Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-30

Mayor Emo and Trustee LoSee Arrested on Charge
of Accepting Money From Pavilion Architect
political Move" Say Accused fficials

Following a thorough investigation by
District Attorney John D. Fredericks
late yesterday afternoon, r. A. Emo,
mayor of the city of Long Beach. and
j. b. Losee, one of the trustees, were
arrested on warrants rworn out by De
tective George Longfelow. charging
them with accepting bribes
The arrests, according to the state.
ments of the district attorney. have
been made only after most thorough
examination, and coming at this time,
when the charges brought many weeks
ago We're thought to have been for
gotten. the effect was like a thunder
clap.
Late yesterd; afternoon Detective
Longfellow, representing the district at
torneys .went to Long Beach and arr,
rested Emo. He brought him to Los
Angeles to see Attorney Fredericlzs. AT
the same time Detective Campbell had
taken charge of Losee and had brought
him to Los Angeles
Told They Were Arrested
The men were interviewed by Freder-
icks for more than an hour, and then
for the first time they were told that
they were under arrest.
Both men, however. accepted their
arrests philosophically and Immediately
sent to Long Beach for bondsmen, who
arrived late last night and secured their
release from prison.
The graft, as it is called in Long
Beach, has been going on for the past
six months and the complaints made
cover that period of time.
The first charge against Mayor Emo
is that he accepted a bribe of $500 in
letting the plans for the building of the
big pavilion erected near the pier lasr
summer to replace the one destroyed
by fire.
AT that time, according to the charges
against the mayor and the trustee,
Architect j. S. Newsum was required to
give $500 to Emo and Losee before he
was granted the contract. 1t is charged
that the money was divided between
the two men.
The next charge against the two men
pertains to the same work. Shortly
after the architect received the con-
tract "A contract was let by the board
VI u uSI0Co lOl lHt
of the pavilion. Cylindrical piles were
required for the basement foundation
and the contract was let to Richard
Loynes, upon bids and figures said to
have been furnished by Losee.
Change in Specifications
Loynes sublet the contract to the
American Gulf Coast Construction COM
pany, but before the work was com
menced Losee is alleged to have secured
a change in the specifications. In the
specifications last passed on square
piles Were recommended instead of the
round ones, This was decrease in the
cost of $500, but the other trustees are
alleged to have never known of the
change in price, while Losee is charged
with having gotten a rake off of $1000
which he is further charged with haV-
ing divided with Emo. These and sew
eral other deals which are said to be
hanging fire and which may involve
many prominent men of Long Beach
have torn the beach city asunder and
instead of hoped for peace the recent
troubles in which houses were blown up
and people threatened seem to have
begun again.
District Attorney Iredericks remained
in Los Angeles last night and made
further examinations in the case. Sew
eral prominent business men of Long
Beach were up before him and they
were closely examined.
Capt. Fredericks had little to say
about the case last night. These men
have been arrested after a close in
vestigation," he said, ION charges of
accepting bribes. This is the same
offense for which Ellis, Street Superin- |
tendent Werdins clerk, was prosecuted
and comes under an act of the penal
code. The penalty is not more than
fourteen years Imprisonment in the
state prison and forfeiture of office. No
Jail sentence is attached to this charge"
Following their arrest last night the
trustees made arrangements for spend |
ing the night in the Jail should their
bondsmen fail to reach the city. Supper
was ordered for them at one of the
downtown restaurants and they dined
in the prisoners waiting room of the
Jail. Two comfortable beds We're also
in case they should be COM
PEELED to spend the night in the county
jail.
At O'Clock Justice Young was sum