Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-14
ROBBER DEFENDS A FRIEND
oRAToRY sTIRS FEDERAL COURT
ROOM IN GOTHAM.
Arthur Preston Greene Admits That
He Is Thief, But Insists That
He Is No Liar.

NEW YORK, May 14-In dramatic
scene before United States Commissioner
Shields yesterday, Arthur Preston Greene,
self-confessed gem thief. about to be ex-
| tradited to England for a $4,000 robbery
| from the London houses of Tiffany & Co.
and London & Ryder. made an impas-
stoned defense of Charles H Roehrer, ac-
cused of completely in the crime.
Greene also bitterly arraigned the GUS
| toms officials on the ground that they were
thief.
Greene had asked permission to make a
statement and he delivered what he had
to say with such oratorical effect that
every one in the court room was impressed.
Il would rather stand here, self-oon-
fessed thief that l am, telling the truth,
than to be one of those customs officers
in this case telling what they know to be
lies. They are deceiving Mr.. Fox, there,
the counsel for the British government.
merely to make out a case" declared
Greene.
mo Reason Why I Should Lie"
There is no reason why 1 should stand
here and lie to your honor, because 1 ex-
pect to go back and take whatever punish
ment may be melted out to me. But swear
before God to you, Mr. Commissioner, that
that man there, Charles H. Roehrer, was
never with me when entered either store.
According to the affidavits, the English
clerks identify Roehrer as the man who
took the diamond brooch from Tiffany's-
tell you, Mr.. Commissioner, that Roehrer
was never in Tiffany's. I will admit now
and here that I got that brooch also. The
other man described, the fifty-year-old
man, whom the authorities now attempt to
ROehrer. another
mana man now alive in the flesh and
blood, and in London. But l can swear
that this man sitting here was never in
Tiffany's or London & Ryder's.
TT makes no difference whether I went
there to steal or not-the penalty is just as
great in either case-but l wish to tell you
also that did not go to London to steal
Why, I had plenty of money. 1 had $1,000
in my pockets, and on the way over I had
won more than LOCO at bridge and had
won two pools. One Of these pools amount
ed to over 5000.
II had plenty of money, and when 1 first
went to London & Ryder's had no idea
of taking anything. But when l saw the
chance-well, took the gems.
Then 1 visited Tiffanys and there got
that crescent brooch. The pin that the
Scotland Yard men think Arthur Tunnaca
got tell you I stole, and not he. But at
no time was Roehrer in either place. If you
send him back as God Is my judge, you
will send back an innocent man.
LII Au1S1, ouI NoC Liar.
I may be thief, and I am, but 1 am
not a liar, nor would 1 stand here under
oath and lie to you just to make out a
case
"Mr. Fox. the British consul, is doing his
duty and lisa gentleman, and 1 respect him
But he has been grossly deceive by Treas
ury Agent Byrczinski.
mot single gem stolen was taken from
Roehrer. All of the stolen gems-every one
were taken from my person. Roehrer's
jewelry has-all been identified as having
been owned by his wife in this country, and
sworn to by uncOntradicted witnesses, la
dies and gentlemen of unquestionable re-
make out a case he must get some of the
stolen jewelry. of which he had a list, on
both of US. And he now swears that he
found two pins on Roehrer. All of them
came from me, and you will recall, Mr..
Commissioner, that none of the other fed
eral officers will corroborate him. They say
they did not notice just where 1t came from.
1T makes no difference to me what you
do with Roehrer. I never saw him before
that trip. but you are sending back an
innocent man..
Greene sat down and looked at the floor.
There were tears in his eyes and his Shout
ders heaved with emotion. He spoke to no
one for some minutes.
sides and Commissioner Shields reserved
decision.
Greene later said that on~the ship he had
won all the ready cash possessed by Mr..
Fox, the London manager of Tiffany & Co.,
at bridge whist, and later had bought from
Fox for $2-23 the ticket that won the $500
pool on the ships run. He explained that 1t
was In this way that he met Mr. Fox, and
that was the reason for his visiting Tiff
fany's.