The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-10
NO CLEW TO THE THEFTS,
Conflicting Tales as to the
Cost of the Stolen
Property.
MISUNDERSTANDING MEDALS
Superintendent McLaren Suggests
That the Curio Case Be
Chained Down.

The looting of the Midwinter FAN
Museum has thrown the officials at the
Golden Gate Park into state of conster-
nation.
There is an effort being made to show
that the loss is inconsiderable, and such
may be the case; yet the fact that the
pilferers were able to get away with even
the smallest object in the collection OF
curio came as startling revelation to
Park Superintendent McLaren and his
assistants. If the robbers could abstract a
handful of coins why was it not possible
for them to carry off as many other articles
as might please them?
From the conflicting and widely varying
stories of those in charge of the museum,
it is impossible at this time to give any,
thing like an accurate estimate of the value
of the stolen property.
For example, Charles P. Wilcomb, Gus
todian of the museum, while admitting
that twenty-five valuable Napoleonic
medals were taken from the French ex-
hibit, denies positively that any coins are
missing. On the other hand, L. A. Hagen
camp, museum Waterman, says that if
20-franc gold pieces are coins, then coins
were stolen from the same case with tn e
medals. These young men also disagree
as to the methods used by the robbers in
securing their booty. Wilcomb asserts
that the screw eyes were pulled out-an
easy matter. for the screws are short and
the wood the softest kind of pine.
Hagencamp is willing to swear that the
Yale locks were broken and that the screw
eyes were not pulled out at all.
Superintendent McLaIen, who examined
IL nj
the robbery was discovered, corroborates
the story of Waterman Hagencamp. He
says that the locks were broken, and adds
laconically: Strange case, strange case.
What next, wonder? They ought to
chain those cases down.
Be this, however, as it may, the fact re-
mains that the robbers got in somehow
and secured valuable property. then van
ished, leaving not the slightest clew for
Chief Crowley s detectives, who are putting
in good deal of hard work on the case.
Wilcomb, McLaren and at least two of
the detectives are of the opinion that it is
the work of men formerly employed in the
construction of the 5fliiding, who knew
well the insecure method OF fastening the
cases. Others are of the opinion that only
professional cracksmen could have been
the perpetrators.
The medals which were stolen-Wilcomb
will not admit that he has lost anything
else-were purchased from Tiffany some
months ago by Mr.. de Young, and formed
part of the Napoleonic collection in the
French room, consisting of about 800
medals and coins in gold, bronze, tin,
brass, copper, iron and other metals
minted during the reign of the first Napo-
leon, whose passion for this branch of art
is matter of history.
Among the missing pieces are half a
dozen medals communicating his Rms
sian, German, Italian and Egyptian cam
pagns. Several others show him as q
lieutenant, then as general and finally
as First Consul. Upon others he is repre-
scented with the Empress Josephine, Marie
Louise and Charlemagne.
The Waterloo medal was not disturbed,
but rare gold medallion was carried off,