Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-28
THINKS
RAFFLES CALLED
MYSTERIOUS MAN PAYS VISIT
TO COUNTY JAIL
Deputy Mathewson Shows Strange
Man About Model institution but
Does Not Suspect Identity
Until Too Late
Continued from Page oneJ

welte that 1 was afraid the room was
too high up.
That did not appeal to Mr. Welte,
as he declared the house was fireproof,
and when | answered. "Oh, it's not of
| fire that I'm afraid" he looked at me
quickly as he asked, And sure, and
what then are you afraid Off"
The story was the same, with the
exception that probably my uncle
would take the adjoining room, all OF
which caused Mr.. Welte to announce
emphatically that his house was no
place for my relative. 1 managed to
get one of his cards, with the under
standing that there was little use in
uncle coming to look the rooms over,
as he would sure want to take a sharp
peek at auntie himself.
Wouldn't Stand for Bars
C. S. Warren, proprietor of the War
rem house at 553 Ceres avenue, after
| listening to the recital of my auntie's
pecuiarities, declared he had no rooms
at the present time, but that IL 1
would have my uncle call around next
Friday afternoon he might be able to
fix up a place for my aunt.
At 552 Gladys avenue I encountered
G.. w Abbey. the proprietor, who
showed me a front room which had
just been vacated. Mr.. Abbey was
willing to take chance with auntie,
but strenuously objected to my having
iron bars placed on his front windows.
incidentally he had rather remark
able rate for the room-$2 for one per-
son and % cents extra a week If two
persons occupied the room.
| middle-aged woman with little
boy met me at the door of 412 Central
avenue which is known as the Pacifico
rooming house. She said she had a
small room on the top floor which she
thought would be very undesirable for
a lady.
Hamburger Girl Fails
That was the limit of my run among
the rooming house keepers. This is
what happened among the department
stores.
At Hamburger's I purchased men,
orandum book for 10 cents from quite
nice looking young lady, who wore
a light blue silk waist with black
skirt, who was busy busting the show
case when I entered.
When looked the sales slip over 1
found it was No. 70 and that clerk
No. POOL had failed to take an easy
chance to gather in the reward Of $1,000
which was trying to offer her.
over at Bullock's I went to section
D, where I purchased two lead pencils
for 10 cents from clerk No. 2107, who
gave me sales check No. 36E. This
particular clerk was a young lady,
dressed in white shirt waist with black
skirt and adorned with a miniature
on the end of a gold fob chain which
dangled from her waist.
Central Man Also SIumbers
: At the Central department store ]
took a chance in the skidoo No. 23 de-
partment, where there was large dis
play of shoes on tables. young man
with a smooth face, wearing a black
suit and light purple tie adorned
with a small turquoise pin sold me a
pair of shoe laces for 25 cents. I re-
ceived check No. 16, clerk No. 103
So much for the department stores
Mail Carriers tumble
While jollying the rooming house
keepers 1 happened across letter car
rers No. 1873 and No. 81 talking to-
gether on Fifth street, between Ruth
and. Gladys avenues. Just as feeler
asked both men where 'Steen street
was, to which No. 1873 answered, 1.-TWO
blocks around the corner to the right"
Hanged If I can find that street on
my map.
/ rode on East First street car No.
266 with conductor No. 1882 from Fifth
and Broadway to First and Broadway,
where he was relieved by conductor
No. 1912, with whom I continued my
trip to the viaduct on First street.
where passengers and conductor
changed to car No. 265. I continued
on until reaching Savannah and First
streets.
had another experience which will
make people sit up and think when
write about it.
Watch for Him Today
The rest of the work after this ex-
perience was so easy that 1t was tire
some. During the afternoon I loafed
around the business center Of town.
with nothing more heavy on my mind
than watching the various expressions
of the faces of those with whom l had
previously come in contact.
Today will go after you again.
There is no telling at what moment
you may bump into me- and I am
trying to put you all on your guard,
as 1 am Just as anxious to make
severe test of this game here as you
are to capture me and win the money
Just bear in mind the fact that in
order to win this money you must give
me this salutation, "You are the mys-
terious Mr.. Raffles of the Los Angeles
Herald"
Wonder what will happen today?
Come on, sleuths-I am waiting for
|
81 believe we entertained the mys-
terious Mr. Raffles for half an hour or
more at the county Jail yesterday after
noon." said Sheriff William A. Ham
mel last night
"He is certainly a smooth article.
We had a busy day and 1t was not
an unusual thing for a nice-looking
young chap to come in and want to
look over the jail. I was occupied at
the time, but noticed the man and his
face at that time had familiar look.
IT am convinced that this man Raf-
fles is the cleverest i'm the world. Dep
uty claude Mathewson took the man
in tow and showed him all over the
place. I don't know what conversation
Claude had with him.
Sees Twinkle in His Eye
"When he had seen the interior work.
ings of the jail the man returned and
in q suaYe, polite manner said:
"'Mr. Sheriff, I've been in Jails all
over the country and ! think you have
the cleanest, most orderly place I've
seen anywhere. l thank you for your
courtesy
"I feel a natural pride i'm the insti-