The morning times., 1896-04-02

Thieves have possession of six portraits
in oil of members OF the Carroll family,
which were stolen from the vacant Car
roll mansion, No. 1901 f street north
west, some night between February Ia
and March %.
Detectives Horn aud weedon were as
signed to the case yesterday, aud though
their examination has been but cursory.
they have accomplished two things. First,
they have searched the cellars of several
art stores at Washington and have in
terviewed the proprietors. Second, they
have evolved Il theory. ThGy suspect
that the theft of these portraits, darkened
by their years of confinement IL sun
less reon, wrinkled by time and valuable
for the memories they suggest, is. not
the work OF Il thief who steals for the
gain which would accrue from the dis
position of the plunder TO renee,
u pawnshop, or secondhand dealer
There is Il suspicion that these old por-
traits have been appropriated and Sc
questercd by some member OF the family.
REP ORTED THE THEFT.
+. D. Mckinney, a lawyer, whose Of
flee is al No. I3I7F stIcet, called at po-
lice headquarters yesterday afternoon
Mr. McKenney stated 10 Inspector Hol-
linberger that he repre- sented John Marshall
Brown of p ortland, Me. He explained that
Mr. Brown is The executor OF the CarroL
estate. Mr. Mckinney then reported the
theft OF six oil paintings, each portrait
OF a Carroll.
Mir. Nckeuncy told the inspector that he
visited the house on tie afternoon Cf fctru-
ary 4 TO show through several friends
from another city. They had read Amer
n..fr raH IN
roll house. Mir. Mckenney and his visitors
lighted the room so long ST mbrc in gloom
and the faint winter sunlight icll on tEeSe
PORTRAITS. He stood before them and his
mind reverted TO the time when WaSmng
ton, then Tut GcCond-ci:Ss city, was fuIl
of first-ciass CAROLS. Those portraits were
hanging on the walls of the parlor On
February Ia.
on March 20 Mr.. McKenney revisited the
house with group of woulG-be purchasers
He opened the shutters, and as the bright
sDring sunlight stTeamcd warmly through
the windows IL fell only On the bare walls
OF the parlor. The family portraits were
gone. Then, after delay of several days,
he reported the case to the police.
ONE THEORY CONCEIVED.
This robbery was committed in the Third
police precinct. This is the same precinct
in which thieves all winter became so bold
that Ma ior Moore detailed thirty bic bodied
policemen from other precincts TO help in
the work or prevention and detection. Al
though it would have been easy for thieves
TO loot the odd Carroll home, yet there is
nothing there which thieves want.
There is nothing there on which they
could realize money without undue eX
posure to the police. Thieves do not steal
oil portraits Those protraits would have
little value 10 the world and it would be
difficult 10 explain possession OF them.
Ali the doors and windows were locked
or barred and none Shove evidence of hav-
| Jag been tampered with.
The stolen paintings are portraits Of
| Cnarles Carroll, his wife, Mrs. SpFigg and
Miss Carroll. The picture of Miss Carroll
represents her when she was caild wearing
short socks and a while dress William
CARROTS portrait, in an oval frame, aud one
OF Howard Carroll, when he was child
were also included in the list as were many
other pictures of various sizes.