Arizona republican., 1915-11-01
HIS BURGLARY
 WAS SUCCESS
 FOR FEW DAYS
Theodore Portella. Who Burglarized Postoffice at Aguila and Capt q With Booty. Coolly Tells How It Happened

l Utterly unappreciative of the seri- 1 ousness of the crime he committed, 1 Theodore Portelo has given the county officials complete account of the rob bery of the postoffice at Aquila. The young Mexican who was arrested in Wickenburg and pleaded guilty. was bound over to the superior court, while his accomplice, an American boy, has thus far evaded the law. Except for a few cents the entire sum taken from the joint store and postoffice, con- ducted by F. Spurger. was found on 1 Portelo. One hundred and forty-five dollars in greenbacks, $20 gold, $23.65
 silver and 47 coppers, total of s1S912 and $16.45 in checks was the amount in full
 With a brace and bit for his tools
 this was the second time robbery had
 been attempted according to the boys own story. The first, at the Brisley-
 Skadan Drug company in Wickenburg a few weeks ago, did not materialize the Would-be robbers being frightened away.
 The youth betrayed no regret over his actions. He told his story as easily, naturally and indifferently as he would have narrated any idle, imper- sonal tale He speaks English fluently Not once did his face assume an ex- pression Of wonder and serious thought even when told that the robbery of the postoffice was a penitentiary of fence.
 It was the white boy who started him on his disastrous career said Portelo, although he admits having been in the reform school for a period of three years, when that institution was To- cated at Benson.
 It was just because I wouldn't go to school that they sent me to the reform school anyway it was a long time ago, when We lived at Tombstone. No, didn't steal-Well maybe once in a while when l buy something at the store, l take a little candy or little thing that don't amount to anything"
 After leaving Tombstone the family came to Phoenix and now live on South Sixth avenue
 The boy picked up the acquaintance of the American at Glendale. They entered into conversation and Portelo said he was going to Wickenburg to look for work as a section hand at S1.25 a day but advised him to get a brace and bit and go after big game To- gether they purchased the outfit in Glendale and beat their way to Wick enburg.
 En route the Mexican was taught how to open vaults and told to go after watches, jewels and guns, so he de- clared. Just as they commenced
 work on the drug store in Wicken- burg they were frightened away by noises and shortly afterward returned to Phoenix
 We met again." said Portelo to the county authorities. and the white boy asked me if I had lost faith. He said he knew where there was big stake. big money and we set out again, this time for Aquila. When we got there he kept watch While l bored the holes to gain entrance to the store and postoffice. l When l finished, he told me to go in. l You see he was too big to get through that little hole. We agreed to split on l Whatever I got. He was a nervous fel- low and must have heard noises again Tor when l came out he was gone"
 He declares he has not the slightest ] lGea where ais companion disappeared l and not finding him when he left the l office, he walked on to Wickenburg. In 1 the meantime officials at that place | had been notified of the robbery and i were on the lookout for the boys, Por- 1 telo had started to walk from there to | fhoeniX when arrested by Deputy T. | b. wood, who brought him to Phoenix. |