The San Francisco call., 1897-09-23
UNGRATEFUL TO
HIS BEDEF ACTOR
Story of the Downfall
of r. A. Bird of Los
Angeles.
Forged the Name of Capitalist
Griffith, by Whom He Had
Been Trusted.
The Ex-ConVIct Is Under Arrest
and VIII Be Made to Suffer
for His Theft.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, Sept. 22-The
arrest of r. A. Bird in San Francisco to-
day on the charge OF embezzlement brings
to a crisis story of crime and ingrati-
tude, of which the first chapter was exclu-
sively given in The CALL about month
ago. Bird had been secretary OF the Bris-
walter Land and Water Company in this
city at a salary of $75 month, with the
privilege OF earning some extra money as
a notary public. On his small income he
cut a wide swath in the lower circles Of
the very dissoiute until his excesses be-
came known to his employer, G. j. Grit
fifth, the wealthy man who donated
3OO0-acre park TO the city.
When sensational proof of his perhdy
had been given the secretary was removed
from his position and his books placed in
the hands of an expert for investigation.
The books were found to be in such a
chaotic condition that an entire months
time was required to determine definitely
from them how Birds peculations had
been carried on and what they amounted
to. The fact that BIRD had been convicted
of EN- bezzlement in San Diego and served
a portion of a two years sentence in
State prison was fully known to Mr..
Griffith, bat the latter hoped that the
mans protestations OF reformation were
sincere.
Mr.. Griffith was slow TO believe that
Birds criminal instincts had again DOM
mated him and not until Monday of this
week, when the report of the expert book
keeper convinced him of his employees
perndy, did he consent TO the fellows ar
rest. Bird was seen by The CALLS cor
respondent on the street here Sunday
evening, but that evening he departed for
San Francisco. The next day Sheriff
Burr. with a warrant of arrest. went north
10 catch the fugitive.
Bird is charged not only with rank in
gratitude, wnlch of itself is not a crime
under the statues, but of embezzling
funds of his employer and forging checks
on various city banks where Mr.. Griffith
usually keeps large cash deposits. The
forged checks amount to over $1,000, but
the total peCulatiOns reach something like
$4,000.
Bird has an interesting family of wife
and three children here, and these he
shamefuly neglected while dissipating in
the lowest dives in this city.
As has been explained in previous dis
patches, the perfdy of Bird was discov-
cred through his attempt to commit sui
eide at a notorious roadhouse, the female
keeper of the resort disarming him and
locking him up while she drove into the
city to inform Mr.. Griffith of the circum-
stances
Mr.. Griffith, president of the Briswalter
Land and Water Company, is very
wealthy man, but he has declared his in
tention of compelling the banks to stand
the loss of the amount they paid on the
forged checks. These checks were drawn
by Bird while Griffith was at Washington
laboring in behalf of the fruit tariff, and
he Gays that the fact that he was absent
from the city should have been known to
the banks and payments should have been
refused on the checks, which appeared to
have been drawn in this city. No one
doubts the outcome OF a prosecution of
Bird, bnt there will be some difference of
opinion on the responsibility for the loss
OF money paid on these forged checks.