Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-23
Recovery Of tlie Sword Stolen from
the Patent Office.

The sword recently stolen from the Patent Office
was recovered on Saturday, entirely unnjured,
by Detectives J. A. W. Carvoe and D. r. ?.
Biglcy, of the metropolitan Police force. 1t
will be delivered this morning TO the Secretary
Of the Interior The stolen sword is very val
liable. The blade is very finely tempered STEEL
manufactured many years ago by A. Noo!lcy
& Co., Of London The hilt is Of solid gold,
and fashioned in the shape OF dragons head.
The gold handle ia studded with diamonds, one
OF which is Of large size and Of great brlllancy.
The sword was presented many years ago by
the Viceroy Of Peru to Commodore Biddlc OF
the u. S. navy.
The arrest was made by Detective Biglcy at
Manhattanvlc, New York. The thief has
| proved to be young man. known 10 some as a
Mr. Lewis and by others as Captain W. N.
Murphy. About three weeks ago, by the Ell
| forts Of his friends, he received an appoint
| mcnt in The Patent Office, and has been EN-
ployed as one of the door keepers at the mu.
scum ROOM He will be brought 10 this city at
once. The sword was missed on Tuesday NOR
ming last On the night OF last Monday, about
! s clock, man visited the place OF business
| of q merchant Of this city (who is conversanl
with the value of precious stoncs) and offered
him two diamonds which he requested him to
| keep for him, at the same time asking loau
of a certain sum money. This the gentleman
refused, saying that the diamonds were not
worth so much. The person then handed I
letter written on parchment, addressed to Mr..
Stanton as Secretary of War, and purportlng
to be signed by Gen. Grant. This letter reel
ted that the bearer was i very worthy person
who the General commended to Mr.. Stanton
and asked that he be given position IN tho
War Department.
The person was dressed in citizens clothes
and wore upon his lett breast gold medal,
which he stated had been presented TO him by
the Governor of New York. Having secured
the confidence of the merchant, the mysterious
parsonage told him that he was hard up, ano
wanted money; that he had an article which
was OF great value, and if he could borrow 4
hundred dollars he would give as security 4
valuable sword which had been presented BY
the Duke of Cambridge to his 1.-THE speakers s.
grandfather.
This sword, he said, was worn by his father
OF the battle OF Bull Run, where lie received
his death wound. He further stated that the
sword had valuable gold scahbard, and both
of them we're locked up in the safe at General
| Emory's Headquarters This happened on
| S'NS'''
the store Of the merchant, desiring him to wal!
his return. About ten o'clock he returned
with the sword saying that he would not bring
the scabbard along, as it was too valuable. -
He left the sword at the store, and the nezt
day, it was announced that the sword was sto
lem Mcssrs. Clarvoe and Biglcy, while cngog
| ed on Tuesday morning in making their lnqul-
RIGS, were accosted by young man CHI
ployel in the office, who appeared to be in great
agitation and concern about the loss Of the sword
and remarked to Bigley thatit was "veryStrangG
what had become Of the sword, " and expressed
the hope that ''thcy would soon find IT, Tho
result has proved that the mysterious person o
Tuesday night and the agitatcd clerk III tht
Patent Office Of Tuesday morning we're one am
the same person. 1t was but short time be
fore the detectives got upon the track of thu
facts above narrated, and 4 few hours &uiicec
them 10 become fully satisfied that their agla
ted friend, who had expressed so much soIlcl,
tude,lor their success, was the guilty party and
they at once commenced making their arrange.
ments for his arrest but it seems that he ha'
already got frightened and left the city. Thl:
was on Thursday or Friday, and measures were
at once taken to secure his capture. NIT. Int