Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-26
ARREST ELLIOTT:
SHERIFF SAYS HE
IS NOT GUILTY
YOUTH SUPPOSED TO KNOW
OF POLTERA MURDER
YOUNG MAN ADMITS COMMITTING
MANY BURGLARIES
Deputy Wright Works Assiduously on
CIew for Six Days and Succeeds
In Having Boy Arrested
at Redondo

DEN ELLIOTT, the 1S-year-old
* youth of Tropico who has been
~ believed to have near knowledge
of the brutal murder of 9-year-old
Anna Poltera. was arrested at Redon-
do Beach yesterday afternoon and
brought to Los Angeles last nlgh7.
After a careful investigation of the
actions and travels of the youth, both
before and since the murder, Sheriff
Hammel announced there was not the
slightest ground by which to connect
Elliott with the murder.
That young Elliott is a waSward
youth who has become imbued with
vivid ideas of western life and started
out on a romantic career of petty Grim
inality, was ascertained. The youth
readily admitted that he is responsible
for the reign of terror among the busi-
ness men of Tropico and Glendale and
that single-handed he has committed a
long series of burglaries in these two
places during the last two months.
He admitted that he had read of the
murder, but the fact that his name
was connected with it did not seem to
have made any difference in his reck-
less manner of living.
That he has camped in the woods
about Glendale for several days he
readily acknowledged, and it was with
an air of apparent bravado that he
the various burglaries.
Becomes Frightened
But when the murder was mentioned,
and it dawned on him that his presence
had been eagerly sought in order to
clear up thread of the tangled mys-
terry, his face crimsoned and he ex-
claimed: "Who said 1 knew anything
about the murder? Who mentioned my
name in connection with the crime? I
know I committed the robberies, but
would like to meet the person who says
] had anything to do with such a mur-
der. would be one Of the first to try
and capture the brute who did such a
crime
AS the youth spoke tears came to his
eyes, and was the first exhibit of what
the officers hoped would be a breaking
down and possible confession. But he
soon regained his composure and began
to relate laughingly his nightly bur-
glaries and the fun he said he had
lodging the officers, who have been on
his trail for the last two months
Deputy Sheriff Harry Wright has
been at work on the Elliott case for six
weeks, and redoubled his energies when
1t was thought that Elliott might clear
the murder mystery To Deputy Wright
must be given the credit for setting
aside clew that has occupied much Of
the time of the detectives who have
been engaged on the case. Early yes
terday morning the story was reported
Elliott had been seen i'm Los Angeles
and scores of detectives and attaches
of the sheriff's office went to work on
the case
Wright Works Cautiously
In the meantime Deputy Sheriff
Wright was working quietly on the
clew, which proved to be the right one,
and at $3.50 o'clock Elliott was arrested
at Redondo by Marshal Lee Stanch-
field.
The incidents of Elliotts arrest were
as sensational as his career in the
camps about Glendale.
Seven fishermen were fishing along
the Redondo beach when they saw
young man in a sailboat. His actions
aroused their suspicious and they hailed
him and asked him where he procured
the boat For answer Elliott drew a
revolver and made a bluff to shoot but
quickly decided that one against seven
was no even match, and he was taken
in custody and towed to the shore.
Marshal Stanchfield was waiting for
the young man. as he had read of the
description and had been apprised of
the fact that boat had been stolen
along the beach.
At the Redondo police station Elliott
refused to admit his identity, and at 8
o'clock Deputy Sheriff Wright, accom-
panied by F. H. Davis manager of the
Tropico Mercantile store, which had
been burglarized on several occasions
by Elliott, went to Redondo. When
confronted by Davis he acknowledged
his identity.
Secrecy Maintained
Great secrecy was maintained in talk
ing the prisoner to the Los Angeles
county Jail, as it was feared if the al
legged slayer of Anna Poltera became
known justice might have been
thwarted.
In the presence of Sheriff Hammel
Elliott told the same story he told on
the car coming from Redondo.
He said that he came from La Moure,
N. D., January Is, and for a while lived
with E. A. Bennett at Tropico, as his
father thought the western climate
would improve his health, which had
been impaired.
About two months ago Mr. Bennett
went north, and Elliott was left to his
own resources. 1t was at that time he
began to commit his crimes. He stated
he had yearning for outdoor life, and
if he could get a camp outfit together
he would pass his time in the woods.
To attain his ends he first burglarized
the Tropico mercantile company's gro
Gerry store, where he procured food and
small articles, such as knives, and
things of no great value.
Emboldened by his first success, he
continued his night visits to the Trop-
leo store, and each time secured a
quantity of food. and on one occasion
about 500 in cash.
Elliott Is Elusive
Despite the well laid plans of the
officers who guarded the store after sew
eral burglaries had been committed
they could not capture Elliott. His
methods of entering the store were
unique. On one occasion he gained en-
trance by removing part of the parti-
tion and worked his way up from the
cellar On each occasion he said it was
hunger that made him commit crime.
"I was too proud to beg and too
proud to send to my father for money.
and it was easy to fool the officers.
After | had obtained plenty of bur-
glars tools, blankets, revolvers, knives
and everything l thought I needed
set out for the Glendale woods.
81 had three different camps, none of
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