Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-30
MONROVIA BANK
ROBBER TALKS;
MORE ARRESTS
BROADWAY MERCHANT MAKES
FULL CONFESSION
BANK LOCK EXPERT CAPTURED
AND LODGED IN JAIL
Umbrella Dealer, at Whose Store the
PIunder Was Divided, Makes
ciean Breast of Whole
Affair

III HE mystery surrounding tne roos
berry of the First National bank of
u Monrovia last December, when
$29, 500 was stolen, was ended yester-
day. Following an investigation by
Sheriff w. A. Hammel. Superintendent
C. J. Smith of the local Pinkerton
agency, and j. II. Walker, assistant
superintendent of the agency at Day
ton, Ohio, two men. Charles s. Martin,
a bank lock expert, and Ernest w.
Sundin. who conducts an umbrella store
at Seventh and Broadway, were ar
rested and placed in the county jail.
Allen George Beatty who was Drought
back from Ohio by Sheriff Hamwel
last Saturday, is also in the jail ana
has corroborated the statements made
to the sheriff and detectives in a con-
fession by Sundin.
Martin, who is q well known expert
In locksmith work, is said to have IN
stigated the robbery and acted as the
guiding spirit from it's inception until
the theft of the money was accom-
plished. BeaGty. through slight
knowledge of THE mechanism of locks,
became acquainted with Martin and
was persuaded to join Sundin in the
robbery itself. Martins part in the
work being ended when he manipulated
the lock so that the vault door could
be opened easily.
Woman in the Case
One other person, a. woman, is said
to be involved in the crime, but the
officers yesterday declined to disclose
her identity or state whether her ar
rest would take place soon.
Sundin was arrested at his place or
business yesterday afternoon and TAX
en- to the district attorneys Office,
where he is said to have made a clean
breast of his connection with the rob-
berry, and offered to make restitution
as far as possible.
entered into early in December and was
advanced by Martin, who represented
TO Sundin and Beatty that. with his
knowledge of the mechanism of bank
locks, the robbery could be carried out
easily and in a manner to throw suspi-
ciou on others. The night of December
ii was selected as the time for the rob-
berry, and shortly after nighfail, 1t IS
said, Martin entered the bank, arranged
the vault door so that 1t could be op-
ened easily. and departed.
screwine Up Their Courage
Sundin and Beatty made several trips
to the bank that night before they
could muster UP sufficient courage to
enter The money finally was secured
and the two men returned TO Los An
geles, a division of the plunder being
made at Sundins store on South Broad
way. Sundin later delivered part of
the money to Martin, who immediate
ly after leaving Monrovia Joined friends
In this city and appeared in public as
much as POSSIBLE for the purpose of es-
tablishing an alibi should suspicion be
directed. toward him.
Beatty departed for Dayton, accom-
panied by his 16-year-old son and
woman heg represented as his wife. He
was traced to Ohio by means of his
sons bicycle, inquiry being made of
every baggageman along the route in
the detectives efforts to learn the des-
tination of the trio.
It also developed yesterday that Su-
perintendent Smith of the local Pink
erton office and Paul Flammer. cap
tain of detectives, have maintained a
strict surveillance over the movements
of Martin and Sundin since the. rob-
berry occurred. Two of Captain Flam-
mer's men, Detectives BOYD and Jones,
were assigned to this work. but no evil
dence on which complaints could be
based was gained until Beatty's return.
His statements. made. tits believed, in
the hope that they might have favor
able effect when his case comes to trial,
led to the arrest of Martin and Sundin,
and the latter's confession.
Complaints charging Martin and Sun
din with robbery will be filed in Justice
Summerfield's court today.