Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-08
SCION OF NOTED
ANGELENO FACES
SERIOUS CHARGE
PERCY B0NEBRAKE ACCUSED
OF CATTLE SWINDLE
SON OF LATE CAPITALIST BE-
LITTLES PLIGHT
TeIegraphic Warrant Received from
Visalia-Large Bands of Stock
Have Been Stolen
and Sold

nERCY L. BONEBRAKE, scion of
one of the oldest and best known
\ families in Southern California, is
prisoner at the central police station
on charge of grand larceny. He was
arrested on South Main street yester-
day morning by Detectives Mcnamara
and Dixon on warrant from Sheriff
Collins of Tulare county.
Bonebrake is alleged to be connected
with David Sanders, saloon man and
stock dealer of Visalia, in a gigantic
cattle rustling scheme in which they,
with others, are said to have stolen
and disposed of several hundred head
of cattle.
Sanders was arrested in Visalia yes
terday and short time afterward the
telegraphic warrant was received here
for the arrest of Bonebrake At the
city Jail last night Bonebrake denied
that he had been engaged in cattle
stealing and stated that he did not be-
lieve Sanders was connected In any
way with the numerous thefts of cat
tie which had occurred in and around
Visalia, Hanford and other towns in
that section of the state.
Employed as Cattle Buyer
Until five months ago Bonebrake
was employed by the Cudahy Packing
company of this city and Chicago as
a cattle buyer and yard foreman. In
that capacity he has handled hundreds
of thousands of dollars for the COM
pany, and he alleges that never were
his accounts a penny wrong.
When he left the employ of the Cud
ahy company Bonebrake went to Vis-
ALA on trip, selling patent rights. At
odd times he assisted Sanders in car
ing for cattle shipments, and three
weeks ago he made a shipment of fifty
seven head for him from Hanford to
the Western Meat company of San
Francisco. 1t was this shipment of
cattle which got Bonebrake into trou-
BILE. The cattle are alleged to have
been stolen from the ranch of Thomas
Hayes, near Visalia, and to have been
driven to Hanford, from which point
Bonebrake shipped them to San Fran
cisco.
In referring to this shipment last
night Bonebrake stated that he had
sent the cattle to San Francisco for
Sanders, and that he had signed his
true name to the shipping bills. IF
was engaged in cattle rustling,' he
said, 'I would not have used my own
name, would II"
Advices from Sheriff Collins last
night stated that for several months
past heavy thefts of cattle had been
committed in Tulare county, and that
the greater part of the stolen cattle had
been traced to Sanders. Between 200
and 300 head were stolen within the
past three months, and the total losses
to ranchmen in that vicinity amount
to many hundred head.
Son of Noted Capitalist
Bonebrake is the son of the late Ma
jor G. H. Bonebrake- swho died in this
city II years ogo. Major Bonebrake
was at one time a business partner OF
the late John Bryson, and was half
owner in what is known as the Bry--
son block. He was also a heavy stock
holder in a number of small banks
scattered throughout Southern Cali
foiania in the vicinity of Los Angeles.
Previous to his death his estate became
heavily involved and he sold his inter
ests to Mr.. Bryson. At the time of his
death he was reputed to be worth be-
tween 5000, 900 and 100000. but his SON
last night denied this, stating that the
estate left by his father was hardly
sufficient to pay his debts.
Several months ago Percy Bone
brake was sued for divorce by his wife,
and three weeks ago he came here to
see her in reference to the future care
of their three small children. During
his stay in Los Angeles he has been
living at the house of his sister, Mrs.
J. W. A. Off, 1902 South Flower street.
Mrs. Bonebrake and the children are
residing at the family home on Forti-
eth street.
Bonebrake will be taken to Visalia
this morning to answer the charges
against him. He expressed the utmost
confidence in being acquitted at his
preliminary examination, which, he
says, ne will demand at once.
Several other arrests in connection
with the cattle stealing scheme will be
made. it is said, today and tomorrow.