Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-12
TIMES DYNAMITE
SUSPECT HELD IN
SACRAMENTO JAIL
Letters Cause Arrest of G. Wal
lace, but Local Police Think
Man Not Implicated
ROOMMATE is QUESTIONED
Writer of Notes to Prisoner Lo-
Gated Here and Explains
Statements

That the arrest of George Wallace
at Sacramento on suspicion Of being
implicated in the dynamiting of the
Times building October / Is not
important and that the man had moth
ing to do with the matter is the opin-
ion of the Los Angeles officers. The
effects of John Murray, who wrote the
letters found in the possession of Wal
lace when the latter was arrested,
were examined by Detectives Jones
and Boyd, who found nothing that
would incriminate the two men.
The arrest of Wallace at Sacramento
yesterday was due to a singular acci-
dent. Another George Wallace, a
prominent miner of Shingle, Eldorado
county, received two letters several
days ago at the Sacramento postoffice.
Both of these letters had been sent
from Los Angeles to San Francisco
and forwarded to the capital city.
without noting the postmarks Wal
lace opened the letters. The contents
aroused his suspicious, and he imme-
diately turned them over to Chief of
Police Ahearn OF Sacramento. The
latter laid trap and the letters were
returned to the postofflce.
When the other Wallace appeared
and received the letters he was fol-
lowed a short distance down the street
and placed under arrest. This seemed
to confuse him and he attempted to
destroy the letters.
1t later was learned that the letters
were written by John Murray, ce-
ment worker, living at the Hotel st.
Louis, 653 Central avenue, Los Angeles.
PROBE MURRAY's EFFECTS
The local detective bureau was noti-
I'D .nafn0tfUac TOnaC nnd RnWd
were detailed to investigate this end
of the case. The officers went to the
Central avenue address and learned
that Wallace and Murray had been
roommates; that the latter has been
working in Los Angeles for the last
five years in the employ of Carl Leon
ardt, a contractor, and that Wallace
had stayed at the Central avenue ad-
dress at various times during the past
year.
1t further was learned that both men
were in their rooms early Friday night,
September so. and that they were there
the following morning.
Wallace, it appears, was stopped on
the street and questioned by an officer.
He seemed to resent the interference
and refused to give an account of him
self. He then was taken to the central
police station and questioned by Chief
Galloway. Wallace, being a Scotch
man, wanted to explain matters to the
head of the police department, who
also is a native of Scotland. The In
terview apparently was not satisfac-
tory, and Wallace was ordered to leave
the city within twenty-four hours. He
returned to his room and went to the
Arcade station, where he boarded a
train for San Francisco.
Immediately on his arrival Wallace
wrote to his roommate (Murray), in
forming the latter the reasons for leav-
ing in such a hurried manner. This
letter was written on the stationery
of the Denver house, 221 Third street,
San Francisco. In this letter Wallace
states that he was arrested on sus-
picion and ordered out of the city. He
says that he did not want to stay and
run the risk of continually being
harassed by the police and thought it
best to get out of town while he had
the money. The writer also stated that
he expected to get a job as dishwasher
at the Denver house within few days.
LETTER ATTACKS TIMES
Murray answered the letter the
following day-October sand sympa-
thized with Wallace. It is thought
that circumstances that brought about
his roommate'S sudden departure ang-
red him and he wrote strongly de-
Iouncing the police and the Times.
Both letters taken from Wallace
were signed by John Murray, and
were sent from the Hotel st. Louis,
653 Central avenue, Los Angeles. One
of the letters was mailed at the Ar
cade station October 5, and the other
on the day previous. The first let
ter, and the one which tells most, is
as follows:
Friend George: / sure was sur
prised when 1 got to the room last
night and got your note, but 1 soon
got over my surprise. While going
to supper I was held up and felt of
my hip pockets three times inside of
20 minutes, once on Main street, again
on Fourth and Los Angeles, and again
on Seventh and San Pedro. These
is crazy. Yes, gone mad. There is
no doubt in my mind that Chandler
knows more than he says. The least
said through the mail the better.
George, Jim told me you told the chief
you were born in Glasgow. You know
the rest. Just think what I mean,
George. | have no more to say now.
If I was telling you, I would tell you
a whole lot of what I heard and seen
during the short time you were gone"
Murray left the city Saturday, Oc-
tober 8, and went to small town
near Taft in the oil district near Bak-
ersfield. where he was sent by Con-
tractor Leonardt to construct some
foundations for oil tanks.
SAYS MEN WE'RE IN ROOMS
According to j. A. Lynch, proprietor
of the Hotel st. Louis, both Wallace
and Murray were in their rooms Fri
day night, September 80.
A man named John Murray was ar
rested at 1880 o'clock Friday night
September 80, and booked at the cen
tral police station on a charge OF
drunkenness. He was taken into Gus
tody by Patrolman McFadden on New
High street, several blocks from the
Times building. He was released the
following morning under a fine of So
straight. Lynch is positive this is not
the man who roomed with him.
"I have known Murray for the past
Ave years." said Lynch. II worked
With him at the cement business in San