Evening star., 1901-05-07
RESTORED TO OWNER.
Property Which Has Been Held by
Police Since December, 20.

The District Commissioners have cleared
up the matter which was brought to their
attention several days ago Involving the
household effects of Miss Mary E. Kelley.
which effects were taken in charge by the
police department in December, 1899, and
have been held ever since. Richard p.
Evans, attorney for Miss Kelley, applied
to the Commissioners for restoration Of
the property without cost or storage
charges. The papers in the case were re
ferred to Major Sylvester. who returned
them today with a report from MIR. James
A. Kemp, the chief, also property clerk Of
the department. who states that if Miss
Kelley will call and prove ownership the
goods Will be turned over to her as re-
quested. Regarding the circumstances by
which the property came into the posses
sion Of the police Mr.. Kemp says:
"On December or Q. 1899. as a sequence
Of a suit of Munck against Rowland.
deputy United States marshal dispossessed
occupants of Coz 9th street northwest and
placed their household effects on the street,
where they remained exposed to the ele-
meuts until late In the afternoon Of De-
cember l.. 1899. when the police were in
structed to place them In the storage ware
rooms of Radcliffe Darr subject to my
order. and a warrant WAS procured for one
Rowland, who, 1t was understood, was the
owner, for permitting them to remain on
a public thoroughf8re Before doing so,
however. the police did their utmost to
get the interested parties to remove the ar
ticles from the street where they consti-
tuted a serious and unsightly obstruction.
Subsequently an attorney called at this
office and stated that he represented Mary
f. Kelley, and that she was the owner Of
the property In question. He was request
ed to notify Miss Kelley to call and prove
ownership and the same would be delivered
to her free Of expense. Two or three
months later another attorney called and
made similar statement. and he was in
formed likewise.
August 8 last II. Randall Webb. esq,
wrote to you respecting this matter, to
which you replied next day asking that Miss
Kelley call and prove ownership and take
charge Of her goods. In September, Miss
Kelley not having called In the interim,
the officers Of the sixth precinct were re-
quested to locate her, as Mr. Webb would
not dfvulge her address. so 1 could see her
In person. In October. while was suffer
ing with an attack OF typhoid fever, an
of1cer met her the streets and brought
her to headquarters. where she informed
Sergeant Gessford that she owned the
goods, but would not take them until she
had an opportunity to see an attorney. She
did not return.
'In November I consulted with the at
torney for the District OF Columbia as to
the propriety OF selling the articles
abandoned property. He advised me to
serve formal notice on her OF my intention
to sell. and have been endeavoring since
that time to find her. but without success.
About the LIST instant. after consultation
with the auditor of the District. decided
to apply to the Commissioners for authori-
ty to sell. IT has been over six months
since Miss Kelley refused to take her prop
erty, and the law requires that 1t shall
remain In my possession for that period un-
claimed before 1t can be sold and the pro-
ceeds deposited in the treasury after de-
Quoting the cost of advertising and expense
Incident to the sale. IL Miss Kelley will
call upon me at once and prove ownership
l Will deliver the furniture ETC. to her
free of expense"