The San Francisco call., 1908-03-20
Three Reporters, Accused of
Entering San Diego Studio,
Deserted by Employer
Say That Superiors Sanctioned
Their Theft of Photo
graphs of Fleet
One of Them Caught After
Making Desperate Attempt
to Leave the City
SPECIAL DrrArcH TO THE CALL

SAN DIEGO, March lo.-William
Beard, A. Heustis and Hayden Talbot,
three Examiner reporters, are under
arrest here charged with the theft
of photographs and films from the
studio of II. A. Fitch. The pictures
taken were large panoramas of the
feet at Magdslena bay, and from here
were sent to Los Angeles, where they
were reproduced in w. R. Hearst's
Examiner Tuesday morning.
Indignation here is general not only
at the tactics adopted by the Hearst
papers, but also because of the deser-
ton Of the men by Hearst and his as
sistants. The reporters under arrest
say that their actions were sanctioned
by their superiors and that they were
repudisted only after they had been
arrested.
A fresh sensation was added to the
incident when Hayden Talbot, one of
the. reporters. attempted to leave the
Jurisdiction OF the state and sail to
Magdalena bay in the government sup
ply steamer Culgoa- He was captured
and brought back to san Diego.
DESERTED By HEARST
The justice court looked today like d
Hearst editorial room. three members
Of the staff standing up to answer
charges Of robbery. Up TO the last mo-
ment they kept up hope. hut the Exam
iner did not come to their rescue,
treaeherously deserving them
All three men were sent back to Jail
in default of bail Because he had at
tempted to escape from the officers Tai
bots bail II first was fixed at $4,000.
1t was finally reduced to $4,000. the
same as that of Beard and Heustis.
Examiner emissaries approached sew
eral oficials connected with the case
today in a frantic attempt to fix the
case. So far they have not been able
to find any one willing to compound
a felony.
Young Beard has made a statement
in which he threatens to have the edi-
tors of the Examiner arrested for
criminal libel on account Of the state
meut in which he was repudiated and
cast of. Beard declares that on the
arrival Of the special train bearing
the plunder from San Diego to Los
Angeles, be reported at once to the
city editor and managing editor of the
Examiner, telling them the conditions
under which he had obtained the pic
sureS. They commended him at that
time. he says. for his enterprise Rumor
is persistent that the city editor and
managing editor also will be arrested
on the charge Of having received stolen
property
COMPLAINANT GUARDED
So desperate has the pressure been
10 induce Photographer Fitch to dis
miss the charge that he has been
guarded It is feared that an attempt
viii be made TO spirit him away into
Mexico. The desperate attempt made
by Talbot today TO escape has led the
o6oers to believe that they cannot af-
ford 70 take a chance.
Talbot was in san Diego as a mem
Der Of the Examiner STAFF at the time
or the robbery of Fitchs studio. He
was taken into custody yesterday
morning as a witness, officers not be-
ing able TO ascertain his connection
with the theft.
Talbot promised Assistant District
attorney Utley to be in court when the
case came up this morning and con-
sented to have an officer accompany
him wherever he went in the mean
time Deputy Fish was detailed for
that duty.
AS q matter of courtesy Fish allowed
Talbot to 90 into the Office of Attorney
J. e. Wadham for consultation. Talbot
asked the officer 10 get him box OF
cigarettes. Fish, unsuspecting. did so.
When nc came back both the attorney
and the Examiner reporter had dis
appeared.
Fish says that Talbot escaped down
a fire escape. The officer alarmed the
police, who instantly began a wild
chase in automobiles It was known
that Talbot had intended to sail on the
supply steamer culgoa for Magdalena
bay.
Charles Hardy's fast launch was
pressed into service. Then began the
exciting race down the bay to reach
Talbot before he could reach either the
Culgoa or the three mile limit of the
jurisdiction of the United States. The
pilot boat with Talbot on board was
ovcrhauled after a sensational run. He
was taken back TO court
The arraignment OF the three men
has been set for April ,. They arc in
isil unable TO procure bonds.