Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-01
HOLD ATTORNEY ON
ALTORRE' CHARGES
F. H. Thompson and Wife Ar
rested by Federal Officials at
Reno, New.
PRISONER MAKES COMPLAINT
Former PoStoffice Employe
SWearS to Warrant Issued
Against L. A. Lawyer

AS result of the confession to the
federal authorities Wednesday by Or
lando F. Altorre, former clerk in the
Los Angeles postofflce in which he
admitted taking $4,000 in currency
from the postoffice on the afternoon of
June 2, 1909, Attorney Fred H. Thomp-
son and wife of this city were placed
under arrest in Reno, Nev4 yesterday
at the request of District Attorney
Fredericks. charged with receiving
stolen property
After confessing the theft Wednes-
day, Altorre informed the officers that
he believed Thompson, who was his
former attorney was on his way out
of the state with part of the money
taken from the postoffice
Yesterday noon District Attorney
Fredericks received a telegram from
Chief Wilson of Reno to the effect
that Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had been
placed under arrest, according to ad-
vices They were riding around in
their new machine when apprehended.
Thompson sent the following tele-
gram to the district attorney
"Give me a chance to explain. Must
be some mistake. intended to return
home right after July A.
Extradition papers have been pre-
pared, and Detective Browne will have
them signed by the governor, and then
will proceed to Reno.
A dispatch received from Reno last
evening stated that the Thompsons are
being kept under surveillance, but
have not been placed in Jail The dis
trict attorney has been informed that
they will fight extradition.
CURRENCY PACKAGES DISAPPEAR
On June 2, 1909, four packages of
currency, each containing $500, were
mailed by the First National bank and
received at the postoffice. On the fol-
lowing day two packages were found
secreted behind a safe in the postoft1ce.
No trace was secured of the other two
packages. Altorre was employed in
the postoff1ce in the capacity of clerk
at that time, and the four packages
of currency We're satisfactorily ac-
counted for until they reached his
hands He was therefore placed under
arrest, but denied his guilt. The federal
officers investigated his past record
and ascertained that he had perjured
himself in swearing falsely before a
notary in connection with a civil
service application.
Altorre's mother then engaged At
torney Fred H Thompson to defend
him. According to Altorre's confess
sion, he admitted his guilt to Thomp-
son and informed him that he mad
secreted the $4,000 stolen from the
postoffice in his home. A few days
after having been given this informa-
tion, Thompson is accused of paying a
midnight visit to the Altorre home.
June. 1909, and taking $4,000 of the
stolen money, without securing the
permission of his client. Altorre
claims the remainder of the $4,000 was
taken by Thompson last September.
The postal inspectors have been dill
gently working on the case, striving to
locate the money, but despite subject
ing the prisoner and his mother to
rigid examination at various times,
they secured no information.
MOTHER DISCOVERS LOSS
Mrs. Altorre discovered the money
was missing two months ago and so
informed her son. Altorre demanded
the return of it from his attorney, but
was met with refusals. On being ad-
Judged guilty of perjury in the United
States district court, Altorre requested
Thompson to appeal the case, but the
latter refused to do so
Altorre then engaged attorney T. L.
johnson as an adviser, and wishing to
have money with which to pay john
son, the prisoner again demanded the
return of part Of the currency. Thomp-
son refused and Altorre let the matter
rest until last week, when he sent
word to Thompson and on receiving no
reply, learned that in company with
Mrs. Thompson, his former attorney
had left Los Angeles.
Fearing that Thompson had taken
all the money, the theft of which had
placed him behind prison bars, AL
torre decided to confess his guilt and
implicate Thompson.
Wednesday morning he sent for
United States Attorney Mccormick and
Assistant United States Attorney G.
raw Horton, and informed them that
he wished to confess. Postofflce In
spectors O'Connell and Wilson and
United States Marshal Youngworth
were summoned, and to them Altorre
admitted that he had taken the money
from the postoffice. He then told the
officers that he was positive Attorney
Thompson was in possession of the
stolen currency. Altorre was then taken
before Police Justice Chambers and
swore to a warrant for the arrest of
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, charging
them with receiving stolen property.
The postal inspectors, on going to
the Thompson residence, found the
family pup was the only occupant
This pun was taken by the pound
master yesterday and will he "bailed
out" of the city pound this morning
Inv one of Chief Brownies assistants.
The inspectors were informed that
Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson had left their
home on Vermont avenue June Is
Neighbors stated that Thompson had
informed them that he and his wife
We're contemplating a trip by auto tc
Mexico. Shortly after the second
theft of the money from the Altorrf
home Thompson is said to have bought
an automobile costing $4,000.