Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-16
CRIMINAL INTENT
DENIED BY ROWELL
Attorney Declares Circumstances
Forced Him to Become
Fugitive for Months
NERVOUS WHEN CAPTURED
Accused BarriSter viii Be Ar
raigned Before Judge
Davis June 20
WHEN CAPTURED

Attorney Elmer e. Rowell, alleged
swindler and bail jumper, denied yes
terday that he had been guilty of any
criminal act, and said he disappeared
only because he found himself facing
two trials, one civil and one criminal,
at a time when he was not prepared
to defend himself. Rowell was arrested
shortly after midnight Wednesday
night, as he was leaving the home Of
his friend, c. Vanderlee, 1855 East
Thirty-third street.
February IA of last year Rowell was
arrested on q warrant sworn to by
James n. Pourdstone, who alleged
Rowell had obtained money under false
pretenses, the sum named being $1,000.
Exactly two months after the day OF
his arrest, his brother-in-law, Warren
Wilson, and Mrs. Mary A. Mintier of
Pasadena, signed a bail bond of $1O,-
900 and secured Rowelfs release, prom
Using to have him in court when the
case should be called for trial.
December Is, 1909, Rowell was or
dered to appear before Judge Davis,
but on that day he disappeared and
succeeded in remaining at liberty un-
til Wednesday. His bail was declared
forfeited.
G. RAY Horton, assistant United
states attorney, secured information
Wednesday evening that Rowell was
in the Vanderlee house. Horton rep
resenting District Attorney F'redericks,
hurriedly summoned Detectives Robert
Maehl, William Orr, j. B. Campbell
and Fred Bright of the district attor-
ney's detective force, and surrounded
the house.
After rapping on the front door for
about twenty minutes, one of the de-
tectives finally succeeded in getting
Mr.. Vandelee to open the door. eX-
planning that he had a telegram for a
member of the family. When the door
was opened two of the detectives en-
tered the house. Rowell had dressed
when the officers first raped for ad-
mission. and when they entered he
stepped out the back door into the
arms of Detective Bright. He had
been sleeping on a cot in the front
room.
NERVOUS WHEN CAPTURED
The accused attorney seemed quite
nervous and had not shaved for several
| months, as he had a long beard. He
was Immediately taken to the county
jail Yesterday morning he was al
lowed to shave and presented an al
! together different appearance. When
interviewed in the Jail he said:
at has been my sole purpose to pay
! back what I owe and when I left in
| December I did not do so with the idea
/ of permanently absenting myself
| did not expect there would be an ulti-
mate forfeiture of the bail because ]
expected to return within the twenty
day limit allowed under the statute.
lowing to misunderstanding on my
part, I found myself confronting two
! trials, civil and criminal, last Decem-
Der, and as I wasn't prepared for them
I found 1t necessary to leave, but ]
! intended to return within the time al
| lowed. At no time during my absence
was I outside of Los Angeles county,
/ and if I so desire [ can prove this
/ statement. Neither did I see my wife
| during that time until Wednesday
| afternoon 1 telephoned to her occa-
sionally, but did not inform her of
my whereabouts. I forbade her to
! come to me. also telephoned to War
rem Wilson, one of my bondsmen. and
/ told him I was preparing to surrender
myself.
"wednesday was the first time that
I entered the Vandelee house. 1 went
there to see Mr. Vanderlee. for he
/ holds a note of mine and heard that
| he was about to bring civil proceed
ings."
The prisoner appeared quite pale and
| the arresting officers believe that he
has been indoors for many weeks.
! ROWeIl SIdleu llldt lle dppCAl GU oIl bIiO
/ streets of Los Angeles twice since he
Jumped his bail but did not recognize
/ anybody.
He acknowledges having issued
promissory notes and post-dated checks
! to a large number of persons.
Rowell was before Judge Davis yes
terday to answer n charge of obtain
/ ing money under false pretenses. He
| pleaded for time to prepare his de-
! fense, and the date of his arraign-
ment was fixed for June 20.