The herald., 1897-06-19
Y. Bilderrain's Character
Is Re-establiShed
WON FAIRLY BUT NOT PAID
THE CANADIAN is ACCoMMO
DATING WITH AFFIDAvITS
Bilderrain Says That "Poker" DAVIS
Is a Gentleman and Often
Loses Himself

The following communication was re-
ceived yesterday. 1t relates to the story
published concerning the arrest or Y.
Bilderrain on a charge of buncoing one
T. B. Williams of Westminster, Canada
out of a certified check on local bank
for $1560.
LOS ANGELES, June IS, 1891
State of California, Los Angeles county-ss'
IT. b. Williams being duly sworn, on oath
says that on the 14th day of June 1877, ne
engaged in a game of draw poker with \.
Bilderrain and others. and in such game ne
lost the sum of 1880, that said game was in
all respects fair and without device trick
or other unlawful means, so far as affiant
is informed or believes, and that he does
not believe a criminal offense has been COM
mitted. and made complaint only at the
nstigation of others, and now believes that
said prosecution is wrongful and unjust
(Signed) r. B. WILLIAMS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me by
T. b. Williams. this 18th day of June. 1897.
SAMUEL Prayer, Notary Public.
This statement of Williams places him
in most peculiar light. He is con-
fesedly either a knave or fool, or both.
Last Tuesday he came to the police sta
ton and complained that he had been
buncoed in a poker game. The matter
was turned over to Detective Bradish,
who listened to Williams story and then
told him there was but one way to pro
coed in a case of this kind, and that was
to swear to a complaint against the
guilty parties.
Bradish told Williams that several
complaints had been issued, after which
the complaining witnesses failed to ap-
pear against the bunco men. Williams
solmenly promised that this would
not occur in his case, and
that he would be on hand to prosecute
the men if the matter was brought to
trial. He then went before the district
attorney and swore to complaints
against three members of the Poker Da-
Wis gang. Bilderrain among the others.
In the light of Williams present state
ment it would seem that he perjured him
self in the district attorneys office. Ev-
identity one statement or the other is
false and they are both sworn state
ments.
Shortly after Bilderrain's arrest Will
Jams telephoned Chief Glass that he had
been seen by one of the men who haC
buncoed him, and that a compromise haj
been offered. He wanted to know wha:
to do. The chief replied that there was
but one thing to do after swearing to a
complaint, which was to prosecute it
Detective Hawley said: 1T is al
most impossible to obtain conviction
in these bunco cases. AS soon as it is
learned that the sucker has complained
he 1a ;c oh ed J,xyo a
of the members of the gang and his 81
lence is bought When a man is bun
coed his first thought Is to get his money
back, and then he is willing to enter
into almost any kind of an agreement
to do this
Mr.. Bilderrain appeared at the Herald
office yesterday and was very anxious
that the foregoing affidavit should be
published in order that the excellen.
reputation which he says he has main
tained in this city for so many years
should not be damaged. Bilderrain was
also anxious. that his identity should no.
be confounded with that of his brother
which seems of more Importance to his
brother, who was formerly city assessor
and zanjero, which latter office the Her.
aid wrongly ascribed to the Bilderrair
now under consideration.
Mr.. Bilderrain was asked if Mr.. VIII
liams, having sworn that he lost the
sum of $3.50 fairly and without device
had paid his debts like gentleman
/ Mr.. Bilderrain's answer was very dis
tinctly evasive. What business is tha;
Of yours or anybody else's, when I show
you Mr.. Williams affidavit that he lost
| his money fairly?"
Simply that if he hasn't disgorged
what he properly lost such an affidavit
does not deceive me-" answered the re-
porter, nor will it fool the public"
The point was a little too fine for Mr.
Bilderrain's comprehension, but he
waxed eloquent on other subjects
Mr. Davis" said Mr.. Bilderrain "ie
a gentleman and plays poker like gen.
tleman and the sport that he is
Doesn't he always VIM"
Not by long odds. Why, the other
day he lost $1,000 al the corner of First
and Main and dropped s24O a few days
since and never murmured. The sports
don't squeal."
Are you identified with Mr.. Davis