The Washington herald., 1907-08-26

A man answering in every detail the
description OF James Arthur Kemp, late
property clerk Of the District police de-
partment, who absconded July 5. leaving
a shortage estimated at $500. has been
captured at Logan. w. "a. Detective
MacNamee left last night at 11:3l or that
town, to identify the prisoner If possible.
Mai. sylvester received a telegram at
police headquarters about o'clock yes
terday afternoon, telling Of the arrest.
The message was signed by Albert Moore.
chief Of police in Logan. who stated posi-
lively that James Arthur Kemp, alias J.
W. Henderson. five feet six inches tall.
weight 80 pounds, saIlow complexion,
light brown hair chin on top and back Of
head. light blue eyes. and dimple on the
end OF his chin, also a scar on the back
of his left thumb. had been arrested. and
was being held in that city for the Wash
ington authorities.
This minute description tallies perfect
ly with that Of the missing official, and
it is the opinion at police headquarters
that at last ]. Arthur Kemp has been
captured.
Capt. BOardman Confident.
So sure are the police here of this.
that Capt. Boardman said last night;
We are almost positive that the po-
lice in Logan have landed the man We
are looking for; Of course we have only
the telegram 70 go by. but that seems
In itself convincing. Detectives MacNa-
NEE will bring Kemp here If the prison
er turns out 10 be he"
Kemp has successfully eluded the police
for nearly two months. Many reports
have been received at headquarters that
he had been located or seen in various
vicinities. No clew OF Importance devel-
oped. however. until yesterday. Thou
sands Of circulars bearing Kemp's de-
scription have been distributed an over
the world. and every effort made TO cap
ture him.
James Arthur Kemp was a man high
in the esteem OF all who knew him, sup
posediy Of regular habits. and uudoubted
integrity It was a great surprise 10
those who knew him when he disap-
peared. leaving a big shortage IN his
accounts
Logan, ". Va. is a small mining town
in the southwestern part Of the state
secluded IN the mountains. There. among
strangers and rough miners. Kemp prob
ably hoped 20 remain undiscovered.
Family Is Informed.
isn't that dreadful" said Mrs. Indiana
Kemp. mother Of the absconder. when
told the news by a Washington Herald
reporter last night. we were just say
ing to-day We hoped that he would never
be caught and never be brought back
here.
These sentiments were echoed by Mrs
Allen and Miss Kemp. his two sisters.
who live at the mothers home at 81
Tenth street northeast. They asked many
eager questions regarding the capture
but in the same breath invariably said
they could not believe il
DO you know positively that it IS he, "
asked Miss Kemp? Just think Of the
horror of il ALL"
Mrs. Kemp. who carries well her age.
was eager to learn of her son, but did
not know what to think or to say.
He was always a good boy" she said.
and I can hardly believe
that he would do anything wrong. He
was here 10 see me the night before he
went away. and was just the same as
usual He talked to me for hours. and
kissed me as usual when he left I did
not think he was so near home. some
how or other believed that he was many
miles away, way to the other end Of the
earth. but perhaps he had been. and was
coming back home TO see me- When will
he get here? They have told me he would
be able to get out on bail. Is that SO?
Do you think I could see him?"
Anxious TO See Him.
Mrs. Allen also asked a number of
questions. She said that she was anxious
to see Arthur, and would do so.
rs there no way you can tell US posi-
lively just when will he arrive here? Do
you know that? They will take him to
police headquarters first. viii they not.
and we can see him there?'
At this juncture. Mrs Aliens boy,
little lad about ten years old. who mad
been listening unseen. asked If he had
not better run across the street, and tell
Mrs Wrenn. who is Kemp's other sister.
The entire family is anxiously awaiting
definite news They expressed the opin-
ion that Arthur was IN At of temporary
insanity when he ran away. He had been
stricken with sunstroke, when he was a
boy, they said. and when q young man
had been forced TO abandon the law as
Profession, owing to the fact that his
health and nerves broke under the strain
of study.
Revealed by widows Visit.
Kemp's defalcation was not made
known until July 3. although Mai. syl-
vester was aware of the shortage sew
eral days before. On Wednesday. July
3. Maj Sylvester became acquainted
with the fact through a visit from Mrs.
b. Flynn, widow of Policeman Flynn,
who called on the head Of the police de-
partment and told him that she had not
received the money due her upon the
death Of her husband some months be-
fore. She said that Kemp had made an
to meet her and pay her the
money. but that he had failed to keep
the appointment.
Kemp was not in his office when Mai.
Sylvester sent for him, and the official
Continued on Page 3, Column 4.