Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-09-26
ROBBERY AT THE STATE DEPART.
MENT.
Ten Gold and Silver Treaty seals
Stolen-The Arrest Of the Alleged
Thieves. and their COnfe<Sfou

Last evening, at about O'Clock, Detective
McDevitt arrested George II. Chase, q messen-
ger at the Post ONCE Department, and Frank
MeGraw, a watclman at the State Department,
on the charge of robbing the State Department
of number of gold and silver treaty seals, the
money value Of WHICH is several hundred dol
lars.
IRE accused were at once taken 10 police
headquarters, where, finding that the detectives
were in possession Of the most indubitable proofs
OF their guilt, they confessed TO the larceny OF
seven seals, which they stated they had melted
and sold. Both seemed TO be fully aware of the
terrible position in which their crime had placed
tht m, and earnestly plead that they be leniently
0ealt with, protesting that IL was their first
offence.
During the evening the wife OF Chase was
sent for, and on her arrival at police headquar-
tiers was informed Of the nature of the charge
against her husband. She seemed greatly
shocked at the intelligence, and il was evident
that she was entirely innocent Of any knowledge
OF or participation in her husbands crime
AN AFFECTING INTERVIEW
She was then permitted TO see her husband
and the scene which ensSed Is represented tn
have been dSnuiv afaHttsy one ,ba bi,,.r,,
rerrcached her husband for bringing disgrace
ulcn himself and his family. and then, her
ahection overcoming all Other emotions She She
legged LIS forgiveness for her harshness and
assured him that, whatever he had done, she
In, I'M In
the hour OF his affliction.
ABE STOLEN SEALS MELTED.
Acting under the direction of the prisoners
Detective McDevitt recovered number Of gold
and silver nuggets into which the seals had
been melted, ard which they were assured were
what remained of tie Seven seals which they
confessed TO have stolen from treaties I'm the
State Department several weeks since. The
department claims that ten seals were stolen,
as that number are missing. One of the seals
was attached TO Turkish treaty, one 70 a Ger
man convention, and the others TO different
treaties between the United States and foreign
1t is understood that the principal party in
the robbery was Chase, the Post ONCE mesSen-
the seals with the conniyance and permission of
the latter.
ANTEcEpENTs OF THE ACCUSED MEN.
George H. Chase, one Of the alleged thieves,
was, We believe, messenger TO the Second As
sistant Postmaster General, whose confidence
he had TO an extraordinary degree. His integ-
rity was never questioned, and he was generally
regarded as one Of the most efficient and trust
worthy messengers i'm the Department. He Is
about thirty years of age, and has a wife. and,
We believe, several children. Frank McGraw,
his alleged accomplice, has been Waterman in
the State Department for number Of years,
and was, likewise, regarded as above suspicion.
Neither Of them offers any excuse for his crime.
TREATIES WITHOUT SEALS.
The seals, most of which were Of gold, were
inclosed in circular boxes (some of gold aud
Others Of silver about an inch high and from
three 10 five inches in diameter. Their money
value is, Of course, not so much of a considera-
ton as the embarrassment under which the
government must necessarily labor 10 replace
them on the important documents from which
they were stolen.
HOW THE CASE WAS WORKED Up.
About a week ago, detective McDevitt be-
came acquainted with some very suspicious
facts in regard TO melted nuggets of silver and
gold, and when on Sunday night the robbery
was officially reported by the State Depart
ment TO Major Richards, and the case
turned over TO that officer by him. he at once re-
membered the circumstances, and calling 70 his
aid Detectives Miller and Coomes, at once began
10 work up the case. So closely and indefatiga-
bly, did he pursue his investigation that before
three O'Clock yesterday afternoon he discovered
the perpetrators, and at six O'Clock had them at
headquarters under arrest.
The State Department will OF course prose
cute, and the prisoners will be brought up for
hearing before Judge Smell, of the Police Court,
this evening.
MONEY VALUE OF THE SEALS.
IL should have been stated that the value of
The melted silver recovered is SIS, while that of
the gold is several hundred dollars. 1t is roughly
estimated that the money value OF the stolen
seals is between 500 and $500.