The San Francisco call., 1909-03-28
REALTY DEALER
IS ACCUSED OF
GRAND LARCENY
ArIey Townsend Brought to City
From San Jose for ALI
legged Swindling
Women Expose Methods Used
by Man Charged With
Dividing Business"

Arlay Townsend Of the Humboldt
bank building. who prohtably de-
vsloped the knack OF dividing his real
estate and mining brokerage business
unto many halves. which he disposed
or 10 various women, was brought to
this city from san Jose last night by
Detective MoGrayan and booked at the
city prison on the charge OF grand
larceny by trick and device. Miss
Alice Talbot OF 6s3 Aileen street, oak
land. swore 10 the complaint before
Police Judge Conlan. Townsend would
not discuss his case
Miss Talbot paid $425 TO Townsend
February % and her partnership in
terest in the brokerage business ad-
r-anced so far that her name was
painted on the doors of the Offices in
the Market street office building.
Rooms 2l2-2l4 were occupied by the
company
After Miss Talbot had been estab-
lished in the place she discovered that
Townsend had no business. She also
learned that the Office furniture had
not been paid for. So she demanded
Of Townsend the return Of the money
she had invested. Miss Talbot was in
weighed into the business through an
+ advertisement which Townsend in
serted IN an Oakland newspaper
TOWNSEND ARRESTED BEFORE
Il came out yesterday that Townsend
got into trouble in Oakland in tSeptem-
Der Of Last year. On September ! he
was arrested there by Detective Drew
on a charge OF obtaining money under
false pretenses. He was caught at s69
Broadway The complaint was sworn
10 by A. J. Freeman Of Liese avenue.
EruitvaIe. Townsend was charged with
obtaining money by false pretenses, and
It was alleged that he took $3.50 from
Freeman on the representation that he
would secure Freeman a job as book
keeper for the Pure Food company of
San Jose Townsend was convicted Of
the charge but was granted a new
trial by Judge Waste. II was decided
70 change the charge to grand larceny
and then Townsend got out Of his
trouble by repaying Freeman his $3.50.
Townsend's present predicament fol-
lowed the suspicion entertained against
his methods by Miss Anita Osborne OF
659 Ninth street san Jose. Miss Os-
borne came TO san Francisco and re-
ported the matter TO Chief Of Police
Cook. who detailed Detective S V.
Bunner on the case. Bunner then
learned Of Miss Talbots loss and ad-
vised the young woman 70 swear to a
warrant against the man. Bunner also
found Mrs. Ferguson Of 1915 Fifth
street san Rafael, who had given
Townsend $3.50 in Oakland March 10.
-OTHER ALLEGED VICTIMS
Other alleged victims of the Town
send game We're Mrs. J. b Gilston. who
paid $500 for a half interest in the
business; Mrs. D. Walker. whose frac-
Jtion is said TO have cost her $3.50. and
Mrs. I. Pryor who paid $500 for her
share"
Townsend's record in San Jose was
peculiar. He advertised in the papers
-'VVanted-A nice appearing young girl
s1Or Office Address box 42o. Give phone
humber"
To the many girls who replied he
made dates 10 meet them at a prom
s3nent street corner. and when arrested
he wss surrounded by an expectant
( tcoterie OF office seekers" In his in
terviews with the girls Townsend
ishowed traits Of clairVOyancy
Miss Osborne. who made a complaint
against Townsend. said he told her on
first sight how old she was. the date
of her birth. her mothers maiden name
ana the color OF her sisters hair.
Townsend. the police say, was en-
: gagged IN shady business deals during
This residence here and was something
: Of an amateur detective, loan shark and
bad bill collector.
Townsend was arrested here at one
time on a charge Of robbery preferred
by an aged stranger who claimed that
khe missed number OF diamonds after
making & night Of IT. with Townsend