Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-04-06
ALLEGED BANK
ROBBERS HELD
TO FACE TRIAL
BEATTY, SUNDlN AND MARTIN
UNDER $4,000 BONDS
IN MONROVIA
CASE TO BE FILED
Preliminary Hearing of Yohn 20 Come
Saturday-He May Be Released
After Testfying in Higher
Court

din and Charles s. Martin, charged
with robbing the First National bank
of Monrovia December IA, were held
yesterday by Justice Symmetrical to
answer to the superior court. Bonds
were fixed at $4,000. George F. Yohn's
preliminary hearing was continued I'M
til Saturday at 10 o'clock, and, while
he is still in the county Jail in default
of a heavy bond, it is probable the
complaint against him may be dis
missed after he has given testimony
in the higher court.
None OF the men was represented by
counsel, and the examination OF wit
nesses by G. G. McComas, assistant
district, attorney, was almost perfume
tory. ! Beatty and Sundin made con-
LESSONS regarding the parts they
played in the robbery, duplicating Ed
ward Hatfield, the missing sixth man,
and both claiming that Martin, the
safe expert, was the instigator of the
crime. Martin waived all preliminary
proceedings, expressing desire to
have his case taken to the superior
court as quickly as possible.
Court Room Crowded
Never before, perhaps, has the little
courtroom of Justice Summerfield been
so crowded as when the four men,
Beatty, Sundin, Martin and Yohn, were
brought in at 10 o'clock yesterday. The
gathering, among which were large
number of friends of the prisoners and
others drawn to the place by a morbid
curiosity, filled the room and extended
into the street.
j. Fl. Bartle, president of the robbed
bank, said $29,752.25 in gold and cur
rency had been stolen, $500 in silver
and sorn 81 note being the only
money left with which to begin bust
ness the morning after the robbery.
Martin, he said, had been at work
Beatty and Sundin, he stated, had aid
ed Martin when the vault was placed
in position in the bank.
James II. Walker, assistant superin-
tendent of the Pinkerton agency at
Cincinnati, said he had arrested Beat
ty in that city on Geographic advice
from Sheriff Hammel, and he detailed
a confession later made by Beatty in
the office of District Attorney Freder-
icks, corroborating the statements of
Beatty and Sundin made on the wit
ness stand.
Beatty Tells His Story
No questions were needed to aid
Beatty in the telling of his story, the
circumstances of the crime being re-
lated voluntarily, but with an evident
purpose to place responsibility on Mar
tin.
Beatty said he had been working in
the safe business for five years, OF
since he was rs years old.
II acknowledge helping Sundin and
Martin in the robbery he said, add
ing that, although Martin was not
present when the bank was looted he
had arranged the time lock SO that 1t
could be easily opened and had also
provided an easy ingress through the
rear doorway.
HE told me he would furnish the
combinations indirectly. but said 1t
would be we'll If 1 took hammer to
be used on the time lock in the event
the controllers did not work easily.
1--WE made two prior trips to Mon
rovia. The night of the robbery Sun
din and myself were accompanied by
Edward Hatfield, who had butted in
on the affair, and we could not get rid
of him.
Pry open Window
1--WE pried open the bank window and
/ climbed in and followed the instruc-
tions received from Martin. I had to
use the hammer in opening the door
of the vault. Then l placed the gold
and currency in a sack and handed 1t
to Hatfield, who stood outside the door.
He took it down the street, where
Sundin was waiting, and 1 Joined them
with the automobile. We came to Los
Angeles and went to Sundin's place of
business on Broadway. There divis-
ion was made. The money was divid-
ed into four parts and Sundin was en-
trusted with Martins share.
Martin. about three days before the
robbery, went to Santa Barbara in or
der to establish an alibi should suspi-
J., 3V1n A
the robbery he came to my room at
SS3h South Spring street and COM
planned about Hatfield's connection
with the robbery. I do not know
whether Martin received his share or
not. A letter with money enclosed was
sent to him by Supdin."
Story corroborated
Sundin corroborated Beatty's story.
The combination, he said, was given
him by Martin, and he believed Martin
was the first person to suggest the
robbery.
Martin, he said, went to Ventura,
and not Santa Barbara, before the
robbery, and the witness testified he
had sent Martin $40 or $50 by mail.
Martin asked each witness several
questions, none of which Indicated
what course he will pursue when he
goes into the superior court. He de-
clined to make any statement, simply
saying, when asked if he had anything
to say, ST waive, my examination"
The three men were then held to an
swer to the superior court, and the
preliminary hearing of George F. Yohn
was set for 10 O'Clock Saturday.
"Informations against the men held
to answer will probably be filed in the
SUPERIOR court tomorrow or Wednes-
day." said Mr.. McComas, "and their
cases will be disposed of as soon as
possible"