Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-28
ROBBED OF His
ALL BY FRIEND
GERMAN LOSES SAVINGS OF
YEARS OF TOLL
Companion Takes Advantage of His
Momentary Absence and Walks
Away with Nearly Eleven
Hundred Dollars

Joseph Zeigler, aged so, who arrived
in Los Angeles several days ago from
Costello, Shasta county, was robbed of
$1090-the savings of years of hard Ia
bor-by a man he had befriended Sat
urday evening. With his hands cal
loused from toll, his face wrinkled and
tanned from long exposure to the ele-
ments while working on section
gang, where he labored Sunday, holt-
days and overtime to amass enough
to support him, the victim-a German
visited the police station yesterday
morning and told his story to the de-
tectives.
According to his own account, Zeig-
ler has long slaved as a section hand
for railroad in the northern part OF
the state. When he had saved up
ranch, on which he could live and earn
a living, he decided he would quit his
hard toll and settle down to a life of
ease. About week ago he counted
up his savings-kept in q belt about
his waist-and found that he had all
most s1100. He concluded this would
enable him to purchase enough prop
erty to sustain him during his old age,
and he gave up his position. He came
to Los Angeles, and, while walking
about town Saturday afternoon, met a
man, a German. After short CONVEX
sation they entered nearby saloon,
had two or three glasses of beer and
then decided to attend show. They
went to theater on First street and
Zeigler paid for the tickets.
After the performance they boarded
a car, rode down Fifth street and went
to Zeigler's room at the st. Francis
hotel, S141a East Fifth street. They
entered the room and Zeigler began to
remove his clothing, preparatory to re-
tiring. He removed the belt contain
ing the savings, and remarked to his
new found friend that he would have
to put the money in the bank the fol-
lowing morning. The stranger replied
that the banks were closed Sundays.
So Zeigler, after removing the money
from the belt, placed 1t In an old red
handkerchief, wrapped the package up
in piece of newspaper, tied 1t with a
buckskin string and tossed it into his
grip, remarking that he would take
good care not to lose 1t. They con-
versed for a short while, and then the
stranger departed, telling Zeigler he
would call around in the morning, take
breakfast with him and arrange for a
room at the place.
ObliglngIy Steps Out
Yesterday morning the stranger
reached Zeiglers room at 7:45 o'clock.
Zeigler had just finished dressing and
told the man TO wait IN tne room a rev
minutes while he stepped out. Zeigler
returned after a few minutes had
elapsed, and the stranger then made
some remark about securing room.
Finally he told Zeigler to wait while
he arranged with the landlord for ac-
commodations.
Zeigler waited, and when ten min
utes had elapsed and his friend failed
to make his appearance he became
suspicious and looked to see if his
money was all right. When he opened
the grip he almost tainted. for the
money was not there. He hurried out
into the office and found that the man
had not mentioned anything about Sc
curing a room. He ran back to his
room again and searched the place,
but was only rewarded by discovering
Ifthat, in addition to the $1,000 taken
from the grip, his erstwhile friend had
stolen $50 from his vest, which was
hanging on chair.
Zeigler called at the police station
| Immediately after he discovered he
had been robbed. He declared the
money represented years of hard toll
on a railroad.
The detectives have good descrlp-
| ton of the thief and expect to capture
him soon.