Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-03
CLAIMS ACTRESS
WANTS PUBLICITY
DEFENDANT TELLS A STRANGE
STORY OF CONSPIRACY
SAYS JOB WAS PUT UP TO STEAL
WoMAN'S JEWELS
Two Diamond Rings and Watch Are
Abstracted from Safety Box
in 5athhouse at Long
Beach

Sometimes Miss Margaret LlgnI
smiled in the superior court yesterday
while Lee B Warren, charged with
stealing her jewels from a box in the
Long Beach bathhouse, told his story
from the witness stand; more IRE
uuently she frowned, and oftener still
pronounced whispered maledictions
against Warren.
If Warren's story is true-and he
told 1t with a degree of plauslblllty
that will need apparently the most
adroit CROSSE examination to break IL
down-Miss Light, known in theatrlcal
circles as Betty Hart, was an accom-
Mice in the robbery, not only for the
financial gain that was expected 10
follow, but because of a desire to op-
tain notoriety and advertisement with
the hope the affair would impress some
theatrical manager sufficiently TO IN
duce him to place her name IN plack,
face type among his attractions ana
thus rehabilitate her shattered Tor
tunes.
Warren IS charged with grand lar
cenv for the alleged theft of MISS
Lights two diamond rings and Watch
from a safety box at the bathhouse
when they went bathing, May 20.
He was the first witness in his own
behalf when the prosecution closed III
department eleven where Judge CroN
of Santa Barbara is sitting in the ap-
sence of Judge Willis. Preceding MN
was chief of Police Williams of Long
Reach who said he had been told
enough by Warren following the lat-
ter's arrest to assure him he was con
nected with the crime, and he fol-
lowed this by the reading or letteI
written by the prisoner at the clIg
iail and addressed to his 16-year-olu
wife. in which he made reference 10
the jewels.
Woman's Story Is Surprise
warren's story was a surprise to
everyone except his attorney George
M. Harker, who piloted him care1uliy
during its rendition. In addltlon TO
his allegations that Miss Llght was was
an accessory before, after and all the
fine he implicated his, wife. Who he
said was the person upon whom rested
the responsibility of securing the Jew
elrv and disposing of the rings III Los
Angeles pawnshops.
Warren said he first met Miss Light
in Los Angeles a year ago, Wheh ne
applied at her South Ffgueroa rooili-
ing house for an apartment -.-..
1--WE were constantly together CURING
tho next week" he said, "and then
went to Fresno where 1 eloped with
and was married to the young woman
who is now my WIFE.
He received no word from Miss Light,
he said. until some time in December
when she wrote asking him to 'cele-
brate Christmas" with her IN odcla
mento. signing her name as Betty hart.
He did not reply, and he dld not see
Miss Light again until ne GAME " 409
Angeles in May.
I'VE went to Long Beach May "a,
he continued. "and Miss Light told me
she needed money badly; that she hau
several propositions under consldera-
tion one of which was an old man IN
the east, who, she thought, she could
play for his money.
"T suggested that she pawn her rings
and it was this that resulted IN the
plan to steal her jewels from the pain
house. pawn them and, in ADDITION
hold the bath house management re-
snonsibIe for the loss. We needed
third party. Miss Light suggested a
certain actor but I refused and SAID l
would get Miss Miller to help us. MISS
Miller is my wife"
Keys Exchanged
Warren said his wife, whose identity
WAS unknown to Miss Light, accom-
nanied them on the same car to Long
Beach the following day, and after the
valuables were deposited exchanged
KEYS with him in the plunge. Whlle
Warren and Miss Light were enjoying
themselves in the breakers Mrs. var
rem secured the jewelry and came 10
Los Angeles, where she received tele-
phone message from her husband telling
of his arrest, with instructions to dis
nose of the stolen articles and leave on
the first train for her parents home in
Fresno.
"Betty raised hue and cry when
she discovered the loss, and became SO
abusive to the management of the bath
house that | was ashamed of my con-
nection with the affair" said warren
"She planned the robbery, hoping she
would gain sufficient notoriety and ad-
vertisement to get her position on the
stage was to get half the money
when the rings were pawned and a like
proportion if the bath house manage
ment paid for the loss.
In flIrtherance of the scheme to make
the management responsible Tor the
loss. Warren said Miss Light planned
TO search one of the woman attendants
and announce the finding of ring.
This ring" said Warren, exhibiting
a small gold circlet belonging, he said,
to his wife, ''was never given to Miss
Light because 7 feared the attendant
might be arrested and the circum-
ST. nces would be so strongly against
her she would be convicted
Asked why he had not told his story
before. Warren said he wanted to
shield his wife. 81 knew she would be
arrested, and as she had one Jail ex-
perience because of her fathers ami
mostly toward me when we eloped, /
didn't want her to have another"
Warren will again take the stand
today, when the trial is resumed in de-
.tment four, where the case was
transferred because Judge Willis will
need his court room.