The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-22

That grain sack nearly filled with sill
verware. found I'm a pond near the pump
! ing station at Takoma. Nd, on Friday
morning last by Donald McCurley while
angling for fish. will lead TO the identity
/ Of a band Of housebreakers, who have
committed rohberles I'm Washington re-
Gently, is the opinion of detectives who
! investigated the case yesterday.
/ Detectives say there are several phases
which may not be cleared for weeks. and
their reticence when questioned may be
taken as an indication that they regard the
| discovery OF the old sack as Il mystery
which may prove hard nut TO crack
/ The police learned of the finding of the
/ bag In The Washington Herald Of yester-
day morning, and began an investigation.
| Inspector Boardman detailed Detectives
Burlingame and O'Dea 10 the case, and
Detective George Weber was sent from
the Tenth precinct with instructions 10
cooperate with the Central Office men.
Went 10 McCurIcy Home.
The detectives first went TO the home Of
| McCurlcy who is eighteen years old, and
lives with his paIlnts at Woods de. Md
In talking with the boy. the detectives
learned he went 10 the pond about 10
o'clock in the morning provided with hook
and line He threw the line overheard
and Il became entangled. lie tried to pull
Il 60 the surface, and found there was a
heavy load on the other end
Curious TO learn what he had hooked,
the boy worked patiently for nearly half
an hour. and then pulled 20 view the old
sack. muddy and somewhat rotten. The
mouth Of the bag was tied with "a string,
which McCurley cut with knife, lie
opened the sack. and was astonished TO
see the CLEAN OF silver.
He turned the bag upside down. dump
ing its contents on the ground The sill
yer was discolored and appeared 90 have
been I'm the water several days. He ar
ranged the pieces on the ground and
counted seventeen table knives. eight
forks. FIVE tablespoons. one ladle a tea
spoon. a soda spoon a sugar bowl. a milk
pitcher. a tea pot. and a nut dish.
McCurley says he was frightened by
the discovery. and did not know whether
20 notify the police, take the silver home.
or throw IL back IN the pond. He said
he was afraid TO tell the police, and
thought it wrong 20 throw 81 ia the
water. so ne carried Il home.
Detectives took the silver and carried
IL 10 the Tenth precinct station. where
IL was examined. Most OF the articles
were plated. but there were several pieces
Of solid silver OF good quality From
the different designs of the various pieces
IL is believed the collection was gathered
from different places. Each piece bore
scratches and hicks. as though some per
son had tested IL to learn IL fl was solid
or plated.
Some of the Inscriptions.
Several articles bore the name Rogers.
others the inscription. The Meriden
Britannia Company" and others were
plain. ON the teapot was engraved the
name "Sherz" which the police believe
10 be the name Of the person who owned
part OF the silver. on the nut dish was
the name "Rcct0r's' The l8dle was en-
graved The PahSt."
Detectives say the ware was probably
gathered from different places with other
silver. The thieves probably sorted the
ware and threw away that which ap-
peared 10 be plated keeping the solid ar
ticles TO melt The police are trying 20