New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-27
SAYS HE OFFERED To RESIGN.


SOME OF THE BIG SEIZURES MADE BY
THEOBALD-" COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIM.
William II. TheobaId in an interview last night.
hts home said
II was coming uptown this evening when friend
Of mine. who the train handed an
evening paper which printed report from Wash
irgtor that / had been dismissed by the Treasury
Department II was the first l had heard Of IT,.
and ! do not 70 discuss any details of my po-
sition until I hear something officially. Two weeks
after my return from Europe about August Is I
heard from Of my friends in Washington that
/ not well liked I'm the Treasury Department
/ sought an interview with Collector Stranahan.
and in the presence Of II. c. Stewart his private
secretary. told him what I had heard, and that II
he would call in his stenographer to draw up my
resignation 7 would sign It. Collector Stranahan
told me he did not want me TO resign. hut wanted
me 10 go right ahead with my duties. ! am glad
] took what I considered manly course On Fri
day morning I will report at the Custom House,
and II ! receive my notice of dismissal 7 shall he
a position to talk
Some Of the seizures in which Theobald has fig
ured have been Of sensational character. and at
tracted much comment. He is the man who
seized Phyllis Dodge's diamonds when she arrived
on the ST. Paul on June 25 1899. In that case it
was alleged that Theobald learned in Paris that
Louis Wormser had presented the Jewels TO her
while abroad, and that she bringing them
this country. Mrs. Dodges trunks also con-
tained a large quantity OF dress goods
quarrel grew out of the seizure of Mrs. R A.
Abbey's trunks October /. 1900 between Theo-
bald and Colonel c. II. Traitteur a special agent
1t said that the difference was settled by
Collector Bidwell In favor OF Colonel Traitteur.
In 1900 an investigation made into the opera
tions OF Theobald by Secret Service agents
julius ). Stern, of the Bamherger- Stern Com
pany, No. l35 F1fth-ave, made a complaint in De
cember, 1900 against Theobad, when his trunks
seized.
Theobald went to the Judson apartment house
No. 50 Washington Square South, last January and
made a seizure Of Jewels worth $4,000 from Mr..
and Mrs. Constance Leteune.
recent Ease in which he figured is that of Mrs.
Dulles. of Philadelphia He seized necklace that
she wore around her neck and silk shirt waist
At the hearing In the effort was made to
prove that Theobald had not acted honestly in
making the seizure, and that he had carried the
necklace away from the pier in his pocket Theo-
bald said afterward that he had taken the gems
for safe keeping, and did not have take them
to the Appraisers Stores.
For his services in the case of Max j. Lasar who
brought in lot of valuable diamonds, which were
seized by the customs officials. Theobad received A
large sum. The governments contention that the
stones had been smuggled sustained by the
courts. The diamonds thereupon sold. and
had been paid the sale netted the government
$27. 600. Theobald put in claim for 30 per cent of
this amount, the maximum percentage allowed by
the law. He received total of $9.i
The agents salary is only S.. but he has had a
large income from percentages in seizures He
lives in handsomely furnished house at No. 22I
West One-hundred- d-twenty- -eighth-st.