Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-28
SUAVE MEXICAN
MADE PRISONER
CHARGED WITH DEFRAUDlNG
HOTEL LANKERSHlM
ACCUSED OF PASSING VALUELEss
DRAFT FOR $3.50
Affable Southerner Who Left Los An
ueIes for San Francisco is Ar
rested in Northern
City

Posing as a member of a prominent
family of Mexico and representing HIM
self to be connected with a large brew
cry at Juarez, Mexico, Luis Gonzalez
a distinguished Mexican of the upper
class, well educated, cultured and re-
fined. a man of distinguished appear
ance, succeeded, it is alleged in com
plant issued by Deputy District Attor-
ney Paul Mccormick yesterday IN ae
frauding the proprietors of the Hotel
Iankershim out of $3.50 by passing an
alleged forged draft, drawn on the
Fourth National bank of New YORK
city. He was arrested in san Fran
cisco last night
According to the story of the hotel
proprietors to Mccormick yesterday
afternoon, Gonzalez appeared at the
hotel a short time go and obtained an
extensive suite of rooms He was at
tired in the most fashionable clothing
and had considerable baggage. lie
stated he was of a wealthy family OF
the southern reupblic, and was inter-
ested in mining property there ana also
a large stockholder in a brewery at
Juarez.
Gonzalez spoke English fluently ana
had the appearance of a person who has
Travelled extensively. He made many
friends and was a liberal entertainer
On his arrival at the hotel he pro-
duced a letter of credit signed by the
Jos Brewing Company of Juarez. he
also exhibited several drafts dated at
Juarez, signed by the Jos Brewing com
pany and drawn on the Fourth Natlon-
al bank of New York.
The letter of credit, it seems, con-
vinced the hotel management that Con
Zalez was what he represented himself,
and it unhesitatingly agreed to cash
draft for $3.50 for the distinguished ap-
pearing Mexican.
Paws Bill and Leaves
Gonzalez remained at the hotel sew
eral days after cashing the draft, and
later presented another draft drawn on
S. Gonzalez of Puebla, Mexico. This
= time the hotel management decided TO
} telegraph the bank at Puebla, and were
surprised to receive an answer stating
that there was no such depositor as s.
Gonzalez.
The suave guest explained the matter
to the hotel proprietor by stating there
must be some mistake, probably due to
an error in the telegram He stated
there was no need for cashing the draft
then, as he had received other drafts
from the brewing company and would
not need the money. The hotel men,
accepting the explanation, thought no
more of the matter.
Gonzalez then went to a local bank
and opened an account, stating, 1t Is
said, he probably would leave the city
soon and would draw on his account
when he needed the money.
Several days later Gonzalez paid his
hotel bill, and after thanking the clerks
for their courtesy, left.
Yesterday the proprietors of the no.
tel received a notice from a local bank
TO the effect that the draft on the
Fourth National bank of New York had
been repudiated and that their account
was charged with the amount.
The hotel men then hurried to the
bank to make further inquiries, and
later learned that Gonzalez was at San
Francisco, having just drawn on the
bank for his balance.
But for the fact that Gonzalez failed
to add the exchange on his draft on the
Bank of Southern California it is prob
able he would not have been traced
to the northern city and captured.
Arrested in San Francisco
The bank officials, it seems, learned
Gonzalez formerly stopped at the Lank-
ershim hotel, and while holding the
draft for the exchange made inquiries.
The hotel proprietors explained the
matter to the bank officials, and a tel
egram was sent to Gonzalez telling him
his draft would be honored just as soon
as the matter of exchange was ad'
justed.
1t seems that Gonzalez registered at
one of the most prominent hotels in
San Francisco, and, the police say, evil
IDENTIFY drew on his account here in or
der to impress the hotel people there
and to enable him to cash other drafts
of large amounts.
AS soon as the matter was reported
to Mccormick he notified the detectives,
and a telegram was sent requesting the
chief of police of the northern city to
arrest Gonzalez.
The nguished-appearing Mexican
was lettering in the hotel lobby, waiting
for a reply relative to his draft, when
two plain clothes officers entered and
placed him under arrest.
The Lankershim hotel proprietors
made inquiries concerning the Jos
Brewing company at Juarez and re-
ceived a reply to their telegram that
there is no such concern in that city
and that such person as Luis Con
zalez is not known.
Notice of the arrest of Gonzalez was
received by Chief Dishman last night.
and an officer will leave in the morning
to bring back the accused to this citv
S~S