Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-06
ANXIOUS TO RETURN
John Lawrence O'Brien Cap
tured in San Francisco.
ALLEGED DEFAULTER
CONFIDENTIAL CLERK IN EN-
PLoY OF FRANK HUME.
Had but $40 in Possession When
Taken Into Custody-Alleged
Shortage of SIS, 400.
ALLEGED DEFAULTBR

John Lawrence O'Brien the former drum
mer and collector for Mr.. Frank Hume,
who recently left this city after writing a
letter to his employer telling Of shortage
In his accounts, is in custody in San Fran
cisco Major Sylvester was advised of his
arrest about 4 o'clock Monday afternoon
o Brien left here Monday night of last
week a few hour after he became the hus-
band of Miss Della O'Day, taking his wire
with him. While it is alleged that he was
So 400 short in his accounts, he had only
SO and a watch and chain in his posses
sion when he was arrested. AS stated IN
The Star, the day Mr.. Hume reported the
| a fair to the police, the bridal couples bag
gage consisted of five trunks. The police
| found that this baggage had been checked
| to CALIFORNIA; capital, and Major Sylvester
wired George W. Whitman, chief OF ponce
of San Francisco, as follows:
ARREST for embeZzlement of $1,000 John
Lawrence ORrien; white, thirty years, hVe
feet nine inches; slightly stopped; fair COM
pIexion; checks slightly rosy, heavy black
hair, black mustache, dark eyes. mole on
left cheek, upper teeth gold hlled; Wen
dressed, neat in appearance. He is clerk
for wholesale grocery house. He is ac-
companed by WIFE twenty-six years; five
feet six inches. slender build. light hair,
light complexion. They left here October
~ at S:4o pm. via the Southern railway for
San Francisco. Had five pieces of bag
gage checked Nos. 0,265, G0,239, O2t:0,
co De- cO,267. on which S57.75 was due for
overweight. Believe it has arrived in San
Francisco Search all hotels and registers
of outgoing steamers. Wire result"
The Capture Reported.
The result was made known yesterday
afternoon in a message telling of O'Brien' s
capture Chief Whitman informed Major
Sylvester that O'Brien had signified a will
lingness to return without requisition pa
pers The San Francisco chief also stated
he would send an officer with the prisoner,
or he would hold O'Brien for an officer from
this city. Last night message was re-
ceved from San Francisco which reads:
KINDLY let me leave for Washington to-
day. J. LAWRENCE y BRlEN.
The message from the prisoner, the police
believe indicates that O'Brien is anxious to
return home. On the other hand, it may
have been sent a the suggestion of an
officer, who is anxious to make the trip
here.
The quick capture of O Brien is due to the
work of Detectives McNamee and Helan,
who were detailed on the case by Capt.
Bcardman. In addition to tracing the five
trunks the officers learned something of
what the prisoners Intentions were before
he went away. O'Brien had discussed the
matter of going to London, where he
thought a stranger could keep under cover
cussed his probable departure and said he
thought of going to Honduras. To others
he impaired the information that he was
going to North Dakota to enter law firm.
1t is believed that he really intended to GO
to Honduras, although the small amount OF
money found on him would indicate that he
could hardly have taken passage q
steamer. OBrien, it is thought, may have
more money, probably intrusted to the
keeping of friends, and which he expected
to get before sailing.
The detectives have an idea that he prob
ably expected to meet somebody who would
render him assistance. and that that some
body failed to materialiZe. What has be.
come of his money If he had any consid-
cradle amount when he went away the
police and Mr.. Hume would like to know.
Lived Rapid Life.
O'Brien, it is said, lived at the rate a mar
| does who had thousands of dollars at com.
mand. He lived at the Raleigh Hotel, play
ed the races, and. it is said, was fond of q
game of cards. What luck he had al the
pool rooms only O'Brien knows, but the
police believe he Jared no better than the
average player of the races.
| O'Brien's manner of manipulating the &C.
| counts. it is alleged, was calculated to de-
ceive his employer in a way that would
have prevented discovery. for many months
| In order to continue his method 1t was nee
essary for him to keep books at some place
away from the store. Mr.. Hume informs
each customer of the state of his account
the first of each month, and it was neceS
sary for these statements to be changed by
| the collector before they were delivered. Ar