Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-19
THE MOTHER TELLS HER STORY.

/ He WAS then IN Detroit. she said, and very
soon after she had impaired this information a
| telegram was ticking its way out to that city
giving instructions to one OF the secret service
agents of the treasury to take Norvell into
custody. lie went to the number indicated by
the mother as beng the residence of the aunt.
| but was told that the young man had left the
house that morning on his way out of town.
Mrs. Norvell had told Mr.. Rogers that her
son would leave Detroit Tuesday night, but il
! seems that for some reason he changed his
plans and left earlier In the day. and thus he
avoided arrest in Detroit instead of Wash
ingtOn.
SO carefully was the case being worked that
| only about half dozen people in the depart
ment knew anything about it. The clerks in
| the division knew. of course that young Nor
| veil had been dismissed on suspicion, but they
| did not know the details of the affair. Those
\ IN the secre. were the treasurer, Mr.. Nebeker;
| his assistant. Mr.. Wheipley: the chief of the
| division. Mr. Rogers; the chief of the secret
| service. Mr. Drummond, and his assistant. Mr..
| Brooks. besides. perhaps, one or two subordi-
| mates.
SORvEIL HAD LEFT DETROIT.
| When it was found that Nogvell had left De-
troit the officials were rather at sea for a few
| hours. for he WAS 80 near the border that if he
80 desired he could get over into Canada in a
short time and thus be out of reach for an in
definite period. The greatest care was taken
that no detail inkling of the facts of the case
should get before the public. for il feared
that should 1t become known here that the de-
phrtment had made out its case against the de-
| faulter lis friends here would telegraph him
and perhaps prevent his ultimate capture. The
treasurer determined TO make an example
OF this case, though the sum involved was COM
paratlyely small.
Mrs Norvell, in the mean tine. had communi-
Gated with her son, and IL Is presumed that she
had persuaded him to return and give himself
up, for she received telegram Yesterday from
Irttn
Washington. and that he would arrive here
Wednesday evening She gave this message to
Hr. Rogers a. soon as she received il, and thus
put him on the track.
BEFORE THE GRAND JURY.
The STAR received information yesterday
that the grand jury investigating the case
| and that certain employees of the treasurer's
Office were before that body testifying. Com
munication was had at once with the treasurer
and 1t was acknowledged that the office
endeHVCrlnS 10 secure an Indictment against a
certain emplOyc for embeZZlement. In the in
terestS OF justice, however. no publication of
the facts was made. for there was great danger
that Norvells friends, not knowing the exact
state OF the case. might wire him on his way
here to SO back. and this might alarm him
into change OF his intentions. Hence the
story was suppressed for day in order that
the arrest might be safely made.
Ali the trains from the ives: were late yes
y! tldt tbI H.St HiSHt however. ana NOrNeU
dill not get into town. Messengers were dis
patched to his mothers house last night, but
she had heard nothing more.
ARRIVED AND AEEEsTID THIS MORNING.
This morning lac arrived early and he wen.
n once to his home on Esd street. Soon after
his arrival there he had call from Bailiff
Joyce Of the marshal's office. who carried
bench u arrant for his arrest the indictment
not having been fully completed, though the
grand jury had decided upon its presentation.
lie made 10 objection to being taken into
custody. but Indicated that nc had returned to
give himself up, and he taken at once to
the office OF the marshal Of the District, in the
city hall, where he remained during the morn
ing.
willard Norvell las lived here for most of
his HE and entered the High school in 1882
graduating three years later. He was a steady
boy, quiet and reserved, aud made few FRIENDS.
because he seemed to prefer solitude. He sell
dom spoke 10 his companions. but was generally
respected. 1T was thought that he doing
we'll when he secured his appointment to a
c!erkship Ill the Treasury Department, and lie
. received salary %. 900 year.
IL Is not known BY the people of the re-
demption division that he had any bad habits.
1t Is known that he drank some but bv no
mean to excess. ana he was looked upon as
being very steady i'll every respect. His
younger brother has a bad record, but lust
why this young man should have gone wrong
Is very much of a mystery. He was understood
to DC engaged to be married to the daughter of
Well-huUwn clergyman OF this city and it is
said that nc sent word 20 his mother from De-
troit that he would return 20 marry her.
The prisoner was comfortably lodged during
the day Ill the room attached to the marshals
Office. set al art Tor teuale witnesses
The warrant upon which Norvell was arrested
by Ballif Joyce this morning WIS issued from
tie Police Conrt in advance OF the presentation
OF the indictment
THE ORIGINAL PACKAGE OF MONEY.
The package Of money intrusted to Norvell
Tor counting and sorting on the Sd of October
contained $50 0O0 When it was finally counted
by the man in the cage" it contained S79. 500
The system of checks Used i'll the redemption
division OF the treasury Is thought to be very
complete. The present indicates how
perfect are its workings, for whatever
the lapse OF time between the abstrac-
ton vi the money ard Its discovery
il shows the inevitability Of the ultimate expo
sition of the crime. There several cases on
record of theft i1om the treasury, but they
have always been detected and the criminals
brought to justice. 1t is thought strange
that NOrveil. after three years of
exporter III the Office. knowing the checks
AMI means for preventing theft and realizing
the certainty OF discovery. should have taken
the money, or. If lie intended TO steal. should
have taken small SUM when there were so
many thousands il his possession. THIS is
thought by the treasury officials to indicate
that he trusted TO luck TO get the responsibility
Tor the money spread around, in the case Of
the 80 missed year ago.
WITNESSES Examined.
The grand jury yesterday examined the fol-
lowing witnesses in the Norvell case: E. W.
WILSON, Thos. T.. Nyn.an Gilbert Gray. Vim.
Richardson, Margaret ). Sorveil the prisoners
mother: Emily Norvell. his sister, and Thos. E.
Rodgers the chief of the redemption division.
Richardson and Rodgers we're not sworn.
NoRyELL INDICTED.
The grand jury this afternoon reported an
indictment charging Willard S. Norvell with
larceny from the United States and eInbezzle-
monts from the United States.
The indictment is IN two counts The first
charges that on the Sd of October 1891 he
TOOK fifteen national currency notes. each of
the value of 30, and certain other national
bank notes. assregating 200.
The second charges that on the same day.
while an employee of the United States. he took.
made away and with intent to en-
bezzle. fifteen national currency notes
each of the value of go. and certain other ma
tionai banh notes Of the aggregate value of
SZO0.
NoRwFLI. PLEADS GUILTY.
At 2:3) O'Clock Norweil. who wore dark blue
spectacles, was brought into the Criminal Court
room by Bailitf Joyce.
A larceny case involving the liberty Of a
coIored man had just been given to the jury
and. during the wait the Norvell case was
started. Judge Bradley told the prisoner that
an indictment had been found against