The Washington herald., 1907-12-19
GEM SUSPECT HELD
Jewels Sent to New Willard
Not Yet Recovered.
NEGRO PORTER IS ARRESTED
James a. Cheney, Diamond Expert,
Has Been Well known Guest of
H'-teI for Several Years, and Has
Frequently Placed 100000 Worth
of ValuabIes in Clerks Hands.

New York, Dec. lS.-Central Office de-
teetives arrested Richard Gordon, a negro
porter employed by the United States Ex-
press Company. late tonight, on the sus-
picion that he may know something about
the theft Of the $4,000 worth Of jewels
from the company. which were shipped
by Alfred H. Smith & Co.. diamond mer-
chants. OF 40 Fifth avenue. TO James A.
Cheney. at the New Willard, in Washing
ton, last Thursday.
say He Rode on Wagon.
Maxwell Miller. the helper on the
wagon from which it is believed the
package containing the jewels was stolen.
told the central Office detectives. and
Joseph Mayhem. the express company S
special agent. that Gordon had ridden on
the wagon from the company's branch
Office. at : East Thirty-ninth street
where the jewels had been received by
the company-over as far as Eighth ave
nue..
The wagon was on its way 10 the Jer-
sey Central West Twenty-third street
ferry,
Commissioner Blngham's men, as soon
as they heard this, called Gordon and all
the other employees VINO had had any
thing to do with the package to a room
in the express company's building. in
Rector street. and examined them.
Gordon denied that he had ridden on
the wagon.
Gordon was employed in the branch
Office, and he was, so the detectives say,
in a position TO overhear any remark
that might be made in regard to the
value of the package Apparently. the
only ground on which the detectives ar
rested Gordon was the contradictory
statements made by him and the driver
helper.
Legal Tangle Likely.
| 1t is likely that there Will be a legal
mix-up before. the case is settled. Officers
of the company contend that the jewelry
firm of Alfred H Smith & Co. which
owned the jewels cannot possibly hold
them for more than s.. .O0O which was the
1 Ndlut ucCldltu pt tue HILl. ana IL is
doubtful. in view of the amendment to
| the interstate commerce law, requiring
that the value be correctly stated, il the
company can be held for that amount.
The iewelry, the owners say. was fully
insured by a London company. 1t was
said to-day that the jewels were to have
been used for display by the firms rep
resentative, Mr.. Cheney, in Washington
Employees and patrons OF the New Will
lard are well acquainted with Mr.. Cheney
who has made the hotel his headquarters
for a number Of years.
When Mr.. Cheney was asked for yes
terday by a reporter for The Washington
Herald. the clerks at the desks said that
the jewel expert. after worrying all day
Friday and Saturday over the nonreceipt
Of the package of gems. had gone to New
York TO make an investigation.
Mr.. Cheney has frequently entrusted
jewelry worth $4,000 to the clerks al
the hotel. and their safes. He is vel
known in Washington. and Mrs r c
Plat was one of his customers to {
large amount. Mr.. Cheney is so unfor
tunate as 10 be obliged to walk with {
limp, and st times has employed a Pin
kerton detective to escort him and III,
precious stones he carried.