliss was in
dicted.
While investigating the career of Law
liss Gibson ascertained that a short time
ago he swindled the firm of Kruse & Co..
OF 207 Front street, out of SIS %, PIovid-
ing himself with a box filled with
sawdust, he went TO their store and an
nounced that it was TO be sent to Mrs.
Kessler of Redding. Mr.. Kruse is tie ex-
ecutor OF the estate of the womGn's hus-
band, and ne closely questioned Lawliss.
The Iatter said hat the contents of the
box was very valuable and that $S so
charges were due on il.
Suspecting something wrong kruse re-
fused TO accept the box and Lawliss left.
He returned in a short time and exhibited
receipt from Wells, Fargo & Co.. pur-
porting TO show that he had paid IS so for
the delivery of the box.
Convinced that he was telling the truth
the cashier refunded him the amount and
he left the store.
ceived the box marked Collect on deliv-
ery," and on opening it she discovered
that 1t was filled with sawdust. She at
once communicated with Kruse &, Co.,
with the result that the police were
notified,
Prior to this transaction Lawless. 1t is
claimed, cleverly worked John Evans,
saloon-keeper on Eddy street, out OF
81 so. He represented that he was the
owner OF broken-down racehorse which
he called Valanta, and which he was anx-
ious 10 sell at the ridiculously low price
of 81 80. Evans fell against his scheme
and the following "quitclaim" bill of sale
was drawn up and duly signed:
This indenture made the 1lth dav of Sen
tember In the year OF our Lord 1897 between
John Evans and Robert Lawless, the part Is
of the second part,
Witnesseth: That the said lst of the frs
part for and IN consideration OF the sum o.
Two dollars and 50-l00 dollars of the United
States OF America TO in hand paid by the said
whereof is hereby Acknowledged do | b,
these presents release and forever and Quit
claim unto he the said part two OF the SCI on 4
part ana 10 the heirs and assigns the horse
Nalanta; all the certain lot in the
said clSy and county OF San Francisco
and particularly described as follows
One brown gelding named VaIAnts,
sire Grlnstead, dam unknoWn, aged six II
spring; together with ell aud sinpu
lar the hereditaments ana appurten,
ances thereunto be .Onging, or in any wise
Rppertaining g, ana the reversion and reversions
remainder and remain ders, rents, issues snC
profits thereof To have and 10 hold all anC
singular, the said premises, together with III,
appurteuances into the part second OF III,
second part and to the heiIs ana assigns fo
ten days, and thereafter the said John Evan
has full right TO fOreclose OIL said property
In witness whereof, the said part OF the frs
part hath hereunto set my hand and seal tn,
day of the year first mentioned
Signed and sealed and delivered in tn,
presence OF G. A W. FOlkes and William ]
Hayes.
[Seal. J. NJ EVANS
lSeal. ROBERT LAwLEss.
Last year, it is said, LawIess successfully
worked" a number OF schoolte acher,