The San Francisco call., 1910-07-01
Thief ACCUSES
ATTORNEY OF
LOOTING CACHE
Stolen Bills Dug Up by Law
yer and Wife at Night,
Says Prisoner
Fred II. Thompson of Los AM
geIes Arrested While in
Reno to See Fight


Los Angeles criminal lawyer. who
with his wife and babe jouTneyed
in his automobile to Reno to see the big
fight, was arrested in that city yester-
day afternoon and his wife placed un-
der surveillance as the result of the
confession of Orlando F. Altorre. Los
Angeles postal clerk, duplicating them
in the disappearance of $4,000 stolen
from the registered mails year ago.
The arrest was made on telegraphic
instructions from District Attorney
Fredericks of Los Angeles, and imme-
diately upon the receipt of the news
Attorney Thompson wired back asking
that action be delayed until after the
fight, saying that the whole affair was
some mistake.
Give me chance to explain" he
telegraphed. Some mistake. Intend
coming home after fourth"
Altorre's confession vas made to In
spector in Charge Fl. B. Hall of San
Francisco in the presence of United
States District Attorney A. l. McCor-
mick last Tuesday. Warrants were
obtained and then it was learned that
Attorney Thompson, who defended Al
torre in a recent trial, was in Reno,
ignorant of the turn affairs had taken.
Double Crossed" He Says
According to the authorities, Altorre
confessed in the belief that Thompson
had double crossed" him during the
recent trial for perjury, when Altorre
was sentenced to two years in the fed
eral penitentiary at Fort Leavenworth
and the payment of 81 fine.
Altorre, whose real name the postal
authorities say is Orator ". Smith,
charges that on two occasions Attorney
Thompson and his wife went to a des-
ignated spot and unearthed first $1,000
and then $4,000 III bills. which had
been buried following the theft on June
IA, 1909. of $4,000 from the mails. The
money was to go as attorneys fee to
conduct his defense, according to Al
torre.
In the confession the mother of the
imprisoned clerk Mrs. White of Los
Angeles, is mentioned as one of the
parties who went to take. the $4,000
from concealment so that Altorres in
terest would be looked after. OF the
only 5000.
The money stolen by AItorre was all
in negotiable bank notes. 1t consisted
of a consignment of 100000 sent by
Los Angeles bank to the Bank of Bis
bee, Bisbee, Ariz There were four
packages, two in lots of $4,000 and two
in lots of $4,000.
SIS, 900 Recovered
A week after the theft had been noted
$4,000 was found hidden under the
safe covered by waste paper and stuffed
into the corner. AS the result of an
investigation, carried on by Inspectors
O'Connell and Wilson, a strong case
was worked up against Altorre, a reg
istration clerk.
He was arrested July % on an in
dictment. and on July and october
25 additional indictments were found.
Two of his indictments were in con-
nection with four sworn statements
made upon entering the postal service
and he was later indicted on four counts
for completely in the disappearance of
four packages of registered mail the
$50, 900.
Detectives had discovered that AL
torres real name in Georgia was Ora
tor w. Smith and that his information
his previous forms Of employ.
ments was untrue. On these lrregu-
larities the indictments were secured.
1t was decided to prosecute him on a
complete. This was done because the
inspectors felt reasonably certain of his
guilt and believed Imprisonment on the
perjury charge might induce Altorre to
confess the name of his accomplice, the
existence of whom was definitely agreed
upon by the investigators.
Altorre lived with his mother in Los
Angeles. He says his mother knew
nothing of the commission of the crime
until after his arrest. when he con-
fded in her.
His trial on the perjury charge took
place May II last He was defended
by Attorney Thompson. Altorre pleaded
not guilty. He was found guilty and
on June 13 was sentenced to two years
in Fort Leavenworth.
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