Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-11
FISTS USED TO
STOP OISHONOR
]. /. LIE BERTHON BEATEN BY
JOHN B. ELLIOTT
ADVERTISING MAN ACCUSED OF
QUESTIONABLE METHODS
Alleged "Impecunious" Newspaper
Men for Whom He Alleged He Was
Working Deny Any Connection
with the Scheme

3. Elliott and L. B. lie Berthon In the
latter's office in the Henne building
yesterday revealed a story of the ope-
rations Of LIE Berthon, which, accord
ing to the statement of persons inter-
ested, place him periously near a
charge of obtaining money by false
pretenses, if not actual blackmail.
In the encounter lie Berthon was
badly battered, and when permitted to
do so ran from the building and later
was taken to his home. According to
witnesses, lie Berthon arose from his
chair and seized Elliott by the shoul'
der, turning him half way around,
when the latter struck him. In the
exchange of blows which followed, lie
Berthon was decidedly Worsted, and
when he retreated in bad order he bore
with him two "forget-me-nots" in the
shape of q brace of black eyes and
generally disfgured countenance
Interested persons declared last night
that lie Berthon and his assistants had
evolved a scheme to extract the elusive
dollars from the pockets of guileless
citizens, who in the tenderness of their
hearts sought to aid certain impecuni-
Gus newspaper men for whom lie Ber-
thon posed as Sir Bountiful, and told
plausible stories that the money which
he was to receive for a book which he
was preparing would go to the objects
OF his kindly solicitude.
Had Book In View
lie Berthon's scheme was to get out
book on Los Angeles, entitled From
Pueblo to CITY," in which he was to
insert pictures of prominent citizens,
together with the brief biographical
sketch. For this he Is said to have ca
ioled anywhere from $40 to $3.50 from a
number of prominent citizens, some OF
whom are said to have paid real mon
ey. Others who were less hasty, or
suffering less from a plethora OF
plunks, only promised to pay, and
dozen of them announced their inten-
tions to let it go at that on the ground
that gross rAispreresentations were
used to secure their subscriptions.
LIE Berthon's method, according to
the statement of newspaper men who
claim to have been victimized, was
cleverly designed to place newspaper
men in the position of being recipients
of eelymosynary benefactions.
The plan was laid, the newspaper
men declare, last winter, when lie Ber-
thon made the rounds OF newspaper
row and offered various generous sums
to public writers to act as contributors
to a book which he described as boost
for Los Angeles. Eight or nine proml-
nent writer's agreed to contribute ana
their names were signed to q memoran-
dun slip, which the clever operator
presented. 1t was declared last nlghI
that these signatures were copied ano
several forged copies Of this memo
randum were placed in the hands OF
lie Berthon's assistants. one or theSe
forged papers is now in the hands ol
an attorney, and it is believed that
- 1,A
Slips Never Returned
Go far as could be learned, lie Ber-
thon never returned the slips to any
of the writer's, and most of them had
forgotten his visit, until their atten-
tion was called to the fact that men
were canvassing the city under the
representation that they were getting
out a book which would both give
pleasing publicity to pleasant punglers
and rebound to the financial benefit
of the newspaper men who had been
chosen for the distinction of contribut-
ing to the work.
When the newspaper men learned
that their names were being used IN
this way, there was great indignation
among the victims of the scheme anu
the Los Angeles Herald printed an
editorial, warning public men against
the smooth-tongued talker who sought
to further his crooked scheme at the
expense Of the newspaper men Of the
city. 49,.
A number of men prominent in the
city are responsible for the statement
that lie Berthon made false representa-
tions. Among them Is Marshall Slim
son, to whom the promoter is alleged
to have intimated that no man IN puoilc
life could afford to stay out OF the
book and incur the enmity of news
paper men.
After this veiled attempt to black
mail. Mr. Stimson arose and in no
uncertain words, denounced the man
and ordered him from his presence
Among others who refused to be VIC
timized were Mayor George Alexander,
to whom the man is said to have made
the same representations of adYisabili-
ty of counting favor with public writer's
by subscription to the book.
Well Known Men Approached
Others approached were Joseph
Scott, Webster Davis, City Clerk Harry
Lelande, S. ]. Whitmore and score of
others whose names are in possession
of the attorney for the newspaper
men. Mr.. Elliott and his co-workers,
are anxious to secure names of other
victims.
When Elliott entered Le Berthon's
office Yesterday he requested the lat
ter to remove his name from the mem
orandum. This LIE Berthon refused to
do, but he handed Elliott duplicate
COPY of the memorandum upon which
were forged the names of several local
public writer's. Mr.. Elliott retained
this, which was later turned over to
an attorney. Mr.. Elliott insisted that
his name be removed from the original
memorandum and told Mr.. LIE Berthon
that he was acting in bad faith and
that he was using the names of news
paper men to obtain money in a man
ner of which the latter would not ap-
prove.
LIE Berthon refused to comply with
the request and sent for his attorney,
Dan Laubersheimer, who went to the
office and entered into discussion
which did not end satisfactorily to Mr..
Elliott who insisted that his name be
removed. He also requested a list of
the names of men who had subscribed
for the book, saying that he wished
to see these men and disclaim all con-
nection with what he characterized as
a scheme Of graft.
Hot Work After Refusal
LIE Berthon refused to give him q
list and would make no further con-
cession beyond Offering to give a writ
ten promise to make no further use of
Mr.. Elliott's name. The latter de-
nounced LIE Berthon as "grafter,"
and hot words followed. Witnesses
say lie Berthon sprang from the chair
and seized Mr. Elliott, whereupon the
latter led with a straight right to the
Jaw and within a few seconds admin
istered a severe chastisement to the
man who, he declares, has involved