Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-02
TWO MANY SALES
CAUSE ARREST
HOTEL PROPRIETOR IS TAKEN
INTO CUSTODY
Mahlon A. johnson Gives Bail and Ex-
plains That the Case is One
for Purely Civil
Action

Mahlon A. johnson, proprietor of the
Aldine hotel, 326 South Hill, and one
of the best known business men in Los
Angeles, was arrested last night on u
warrant sworn out before District At
torney Fredertcks, charging him with
selling mortgaged property.
According to attorneys representing
the Barr Realty company, Frank r.
Porter, A. M. Gates and Carrie Cham
pion, Johnson's actions Will cause liti-
cation which may last a number of
years, as suits have already been filed
between each of these persons and the
others.
The property involved is the South
western Glass companys factories and
warehouses in the Arroyo Seco, former
ly of but little value, but today said
to worth fully $4,000.
Johnson was formerly owner Of this
property, but last July Is said to have
mortgaged it for 100000.
After receiving the money Johnson
is alleged to have placed the property
in the hands of numerous real estate
dealers with instructions to sell 1t as
soon as possible. To these dealers
johnson is said to have represented
himself as being the sole owner of the
property.
Charge Many Sales
On October s. according to the COM
plant, Johnson again sold the property,
this time to the Barr Realty company.
He received in payment for it 500 in
cash and notes on which payments were
to be made at stated intervals in the
future. The price he asked for 1t was
the same as that for which it had been
mortgaged.
On November 12 Johnson is said to
have again sold the property, his house.
keeper, Carrie Champion, being the pur-
chaser this time She paid johnson, 1t
is stated, $2500 for the property and is
said to have given him cash.
According to the charges Johnson
three days later found another pur-
chaser. This time it was Frank r.
Porter, who paid him a like amount for
the property and on December John
son again sold it, this time to A. M.
Gates.
In the meantime the Barr Realty
company had taken charge of the
property and it's officials were greatly
surprised recently to be served with a
notice to vacate. They refused to do
was filed by Mr. Porter. About this
time the other purchasers stepped In
and suits were filed right and left un-
til now nearly every purchaser is suing
the remainder for possession.
Johnson was taken before Justice
Stevens yesterday afternoon and his
bail was fixed at $500.
johnson Makes Statement
my arrest was brought about by
my enemies, who wished to injure me-"
said Johnson when seen at his hotel
shortly after being released from GUS
tody. "They charged me- with selling
property twice. The truth is 1 sold
options on the property and later sold
the property, notifying the buyer, Car
rie Champion, that the other party had
an option on it, In the meantime this
option had been sold and that brought
about all the difficulty.
Il was greatly surprised at being ar
rested and had the ones who swore
out the warrant told just how matters
stood it would never have been issued
1 do not know who the constable was
who arrested me and do not know
when the case was set for. 1 was
taken before Justice Stevens and was
at once released under $1,000 bonds,
which was supplied by my sister-in-
law.
"These people can do nothing which
will in any way injure me, as 1 have
done nothing to leave me liable Suits
have been filed between the different
parties connected with the matter and
these people who swore out the war;
rant should have waited until they were
settled"