Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-25
BELIEVE CLERK
STOLEFUNDS TO
HELP RELATIVE
POLICE PROBE MYSTERY OF
POSTOFFICE ROBBERY
MOTHER-lN-LAWC CAUTIONS PRIS-
oNER TO BE SILENT
Accused Man Denies That He Stole
Fifteen Thousand Dollars, but In-
sinuates That Others Know
of Crime

That Orlando F. Altorre, the postof-
| flee clerk who was arrested Wednesday
night charged with the robbery of $15,-
900 from the registry department of the
Los Angeles postoffice, committed the
deed in order to obtain funds for his
"mother-in-law," Mrs. Mandy White, is
the belief of the officials who have been
working on the case.
| Altorre stated that he Is "a years old,
and Mrs. White declared her age to be
about 38 years. She said she is a
descendant of prominent Cuban Of
ficer. During the questioning in the
office of United States Marshal Young
worth yesterday afternoon Mrs. White
continually told Altorre not to speak.
"They cannot convict you and do not
say a word" was her warning.
The police who have been investigat-
ing the case admit the possibility
that Mrs. White is not the mother-in-
law of Altorre, and believe the motive
for the robbery was to obtain funds to
enable her to live fashionably.
Denial by the Police
| Capt. Paul Flammer of the detective
force stated yesterday at noon that AL
torre had not been arrested. The books
at police headquarters showed no
such name, but in spite of this, when
told that 1t was known that Altorre was
in the city Jail, Capt. Flammer ad-
mitted the fact.
In defense of the stand he had taken
in denying that Altorre was in the Jail,
Capt Flammer stated that he was act
| ing on the advice of the postal authori-
ties, who had requested that no news
of the arrest be made public. Marshal
Youngworth, who made the arrest, said
he believed it proper to keep such an
affair from the public, but refused to
give any reason.
| Altorre was arrested Wednesday af-
ernoon at his home in Colegrove and
was locked in the city Jail. His name
was not placed on the book. At II
o. clock yesterday he was taken into the
detectives office and given a severe
gruelling by Capt. Flammer, Marshal
Youngworth and Inspector Wilson of
| the postal service. At 8 o'clock Altorre
was taken to the office of Marshal
| Youngworth in the Tajo building.
Later he was remanded to the city jail
in default of $4,000 bonds.
Mystery of Lost Coin
The matter uppermost in the minds
| of the authorities is the location of the
$4,000. Altorre denies that he took the
money and insinuated that some one
| else in the Los Angeles postoffice knows
more about the case than he does.
II did not take the money, but know
that someone else might have" was his
statement.
Don't say anything" said Mrs.
White. "They cannot convict you, and
| If you do not make any statements 1t
will help your case"
Thereupon Altorre refused to talk, al
| though several times he attempted to
tell about the alleged robbery Each
time Mrs White interfered. The police
believe Mrs. White is not the mother
in-law of Altorre.
IT do not wish to speak about the
case" said Mrs. White. IT know that
Orlando is not guilty and I will stand
by him to the last. He never COM
mitted that robbery and 1 don't want
to figure in the case"
Where the money has gone is the
question that is now puzzling the
authorities. Altorre denies that he has
it, so does Mrs. White, and each state
that is is a conspiracy to wrong them
| that resulted in the arrest.
at did not commit the robbery, and l
would say more about it If it was not
for Mrs. White" said Altorre. MY
counsel has advised me not to talk, and
[ don't believe that they can prove any
case against me-"
The case of Altorre will be heard In
the federal court Monday morning.