Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-13
CHAFFEE'S PLUMBER
Made Even Boston Officers Eyes
Stare by Its Amount.
still More Recovered and Many Things Iden-
titled by Their Officers.

boston, Nov. BIT is thought possible
by the police that James ). Chaffee, who
was arrested, Yesterday charged with offer
ing Tor sale stolen goods, and in whose
rooms were found $50. 900 worth of stolen
property, may be brother of William
barrett. alias Bassett, now serving a life
sentence for murder, and from whom
ChaHee claimed to have received the goods
Tor services rendered at the time of the
murder trial.
AT police headquarters, today, here were
several callers to identify property from
among the magnificent array of goods
secured by the officers, yesterday. Never
before has such valuable lot of property
Deen seen at headquarters
Mis-. Frederick Z. Ames identified vari-
GUS articles of bric-a.b rac stolen from her
house at the time of the famous picture
theft, and 1t is thought that Barrett was
responsible for the theft of the valuable
paintings, which were returned, through
mlddlemen, after a substantial reward was
offered and the promise made that no
questions would be asked
Banker kidder recognized the postage
stamps recovered as portion of his very
valuable collection stolen, eight years ago,
from his Milton residence.
Early in the afternoon officers took
Cha1fee to his former residence in Rox-
bury, where he said more property was
stored, which he would turn over to the
officers. Upon opening a box in which
Chaffee said the articles were stored it
was found to be empty. Chaffee declared
that he was nonplussed
RptnrnipO 70
fee, wife Of the prisoner, was found, and
she informed the officers that she had
changed the hiding place of the articles af
ter the officers had visited the house, yes
terday. She accompanied the inspectors
to the house and there produced box
from which were taken 225 sheets of post
age stamps, being part of the Kidder
collection, large number of stock certifi-
Gates, the par value of which aggregates
nearly 5000, 900, and also a large number
OF letters written to Chaffee by Mr.. and
Mrs. Barrett Cor Bassett) which tended to
show that Chaffees story as to how the
property came into his possession was true
and he was not implicated in any of the
robberies.
Among the papers was an agreement
signed by Mrs. Elizabeth Bassett dated
Boston, May 81, 1894, us follows: "To
whom it may concern That I, Mrs Eliza
beth Barrett of New York, do give to
James 5. Chaffee of Boston, Mass full
control of all properties belonging to my
husband, VIM. Bassett, or myself, wherever
located, to dispose of as he sees fit
This agreement tends to confirm Chat
fees story. Even if could be proved that
Gh1tfpn WAS impljcofnI in rho
with Barrett, it is doubtful if he could
now be reached by the law on account of
the statute of limitation.
The police arc apparently satisfied that
he was not connected with Barrett in the
robberies, and he has done all he could
since his arrest to aid the officers in turn
up the property, it is very doubtful if
they will push the charge of breaking ard
entering against him. A warrant has
been secured for his arrest on the charge
of receiving stolen property, and will be
arraigned, tomorrow.
Included in the list of stock certificates
found, today, were the following: Ger
tiflcate No. ia of the O. X. Gold Mining
Co. for 1000 shares, par value $1,000;
mortgage note of The Lombard Invest
ment Co. for 5000, payable to Thomas
wilkins, due June 23, 1887; Certificate
No. So for 90 shares fin G. n. Nelson
Lumber Co, st. Paul, dated Oct. 25.
1895, par value $1,000; Certificate No Sc.
in same company for the same number
OF shares, made out in the name Of Ansel
Arnold, Willimantic, CT. and debenture
bond of the Central Iowa Railroad for
$1,000, dated July 81, 1880, numbered 1873