The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-08
MONEY And JEWELS GONE
Mrs. Olivia C. Starring the Victim
of a Daring Robbery.

Property Valued at More Thnn Eight
Thousand Dollars TaISen-No Clue
Left by the 1hicf-The Police Ar
rest Friend of the Family
The home of Mrs Olivia c. Starring,
1865 Massachusetts Avenue northwest,
was entered yesterday afternoon about
O'Clock and jewels worth over 5000, be
sides a large sum of money, were taken.
None of the missing property has been
recovered. and while the detectives have
arrested Lewis Mortimer Monroe on sus-
plcion. a solution of the mystery con
cerning the disappearance Of the jew
elry and money appear distant. A list
and description Of all the stolen valuables
was taken by the police. and win this
morning be sent out TO various cities and
towns.
The story of the robbery. one of the
largest in this city for year. leads TO
the belief that somebody familiar with the
arrangements of the Starring residence,
especially as to the location of diamonds
and other valuables, was a party to the
theft With she exception of single
ROOM used as bedroom by Mrs. Star
ring. and Immediately adjoining the IL
brary on the third floor. there seems to
have been no signs of the entry OF Il
thief. In this bedroom the work of the
intruder was easily accomplished, for ap-
parently all the diamonds, jewclry, and
other property taken was contained in
secretary. to which access was obtained
by means of a jimmy or other sharp in
strument. The lid of the secretary was
forced the valuables stolen. and the thief
made his escape. all within twenty min
utes, and without leaving a clue to his
identity.
According to Mrs. Starring, who was out
riding with 4 friend for half an hour
yesterday afternoon, the robbery must
have been committed about O'Clock, dur
ing her absence from home. Mrs. Starr
Ing is certain the valuables missing were
in the secretary shortly prior to her leav-
ing The house for the ride. When she
returned to the houss. Ernest Tyler,
negro butler who has been in the employ
of Mrs. Starring about year, told her
of the robbery. Tyler happened to be
passing the door of the room occupied
by Mrs. Starring shortly after she went
out, and was surprised to notice that the
lid of her secretary had been broken open.
He went into the room and soon found
everything in the secretary in confusion.
While Tyler was estgaged in examining
the room. Mrs. Starring returned, and
Sne lOSt no time IN SeGQlnS INle1 ana
another servant for the police.
News of the robbery reached headQuar-
ters early in the evening and Inspector
Boardman. together with Detectives He
Ian and McNamee, went to the home of
Mrs. Starring to investigate. Inspector
Boardnlan had a long talk with Mrs.
Starring, after which list of the missing
property was carefully prepared. Exam
tnaf.on of the house showed that a rear
basement window was open, through
which the thief may possibly have en-
tered, but the theory of the detectives
Is than an entrance was Effected by
means of one of the doors
The police think that Monroe, who is
said to be friend of Mrs. Starring, and
whose home is in New York City, may
know something about the robbery. The
arrest was made after the detectives had
visited the residence, and because or
certain alleged suspicious circumstances
After being searched at Headquarters,
the prisoner was locked up at the Fourth
precinct station 1t is understood he has
been in this city only week and has
visited Mrs. Starring and other friends
here.
Ernest Tyler, the negro butler. went to
Headquarters with the detectives last
night He said he discovered the robbery
before Mrs. Starring returned home from
a carriage ride to the Zoo. There was
another servant In the house. woman.
it is said. but apparently she knows moth
ing about the robbery.
In the rear of the residence there is an
alley on which the window found open
has an outlet Apparently nc one living
in the alley saw anything suspicious yes
ter1ay for the detectives questioned sew
eral persons known to have been in the
court and could ind no one who saw any
body enter or leave the Starring home on
the alley side.
1t was learned last night that Mrs. Star
ring had been packing up many house
hold goods, with a view of leaving the
pareutly known TO the thief, for no room
in the house was visited other than that
in which were the diamonds and jeI Try
About the floor Of this room, especially
near the secretary. letters were scattered,
some torn in bits. while chair was over
turned, and heavy rug was badly disar-
ranged. Ernest Tyler, the butler, told the
police that he heard no noise upstairs,
and would not have discovered the rob
berry had IL not been for an errand which
compelled him to pass through the hall
way.
The list of stolen articles. as prepared
by the police, is as follows: One gold
medallion. set with diamonds and sap
rhires. valued at 81, 900: one gold dagger,
and diamond cross. valued at $500; one
pair diamond earrings darge), valued at
5000; one lorgnette, valued at so; one
gold bracelet, diamond set, valued at 500;
one gold chain bracelet, together with
gold watch, valued at 500; gold necklace
and gold earrings, valued at sie0; pearl
cross. diamond set, valued at 800; about
500 cash. in $40. so and IS notes.
Several robi1eries haze occurred at the
Starring residence. ..Irs. Starring has re-
sided here. with the exception of time
spent in travelling. for many years. She
has visited India, where she entered a
temple of the Hindoos, never seen by a
woman before. She is well known in Eu-
rope especially IN Paris. Several years
ago Mrs. Starring caused the arrest of
young Russian On a charge of the
theft of bonds from her
The whereabouts - Mrs. Starrings hus-
band. General Starring. is not known and
friends Of the family refuse to state
whether or not he still lives. IL Is un-
derstood that Mrs. Starring has been liv-
ing alone for some time past. and it is
thought she has secured a legal separa-
tiOn.