The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-12-23
D1r1N1rY STUDENT ARRESTED.
James B. Miller Of Norton Stree
 Charged With Theft.

James B. Miller Ot Norton Street
 Charged With Theft.
 James Britain Miller of 2S6 Norton stret a graduate of the Yale divinity school, class of '94, and a graduate stu dent of the university, was arrested last evening by Detectives Donnelly and Daley, charged with the theft of books from Augur's art store. He was ar rested at his room, GA West Divinity hall. In this room were found a large number of books and two overcoats with deep and wide pockets about the waist, suitable for carrying books. The detectives think that they have made an important capture and that the ar rested man has been engaged for long time in offering from several book stores in this city, which he visited frequently and where he had always been trusted by them. Complaint was made to police headquarters Wednes- day night that Miller had been seen to take three books from the store. He declared his innocence last evening when arrested. He was held in $2,0O0 bonds in default of which he remained in the lock up last night.
 The detectives are now working on the case and the above facts were ali that they would give last evening. Mill CT is about thirty years old, five feet four inches in height dark complexion and wears glasses, There is nothing in his appearance to indicate criminal pro pensities, and he has been largely trust ed by those dealing with him for long time. It was stated by the detectives that there were about 5000 books in Millers room at 64 West Divinity. This is probably an overestmate. A gentle man who visited the room two or three weeks ago and who is qualified to judge of books, said last evening that at the time of his visit there were not over 400 or 800 salable books in the room and 600 or 700 books of little value, many of which could not be given away.
 Miller has for several years been en- gagged in buying and selling books. He bought largely from stores in this city and from firms in Boston and other places. He was one of the first man. agers of the book room in the divinity school, which is under the general con- trol of the faculty. On his graduation in '94 he ceased to be manager of the room and his successor took the books remaining unsold to sell and this prac- tice has been followed each year as each senior who ran the room has grad uated. At the present time MT. Miller owns a large part of the books in the room and has from time to time furn- { ished the room with books. The man. ner in which these books were furnish ed being sometimes brought in in large packages or sent direct from publish CTS or book stores makes it improbable that any great anumber, if any of the books, were wrongfully taken. Those i who know Miller and have seen the books in his room ridicule the idea that I he could have stolen all of them, and l they give good reasons for their unbe- 1 lief. Many of the books, they say, are worthless, some that Miller has had in ] his room for years. Others ofsthe books are to large and bulky to be taken away
 unobserved Then there are large sets | of books which it would have been diff 1 ficult to pilfer. One set of Browning s
 works contains seventeen volumes and {, there are history sets of three and l four volumes. each.
 1 MT. Miller has the reputation of be- l ing a great student and has studied in 1 Germany for some time. He is a quiet appearing man and not at all sporty or
 lavish in money matters. It is probable
 that most, if not all the books in his I possession were legitimately obtained.
 His friends say that the suspicious pockets in his overcoat were only such ! as many book agents use for conven-
 fence in carrying books, and that MT.
 Miller is interested in books as a stu"
 dent and as buyer and seller As far as i known the accused has never been or
 dained and has not preached since his ! graduation.