The San Francisco call., 1899-06-18
FINDLEY
Is RUN TO EARTH
SAN LUIS oBIsPo'S Ex-TAx COL
LECTOR HOME AGAIN.
Miles by Pinkerton Detective
and Taken in Peru.

Among the passengers on the train that
arrived from the East early yesterday
morning were Samuel NJ. Findley. the
abscondng Treasurer of San Luis Obispo
County; John c. Fraser, one of Pinker-
tons shrewdest detectives, who had cap
tured the embeZZler, and Thomas Berry,
auditor of the Fidelity Insurance Com
pany. After stopping an hour at the local
agency of the Pinkertons the trio de-
parted on the southern train for San Luis
ObiSpo where Findley will be tried for
stealing the funds that a contidng people
had given into his keeping. From all that
can be learned his defalcation amounted
TO about $l5 600 Last November Findley
disappeared. and an investigation showed
that he had taken with him the amount
stated in gold coin. Which direction he
had taken was a mystery to his towns
people, and they were obliged to call upon
his bondsmen to make good the amount
stolen. The Fidelity company at once
G. f. Vannatto, the superintendent of the
Pacific department, soon found that the
fugitive had gone to Ell Paso, Tex.
Mr.. Fraser superintendent of the Den
yer department. was put on the trail. and
from that point he was led a merry chase
after the thief; Back and forth through
blazing his way through innumerable
cities and towns by his lavish expenditure
Of money. Sometimes he posed as a de-
tective and at other times as Chicago
spare cash. but all the time he was work
ing his way to the south. In some places
he called himself Millen and sometimes
Muller, but for all his zigzagging and
aliases the detective kept on his trail.
From Aspinwall Findley made a break
to Peru. and little later his pursuer was
soon in Lima. one day Fraser. while Sit
ting in a cafe. observed his man enter
and take seat at a table near by The
picture furnished the detective was true
to life and II was an easy task in that
strange land to get acquainted with the
man. Fraser assumed to be a mining
man. and together the two discussed
schemes by which they could make good
investments; but all the time Fraser took
good care to kill any plan that would have
bank where he had deposited all that re-
mained of his stealings soon after his
advent in Lima. Owing to there being no
eXtradition treaty between this country
and Peru Fraser was obliged to attach
the money and throw Findley into jail
upon a trumped-up charge. When the
latter found that he could not get at the
money and that there was little hope for
him 20 get out of Jail for a long time he
concluded to throw up the sponge and
come back with his captor.
The return trip was made by way of
New York and Denver. Findley had but
little to say, except that during his trav-
els he had enjoyed himself and for once
In his life knew the joys of spending
money. From his remarks he will plead
bestowed upon him by the people he be-
trayed. Mr.: Berry's mission to the south
ern county Is to attend to the prosecution
of the prisoner. He states that the cap
ture OF the fugitive has cost a great deal
or money, but his company does not take
that into consideration and Findley must
suffer as a warning to all others for whom
the company Is surety