Evening star., 1897-02-11
VALUABLE PAPERS
Young Men Charged With Robbing
Congressional Library.
ONE RELEASED ON BAIL
Friends Express Confidence in Their
Innocence.
BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE

Lewis NICK. Turner and Philip McEl-
hone, the two young men arrested yester-
day by secret service officers, charged with
the larceny of valuable autograph letters
from the Congressional Library, were
taken before United States Commissioner
Mills at 10 o'clock this morning for a pre-
liminary examination. Attorney Andrew
LfpScomb appeared for Turner and AZ
torney Frank Keys for McElhone and in
their behalf waived examination. No rep
resentative of the district attorneys office
or of the Attorney Generals office was
present except Harvey Givens, who was
on hand more In an individual capacity
Chief Hazen of the secret service bureau
and several inspectors were present to tes-
tify If the examination had been held.
Immediate efforts were made by the ac-
cused to give bond. At noon McElhone,
who is a son of the late ]. j. McElhone,
formerly reporter of debates in the House
OF Representatives, had succeeded in Civ
ing bail in the sum of $1,000. Turner had
failed to give bond, and was at the mar
shars office. His brother, Byron p. Tur-
her, Is seeking bondsmen and thinks he
may succeed. Commissioner Mills will re-
ceive and accept bond up to o'clock this
afternoon at his office. and has agreed to
take blank bond to his home, to be filled
out tonight If the sureties are found.
Young McElhone's bondsmen are Daniel
II. Kent of 2224 street and Charles A.
Cost, who lives on the 7th street road. 1t
is understood that they will be resecured
by Mrs. William o. Orndorff of 1891 o
street northwest, mother-in-law of young
McElhone. Mrs. Orndorf and her hus-
band were present this morning at the
examination. Mrs. Orndorff owns
siderable property, but was disqualified as
surety. Only one bondsman was re-
quired and Mr.. Kent offered to quality for
both McElhone and Turner. After exam
lining him Commissioner Mills found that
there was some encumbrance 20 Mr.. Kent's
property, which is in square 926, partially
improved, and required an additional sure
ty. This was furnished in the person of
Mr.. Cost. as stated.
Mr.. Kent will probably become one of
the bondSmen for Turner If another one
is found. He was ready to qualify
bondsman for him this morning.
In addition to the presence of Mr.. and
Mrs. Orndorff this morning two brothers
of Mr.. McElhone gave encouragement to
the brother in distress.
The accused had been advised not to talk
about the case, and refused to have any
thing TO say. McElhone expressed his con-
fidence in proving his innocence of any
criminal transaction.
Turner said he felt sure the matter could
be arranged after he secured his freedom
and talked with his attorneys and with
McElhone. He declared that he was not
guilty.
Chief Hazen of the secret service beau
reau began work on the case on Thursday
of last week, at which time Assistant Sec
retary Curtis of the Treasury Department
placed in his hands letters from w. E. Ben
jamin and w. r. Benjamin. autograph
dealers in New York. The suspicion of
these dealers had been aroused by the low
prices put on the articles offered them and
by other circumstances. They feared that
the autograph letters hal been stolen, and,
not knowing from what department of the
government they might have come, thought
best to write to MIR. Curtis. who promptly
laid the matter before Chief Hazen. Pre-
vious to this they are said to have written
a letter to Senator Hoar, who knew moth
iEg about the matter. and SO replied, not
paying any further attention TO it.
Chief HaZen sent George w. Hazen to
New York 10 investigate the matter. He
secured a description of the men negotiat-
ing the dealings and also had a number of
letters written by them put in his posses
sion. These are still in the possession of
the secret service officers and Will be used
as evidence. number Of the stolen arti-
cles were also recovered All the informa-
ton was not secured from the men men
toned, but from others with whom Turner
ard McElhone had had dealings. At the
time of the visit of Inspector Hazen and
since then it is claimed that dealings with
numerous dealers in New York have been
discovered.
ing papers had been taken from the Con-
gressional Library, and an investigation by
Librarian Spofford showed that hundreds
Of autographs and letters were missing.
Among the most valuable of these was the
diary of George Washington for 1877, the
year of the constitutional convention, as
well as letters of Washington, Benedict
Arnold and John Hancock. The Washing
ton diary IS among the papers recovered.
1t was shipped to the dealer in New York,
whose name is not divulged, a short time
ago by Turner and had not been paid for.
1t was shipped by the United States Ex-
press Company, and the receipt has been
recovered. The value placed upon 1t when
he shipped it was $50, showing Turner's idea
of its value. 1t was shipped minus cover.
and this cover was taken from one of the
pockets of Turner's coat when he was ar
rested. Librarian Spofford says it is hard
to place a value on the document, which is
a precious one He also says that many
of'the things disposed of were of little value
from financial point of view.
The Statements.
- After Librarian Spofford had revealed
the losses to Chief Hazen. and after he
had held conferences with Secretary Car
Isle and others, an agent of the secret
service went to the library yesterday
morning and notified Turner and McEl-
hone that they were wanted at the Treas,
ury Department. When they reported
there they were taken in tow and put
through a Sweating" process, lasting un-
til 2 o'clock in the afternoon, at which
time they were taken before United StaIes
Commissioner Samuel c. Mills, who issued
warrants for their arrest, and they were
formally taken in charge. The secret SER
vice officers decline to state what facts
they secured from Turner and McElhone.
The accused men called in Attorneys Lips
comb and Walker. Commissioner Mills
was disposed to fix bail at 5000 each, but
finally placed it at 5000 each. The ac-
cused were unable to give this, and were
taken to Jail, where they spent the right.
This morning they were taken to the mar
shall's office by Deputy Marsnals James
w. Springman ana William Blown, and
later to the commissioners Office.
1t is impossible to say how long the abb
straction Of papers from the library has
been going ON. The letters were kept in a
separate room at the library. The first
impression was that the whole affair had
taken place within the last two weeks, but
this Is found today to be Incorrect. 1t is
now learned that some time last fall both
Turner and McElhone made two trips to
New York. consulting with the dealers
there to whom the papers were disposed.
If they had continued their dealings with
the same men the matter might have
LA