Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-04
EXPLANATION
IS DUE FROM
TALAMANTES
DETECTIVE PROBABLY WILL
FACE CONTEMPT CHARGE
MONEY BELONGING TO PRISONER
MYsTERIoUsLY DISAPPEARS
Judge Willis of Superior Court Detects
Erasure on Books of Police Prop
erty Clerk-Investigation
Expected

q
w HEN Felipe Talamantes, en-
w ployed as a city detective
whose assiduity in the prose
cution of L. Gutierrez DE Lara, th'
Mexican Liberal, gained for him somt
unenviable notoriety, returns to Lo.
Angeles he probably will be confront
ed in Judge Willis criminal court will
a charge of contempt.
Not only this, Talamantes will b,
called on to explain what became o.
! $6 belonging to j. Jose Gonzales, whC
was acquitted after three minutes o.
deliberation in Judge Willis cour
Tuesday.
Going further still, the court may
turn the searchlight on the workings
of the police department, with speca
reference to the property clerks de
partment, to determine If a system o
! bookkeeping is maintained that make:
1t comparatively easy for prisoners t.
lose forever sight of their money once
it is deposited in that department.
1t was stated yesterday unless the
whole affair is explained satisfactorily
the matter may even go to the police
commission and may lead to q thor.
ough investigation into police meth
ods and the possible relevation thai
other persons, unversed in these. meth
DDS. unfamiliar with the laws or fear
ing the result of a protest, have beer
made the victims Of what now ap'
pears to be a species of the pettiest
graft known i'm police department his
tory.
Charged with Theft
Gonzales came to Los Angeles from
Mexico City April 20 and went to Ar
tesla, where he was employed unit
July Is in the beet fields. few days
later he was arrested, charged witt
stealing watch and IS in money be
longing to Francisco Ortega while the
two were staying at the Congress no
tel 6071k North Main street. He wa'
held to answer to the superior cour'
by Police Judge Rose July 27. an(
until Tuesday had been an inmate o
the county Jail.
Gonzales insisted that he purchased
the watch from Caruz Perez. whom
he had known at MoiaVe, and tha
when he was arrested he had $3.50 il
his pockets. Only 1910 of this money
can be accounted for and the record
of Property Clerk Walker at the 10
| lice station shows nm erasure where thu
entry of Gonzales money should be
This erasure was made at the reques
of Talamantes. according TO Walkers
testimony Tuesday.
Shortly after his arrest Gorzale!
gave an order for his money to Tala
nantes, who. in turn. was instructed
TO give II to NJ Munos. proprietor o.
q restaurant at III Marche saul
street. Munos received A2 of the
money. which. he saws, he spent. Th'
balance, SO. is not accounted for.
Taamantes failed to respond to his
name at the trial, although he had
been served with a subpoena, and 6
request was made by Deputy District
hot IA 1,A afA fnt
contempt
Judge Detects Erasure
Property Clerk Walker. responding
to the questions of Attorney s. s. San
ders. appointed by Judge Willis tc
defend Gonzales. stated he did moi
know what amount of money was de-
posted to Gonzales credit at the time
of his arrest.
1.-THE bool, shows no money was je-
posted.' he said.
what is this erasure for?" de-
manded Judge Willis after examining
the book.
"J don't know whether or not that
entry was for money, but ] was in
structed to make the erasure." replied
Walker.
"who gave YOU that Instruction. p
asked the court.
"TaIama ntes." was the reply.
Judge willis remarked on the pc
culiar method of bookkeeping, ant
even the deDutv district attornev il
his argument to the Jury said there
were some thirPs about the case thai
did not look right.
Yesterday Judge Willis began an
Investigation that NAV have for.
reaching results. Police Cantair
Charles e. Dixon was summoned tC
I his cham hers IN the criminal depart
ment. Charles r. lToffat acting de-
tective safeeant. was also present. as
were Sereeaut II. J.. White. who was
on DUTY In the desk sergeant's Office
the night OF Gonzales arrest. and w
# Cooper assistant pronertv clerk
The hearing was held behind closed
DOORS and the only thing learned was
that no satisfactory expla nation had
been given whv Gonzales did not have
returned to him the full amount OF
money deposited at the time of his
arrest.
It was also stated that none of the
police officers present would assume
responsibility for Talamantes, savine
that matter was up to the chief oi
poIice. judge Willis ordered Munos
who was also present at the hearing
to return to Gonzales the $12 given
him by Talamantes on Gonzales or
der. but no final disnosition of the
affair was had. That disnosition, II is
Los Angeles of Talamantes. who is
said to be in Ell Paso.
When Detective Felipe Talamantes
who returned from El Paso last night
was questioned In regard to the state
ment that he might appear before
Judge Willis on a contempt charge
and to explain what became of the Sc
alleged to have been taken from j
Jose Gonzales, he made light Of the
ma tier.
Detective Talamantes stated last
night that he received an order from
M Munos, proprietor of a restaurant,
lit Marchessault street, to get Con
zales' money aud that he did not know
anything about an erasure being made,
changing the amount of money which
! Gonzales had when arrested.
| The statement was made at police
headquarters last night that Gonzales
was searched in the detectives office
and no accounting of his money made
to the desk sergeant. which is not the
usual procedure In arrests of any kind.
Talamantes would not make direct
statement, and his only reply to ques-
| tions was that he had haAn at Ri