Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-02
CHARGE TEACHER.
WITH LARCENY
SPANISH PROFESSOR PLACED
UNDER ARREST
Police Haul Waeonload of Books to
Station After Examination of
Rooms of Suspected

Rafael NJ. Gallegos, professor of
Spanish languages, graduate of the
universities of Ecuador and Peru, for
mer professor of the National institute
of Quito, of the Lima institute and
other colleges of South America, poet
and journalist, teacher of the pure
Castilian language by d rapid and ad-
mirabe method is now occupying a
cell in the city Jail with q charge of
petty larceny booked against his name.
Prof. Gallegos' history as given in
the foregoing was obtained from the
business card he uses and which gives
his address as AIT West Seventh street.
Gallegos was arrested yesterday after
noon charged with the larceny of two
books from the store of Cunningham,
Curtis & Welch, 252 South Spring
street.
1t is asserted by the police that Gal
legos has been guilty of the theft of
more than 500 volumes from different
book stores in Los Angeles and that
more than one-half this number were
pawned in second hand stores. About
$50 books he is said to have stolen
We're recovered from his room when II
was searched by patrolmen who were
detailed on the case.
Clerk Trails Suspect
According to the police Gallegos en-
tered the book store about IL O'Clock
yesterday morning. When he left 1t
was noticed that he carried two bulky
Bundles beneath his coat. A clerk VINO
noticed this followed the man from the
store and traced him to his rooming
place at AIT West Seventh. The clerk
then returned to the store ana report
ed where Gallegos lived.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
Gallegos entered the store for second
time. He was then requested TO VISIT
the managers office, where an explalla-
tion was demanded. Gallegos at hrst
refused to admit that he had taken
the books, but later confessed tnat ne
d. had carried them from the store VIII
him, but claimed he was absent iIilliu-
ed and that he did so by mistake
Gallegos then offered to return the
hooks according to the stories OF the
manager of the store, and in company
with a clerk went to his room ana
got the volumes. In the meantime Tue
police had been notified and when tne
man returned to the store he was placeo
under arrest.
Denies All Charges
When taken to the station Gallegos
oove the name of George Gallagher
and insisted that he had taken the
hooks by mistake. The Officers WY
arrested him were then sent 10 MS
room on West Seventh street and WIN
in a short time sent in call for tne
natrol wagon. When the wagon re-
turned to the station from the trip II
was loaded with expensive volumes
all new. which are said to nave peer
stolen from book stores in Los Ahee-
les A typewriter was also in tne
wagon. and the police say TINS ma
chine was rented by Gallegos apou
five months ago, but that he movee
soon after renting it and that the man
ayers of the typewriter concern nave
been unable to find trace of 1T since
During the last six months the po'
lice have received many complaints
of books being stolen. The losers coulc
never give any description of any one
they suspected, but it was found they
We're generally sold to some second
hand store by man closely answer
ing the description of Gallegos.
Gallegos claims to have passed the
last eight years in South American re-
n,1blics and to have been employed as
instructor at several educational in
stitutions. He Indignantly denies that
he ever stole any books, but claims he
purchased all those which were found
in his room.