The San Francisco call., 1897-07-10
HIS VICTIMS
were JEWELLERS
Arrest of a Man Who Had
Operated in Many
States.
His Wife Was Discouraged and
Wished to End Her
Life.
She Thought Under New Conditions
in the Far West he Would
Reform.

Detectives Gibson and Wren yesterday
succeeded in landing man with record,
and the news of bis capture will carry joy
to several jewelers. throughout the length
and breadth of the land. The mans
name Cat least the most plausible name
that could be picked out from half a score
or so of aliases used in various parts OF
the country is William Lodtman. His
specially is passing spurious drafts drawn
upon Eastern newspapers, and his vic
Tins seem to be exclusively jewelers..
Lodtman and his wife arrived in this
City Sunday, and he took pains to let 1t
be known that he was newspaper adver-
Using man. He was affa BILE, and succeeded
in making several acquaintance, whom
he used 10 introduce him TO number OF
business concerns.
The first of his operations, so far as the
police could learn, was with Hammer
smith & Field. Lodtman succeeded in Sc
curing from this firm a diamond ring, for
which he rendered draft drawn upon the
Eagle Publishing Company of Philadel-
phla, Pa. His next victim was II. Kahn,
an optician under the Chronicle building
From Kahn the alleged newspaper man
secured a pair of field glasses. for which
he rendered a draft similar to the one
given Hammersmith & Field, but for $50
The glasses were worth about So, and
Kahn accepted the draft and paid the dii-
ference. From Clabrough, Golcher &
Co. Lodtman obtained a fine Smith &
Wesson revolver and paid for it in the
same manner as the other articles. He
attempted to pass a draft upon the San
Francisco Jewelry Company, but that
organization fought shy of the paper.
kIAiter Hammersmith & Field had ac-
cepted the draft from Lodtman their at
tention was called to an article in the
Jewellers Circular, trade journal pub
liShed in New York. This article had a
picture remarkably like their custo NJ er, ,
and its caption was William Lodtman.
The story was clipped from the New York
Sun and described the operation of an ex
tensive swindler of unsuspecting jewei-
dealers. The man named in the arti Gle
had served a term in the New York peni-
tentiary for passing worthless drafts
drawn upon the New York Tribune, and
since his release 1t was stated he had been
engaging extensively in crooked work.
Hammersmith g. Field at once con-
cluded they had been bunkoed and ap-
pealed to the Chief of Police. Detectives
Wren and Gibson we're detailed on the
case and they had no difficulty in picking
up their man. He fitted The description
of the Eastern crook so we'll tnat ne was
al once put under arrest.
u warrant was issued ana q VlSlI
made TO Lodtman's rooms. His wife was
found there and when the officers told her
her husband had bean arrested she COM
menced to weep violently, and, reaching
for pistol, attempted to kill herself The
detectives saw the act in time to prevent
its elimination.
When Mrs. Lodtman had been partially
calmed she said she knew her husband
had been operating in the Ea st, but she
haH bat in far
der new surroundings, be wouidsmend his
wav.
A search of the room served TO substan-
tiate the story of his extensive opera
tions. Among his effects were found
jewel cases bearing the firm name OF
houses in almost every section OF the
United States. The diamond ring, the
field glasses and the revolver. were recov-
cred
Lodtman Will probab bly, be charged with
forgery, as the Endorsements upon the
drafts are thought not to be genuine