Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-11
NAVY YARD ROBBERY
ARREST or TWO CLERKS AND A
DRIVER FOR STEALING METAL.
A 6is Sensation In the Gosport ysrd--A
court.Nartiai and . Civil Triai-rhe
Darky Driver Probably Innocent.
Especial telegram 70 tho plsoa,ch.l

NORFOLK, July io.--A great sensation was
created q. the navy-yard this morning by
Che arrest Of Chicf-Clcrk James Van Kan
kin. of the provisions and clothing depart.
ment; clerk named Harry CosteD, son OF
Captain II. ii. Costeu. Of the Marine Corps
and truck-driver named America smith,
who are charged with robbing the Govern
ment in abstracting copper from the s'o'o-
house and shipping il North and selling IL
20 dealers in that section.
PERSISTENT rILFEHINc.
The stealing has been going on Tor so,ne
months and aggregates a large ap.ou t;,,
over I 800 pounds OF metal. van hlnhin
IL from the city Of Philadelphia. ana Is
the assistant Of Paymaster Bellows. foutg
Costen has lived in Portsmouth ncariy M
his life with his family, who reside NJ ool-
tage Place. His father is away ~ CON,
mand Of the marine guard on the '"''ou
States steamer Baltimore.
now TT WAS DONE.
The plan, IL Is said. was TO PACK coppe.
and composition in barrels ana theh sc"
as condemned crockers and 80 snip u. ~
present Van Rankin ia in the brig on the
receiy,pg-ship Franklin and Costen IS cor
fncd at the barracks. Tho former - an
officer of tho navy and will be tired Nv
court-msrtial. The latter ~ civiiian M"
will 90 before the United States Connnis-
sioner for examination.
IN GOOD SOCIETY.
Both move III the highest soc'aI circles
In Portsmouth and are very popular III
society. 1t is not believed anything can
be done with the darky driver who hauieo
the stuff out Of the yard.
AYoTHYB ACCOUNT.
EoHyoLK, Va. July i0.-James =. van
Rankin, paymaster's clerk IN tne genera,
storehouse Of the Norfolk nayy-yard, anu
n n. Costef. a clerk in the same depart
ment were arrested to-day for the
alleged stealing Of composition ana
other goods from the GoverDment;
20 the estimated value OF severa,
Thousand dollars. The arrests were caused
by the discovery IN the store OF bo1 OF
goods marked commandant OF the naval
station at Port Royal, for when tnere
was no orders News OF crooked snip
mcnts had reached the ears OF the navy
ward officials. and Captain Norton. the
executive officer Of the yard. went to the
general store, and. finding the box, asked
Costen what il contained. He told him,
90 Costen states. that II contained com
position 10 be sent TO Port Royal. captain
Norton had the box opened. and u was
found to contain composition metal.
ORDERED UNDER ARREST.
He ordered Costen under arrest. Pay
masters Clerk Van Rankin was also
placed under arrest, and being in the
naval service, was carried aboard the
United States receiving-ship Franklin TO
await court-martial for implication in the
affair. Costen was taken before United
States commissioner and bailed In the
sum of 81 900 TO appear for preliminary
examination Tuesday next. He stated that
he had only acted as shipping-clerk, and
the box in question was to be shipped IKE
any regular shipment.
DENIES ANY 1RREGULARfTY.
He denies cmphatically irregularity
or the irreguari'y of any other
shipments from this navy-yard: The
affair has created sensation IN
Portsmouth, the home Of the ac77
cused, where both are well known and
very popular Young Costen is the son OF
Captain Costen. of the United States Ma
Yine Corps.