Los Angeles Herald, Volume 36, Number 287, 15 July 1909 — DENIES COMPLICITY IN BANK BURGLARY [ARTICLE]

DENIES COMPLICITY IN BANK BURGLARY

CONTRADICTS STATEMENTS OF CONFESSED ROBBERS

Charles S. Martin, Alleged Leader in: Plan to Loot Institution at Mon. rovia, Says He Was Igno. rant of Plot

Charles S. Martin, the alleged leader in the plan to rob the First National bank of Monrovia In December, was a witness in his own behalf in Judge Davis' criminal court yesterday and flatly denied the statements made by George Allen Beatty and Ernest W. Sundin, confessed participants in the robbery. Martin was preceded in the witness chair by Sundin, who corroborated Beatty's story told Tuesday, and by Sheriff W. A. Hammel, who said Martin had told him after his arrest March 29 that he intended to plead guilty and throw himself on the mercy of the court.

Martin is 37 years old, was born in Texas and three years ago came to California, working as a safe expert at Oakland for two years and coming to Los Angeles at the end of that time. He was employed here by the CheneyWest Safe company and also did contract work for the Parcells Safe company, in whose office Sundin was employed. "Every place I have worked it has been the custom to note down the combination of safes repaired by me and give these figures to my company for record," said Martin, who added that he followed this rule when he gave Sundin the combinations of the safe in the Monrovia bank.

He denied Beatty's story that he had arranged the time lock of the safe in such a position that a blow from a] hammer would jar the mechanism and I permit easy access to the contents of the vault. On the contrary, he said, the time lock and combination locks were in perfect condition when he; finished his work December 10, four days before the robbery.

Locks in Perfect Condition

"Beatty probably got his Information as to how the safe could be opened In conversations with me," said Martin I "It is customary for men employed in repairing and constructing safes to talk about their work. Just as it is with men employed in other lines." He declared the plan to rob the bank was first broached by Beatty and that he refuse to listen to it. "Beatty suggested that I get so drunk that the i police would pick me up and I would thus be able to establish an alibi for the night of the robbery," said Martin. "I would not agree to the proposition." Asked why he had gone to Ventura three days before the robbery and remained away until after it took place, Martin said he was sent out of the city Iby his employers and that he did not hear of the robbery until two days after I its occurrence.

"When I came back Sundin and Beatty told me i might as well accept my share of the $27,000 they had stolen," said Martin. "They told me if the facta became known and they were arrested they were determined to connect me with the crime and could easily do see because I gave Sundin the combinations to the safe." "Did you ever receive any portion of the money?" asked Grant Bennett, onej of Martin's attorneys. "I never got a dollar of it," responded the witness positively. He added, however, that he had bor- 1 rowed money several times from Sundin and thought these loans would aggregate about $150. Martin gave as his reason for not telling th% officers of the bank what lie knew about the robbery that he diel , not want to place himself in the position of an informer. Sundin, In his testimony yesterday, corroborated Martin when he said the, latter refused to take any part of the proceeds of the robbery. Martin's share, he said, was placed in the custody of George Yohn to hold until it should be called for. Yohn is still in the county jail, but it is believed his connection with the matter was innocent and that a charge of complicity In the robbery will be dismissed. Few other witnesses remain to be called by the defense. The trial will be resumed at 2 o'clock today and probably will end before the court adjourns at 5 o'clock.

Denies Taking Money