The Washington herald., 1907-01-09
MUSEUM IS ROBBED
Valuable Specimens Taken
from Nationals Cabinets.
OFFICERS ARREST SUSPECT
Claim To Have Found Some of the
Missing Articles i'm the Possession
Worked in Gold and Diamond
Mines OF south Africa

One Of the most remarkable cases re-
corded in the annals Of the detective Of
flee was revealed when Edwin Letch-
mere was arrested, about o'clock yester-
day afternoon, on the charge of stealing
la quantity of precious minerals and ore
exhibits. including several diamond crys-
tails and bits of platinum, from the Ma
tional Museum
Word was received at detective head
quarters Monday afternoon, from W. G.
Ravenel, administrator, stating that a
quantity Of the exhibits had been stolen
within the last few days from the divi-
sion of the museum devoted TO geology.
The list Of the missing articles comprised
the following: one diamond crystal, five
siXteenths OF an inch in diameter. octag-
onal in shape. containing many flaws,
four small diamond crystals. ranging from
0ne-eighth 20 one-fourth inch in diameter,
containing only a few flaws. and one piece
Of carbonado crystal about one-fOurth
inch in diameter None Of the specimens
was without flaws, and they were not suit
able for gems because of their cloudy ap-
pearance. From another case there were
missed thirteen gold coins. ranging from
81 to $21 pieces, and having a face value Of
about Sl25, a small bar OF silver in the
rough state. several pieces Of platinum
the size Of pea. valued ri about 50, and
a ouantity Of gold dust valued at about SD
Saw Suspicious Stranger.
Capt Boardman assigned Detectives
MacNamee. Helan, Pratt and Howlel5 .
the case The detectives went 70 the
Museum and learned from Charles z.
Washington. q c0lored man employed as
a janit0r. that he had seen q man near
the cabinets and was attracted by his
suspicious actions. He Immediately went
20 report the matter, but on returning
found that he had not been quick enough.
the case having been robbed in his abb
sence The door Of the cabinet had been
forced with some sharp instrument and
several exhibits stolen. The loss put the
attendants on the lookout and iuvestiga-
tiou showed that several other cabinets
had been looted and quantity of coins
and gold dust were missing.
From the description given by the at
tendaut OF the man who was thought TO
have committed the theft. the detectives
located the man iu one of the prominent
hotels on iHquiring at the Office, Il was
found that the mas was registered under
the name OF r. r. Brown, and claimed %
have come from Kansas. The man was
watched closely. and yesterday morning
me was followed % the Museum Of the
the p0st-ofHce. and from there to the
Capitol grounds. where. as he was about
10 go up the west steps. he was told that
he was wanted at the headquarters.
Appeared TO BE Astonished.
The man appeared 20 be very much as
tonished at the time. and repeatedly pro-
tested that he was innocent on reach
ing headquarters he ceased his protest
ing and talked very quietly 10 the officials
There he gave the name of Edwin Letch-
mere, and said that he was a mining
engineer by profession. on being search
ed 10 was found that he had the platinum
bits and one of the small diamond speci-
mems on his person. Besides these there
were some pawn tickets from local
brokers' which showed that he had dis
posed Of the remainder Of the crystals
and the silver bar in this way.
The pawnshops We're then visited, and
the remaining diamond specimens were
recovered. Although the police are con-
tident that he was responsible for the
theft of the gold dust and coins. they
were unable to get any trace of them.
The collection was taken to the mu-
scum. where &c was examined by the
chemists and geoloEists and identified. In
the case Of the crystals they were sub
mitted 20 a chemical test before the au-
thorities in charge could positively say
that they were the missing exhibits The
value OF the crystals is estimated at $50
Although The greater part Of the gold
coins were only worth little over their
face value. there was a s. piece among
them which was made from North Caro-
lima gold. and has a great value. The sill
Yer bar was I'm the rough state in which
IL had been turned out from one of the
Western smelling companies. and was
worth about So
College Bred Man.
When questioned at the First precinct
station last night, Letchmere said that
he was a native of this country. having
been born I'm California twenty-five years
ago. He claims to have been educated
at the University Of California. at Leland
Stanford University, and at an English
school NJ ST Adams England He has a
decidedly English accent and at frst leads
one 10 believe that he is an Englishman
At the time of his arrest he was dressed
very well and had a smart appearance
When questioned about his knowledge OF
mining. he replied that ne had been in
South Africa and had worked in both
diamond and gold mines. He made no
reply when questioned about the coins
and gold dust but inferred that ne knew
of their whereabouts.
The police believe that the man is an
old hand at the business and had him
photographed previous 10 sending cir
cular containing his description to the
various police authorities of the chief
cities of the country requesting any in
formation which they might have con
cerning his identity. From the way in
which he has acted since his arrest. they
believe that this Is not the first time the
man has been in dUrauce vile.
HARVESTER TRUST WINS.
Ohio Court DiSmiSses Case. Despite