Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-27
CLAIMS BROKER
SWINDLED HIM;
WARRANT ASKED
SAYS HE LOST $500 BEING
"PLAYED FOR A SUCKER"
SWISS ALLEGES HE SIGNED
NOTES FOR RECEIPTS
Attorney for investment Company Said
to Be Involved in Alleged Trans
action Denies Connection
with Case

A warrant for the arrest of James
Ward, manager Of the Ward Invest
ment company 49S Copp building, has
been applied for at the district attor-
neys office. and, it was stated yester-
day by District Attorney Keyes, 1t
probably will be issued today. The de-
mand for Wards arrest was made by
Alfred Slider, who says Ward played
me for sucker and swindled me out
of $500 in money, besides getting me to
sign two promissory notes for the
amount, representing they were re-
ceipts."
IT is said that involved in the alleged
swindle is s. A. d. Gray, Wards at
torney, who, according to a statement
made to Deputy Keyes by Ben s. Lem
mon, a friend of Sidler. told bartender
he had been given $780,. and if he could
forestall the prosecution he would be
that much richer.
Attorney Gray stated last night there
was no truth in this statement. "The
man who started that story is a liar,
he wouldn't repeat that tale to me If
he were as big as Jeffries," said Gray
when questioned regarding the affair.
Sidler is a native of Switzerland and
the son of a Lucerne banker. He came
to the United States about a year ago
in Los Angeles from Denver early in
October.
Sidler was looking for work. lie be
lieVed he had found ii when his eye
caught a want advertisement in a local
newspaper Offering $65 a month for
ranch hand, the applicant to have $100
cash as bond. call at 43S Copp
building" read the advertisement
Ward occupies two rooms, both
sparsely equipped with well worn fur
nishings.
Makes Another Proposition
Ward asked me how much money
l had and told me the ranch job was
taken when he learned l had $780," said
Sidler. He said he had another prop
osition, the improvement of a two-acre
ranch, but it required $780,
Il could put up the money if neces-
sary," Sadler said he told Ward.
Where is the money!" asked Ward
slider placed his hand on his vest
pocket and Ward. he says motioned
FOR "A reproduction of the money. He
gave Ward 800 in gold and draft
of 5000 on the National bank of New
= York city and was given what he be-
lieved was "A receipt for the cash,
Ward told me all my time would
not be taken up on the ranch and sent
me to Fullerton to list real estate
promising to send me cards and liter
ature. 1 was in Fullerton three or
four days, during which time l wrote
him several letters asking for money
and cards, but got no replies. When
/ got back after spending all my
money l learned the New York draft
had been paid and Ward gave me
another paper which he said was a
receipt. | signed this paper, as l did
the first one. Then he sent me out TO
Somerset to help a woman move her
household goods"
Sidler said he exhibited the supposed
receipt to Ben S. Lennon. manager
of a spineess cactus concern, and for
the first time learned they were promis-
sorry notes for the 5000 he believed
he had given as "A cash bond to Ward.
Sider and Lennon took the matter to
Attorney E. r. Drake and the three
appealed to the district attorneys Of
flee November 49,
Ward, ii was stated by Deputy
Keyes. promised when called on for
an explanation. to return the money,
but has since delayed payment on one
or another pretext.
Thinks Money Concealed
The deputy was told yesterday by
Lennon he believed Ward fearing
prosecution, had turned the money
over to his attorney, S. a. Gray, bas-
ing this statement, he said, on infor-
nation obtained from a Spring street
bartender.
This bartender told me Gray had
stated he had a client who had robbed
a greenhorn of 5000 and that his client
was scared said Lennon. IF | don't
have to pay it, ii is mine" is another
statement attributed by the bartender
to Gray and repeated to the deputy.
Ward was not in his office yester-
day afternoon or evening, his assistant
stating he had gone out with GUS
toner.
Speaking for Ward and himself, At
torney Gray said last night: The
worst Of it is Sidler is a fool He told
Ward he had $500 to loan if the latter