The evening times., 1897-02-11
The Accused Were Arraigned Before
U. S. Commissioners Mills-McEl-
hone Seemed Indifferent, But
Turner Was Nervous-The Secret
Service Officers Mute.

Springman and William Brown.
They were represented by Lawyer A A.
Lipscomb, who waived examination, and
bail for the accused men was fixed at
SO 900 each. Mr. Lipscomb offered Daniel
H. Kent, OF No 1924 N street, as Nc
Elhone's surety. 1t was disclosed, however,
that the property offered by Mr.. Kent
was heavily mortgaged, and Commissioner
Mills refused to accept him as bondsman,
unless lie could furnish additional Sc
curity, or get some one to go on the
bond Jointly with him. Charles F. Corst,
of No. 2620 Seventh street northwest, later
qualified, with Kent as bondsman, and Mr..
McEIhone was admitted to bail, pending
further examination.
Up to late hour this afternoon all ef-
forts to secure bail for Turner were un-
successful. Commiss ioner Mills said,
however that he would wait until O'Clock
this afternoon before committing Tuner
TO jail. The prisoner was accordingly
taken TO the United States narshaPs office,
in whose charge he remained pending ef-
forts to secure bail.
Toth Librarian SpoffoId and Chief Hazen,
of the Secret Service, were present at the
hearing today. The government was repre-
sented by Messrs Harvey Given and Tracy
L. JeffoTds, Of the district attorneys Of
flee william o. OrnCorff, the father-in-
law OF young McElhone, was also in court
when the case was called. McElEoae was
nattily dressed in a So otch plaid suit and
wore a light top overcoat.
lie seemed to be entirely indifferent TO
his surroundings and the crime with which
he has been charged, and Chatted with
some of his companions while the bail
bond was being arranged. Turner, ON the
other hand. seemed to feel the gravity OF
the situation, and appeared more nervous
than his fellow prisoner Both men, under
advice OF counsel, retained a stoical si-
lence and refused to discuss the alleged
robbery III any ofits details.
1t is said that additional evidence has
been secured that willmor securely tighten
the chain of evidence around the accused
men.
Assistant Secretary Curtis, of the Treas
ury Department left for New York last
night after the robbery became known, for
the purpose OF comforting with the secret
service men who are at work on the case
in that city. The secret service ofh-
cials OF Philadelphia, where the two men
are supposed to have sold some OF their
plunder, have also been notified or the
robbery. Chief Hazen still refuses TO
diyulge the name OF the informer who
lead to the arrest OF the two men.
All of the secret service detectives, as
usual in such cases. surround the matter
with an air Of mystery. When questioned
this morning by an Evening Times re-
porter n regard to the robbery, Chief HaZen
said. Several OF our best men in this
CITY are now at W work upon the case, but
lust what additional evidence they have
secured am not at liberty at the present
time to state. Almost all OF the papers
and documents that were stolen have been
recovered. and have no doubt that we
shall soon recover those that are still
missing"
Librarian Spofford said that 1t is i'm
possible at tile present time for him TO
tell lust what papers are missing 1t
aDpears, however. that the most valua Ole
documenttaken W as diary Of George Wash
inrten, of tile year 1884. 1t was this
loss that lead 20 the arrest OF Turner and
McElhone.
The detectives learned that the diary
had been EXPRESSED to New York by the
United States Express Company. They
succeeded in securing the wrapper around
the diary and the receipt stub, showing
the valuation as given at $50. A de-
scription of the men who had offered the
diary for sale was sent from New York,
and the dealer also delivered up certain
letters alleged to have been written by
McElhone and Turner, in offering the ar
ticles for sale. When the diary was re-
covered it was found that the back OF the
book had been torn off and was missing. lt
was found on yesterday in one ofthepOckets
of Turner's overcoat. This is considered
as strong evidence against Turner, as he
is unable to give a satisfactory expiana-
tiop. The diary was especially priced by
Librarian spofford, and was always kept
securely locked in his private drawer.
The librarian often had occasion to ex-
bibit the diary as valuable example or
Washngton's handwriting. Mr.. Spofford
is positive that the diary was u ms drawer
two weeks ago, and that it has been stolen
since that time Also, that in order 60 nave
taken the book it was necessary for the
thieves to have unlocked the drawer with
a skeleton key, which he believes they Sc
cured for that purpose. Mr.. SpoffOrd fur-
ther believes that the thefts OF the Other
papers took place in the night, as the
thieves had but little opportunity tosecure
them during the day.
The story told by Turner, when arrested,
that he found the papers on the ledge IN
the Capitol Just outside the Library door
is generally discredited. Immediately after
Turner was arrested a search was made in
his working room in the basement OF the
Library, and damaging letters were found
thai had not been disposed Of. These were
addressed to Turner and were replies to
other letters he had written to different
New York and Philadelphia firms offering
certain autograph letters that were IN the
library files for sale. These will undoubt-
edly be used against both Turner and Nc
FIhone when their case is tried lthaS also
been found that McEIhone and Turner paid
several visits to New York and Philadel-
phia last fall While in these cities, it is
alleged, they called upon several dealers
and offered the stolen documents for sale
McElhone, who is twenty eight years old,
is the son Of the late official stenographer
of tile House. Those who know MN say
he has always borne a good reputation
During President-el McKinley's last
term in Congress McElhone was his private
secretary Later lie served in like capacity
for Mr.. Bradley B. Smalley of Vermont In
1894 he was appointed to the position he
now holds in the Congressional Library,
where he has been employed in making out
copyright certificates. He was married a
year ago to Miss Mary orndorff, daughter