The Washington herald., 1909-01-09
ELUSIVE RAFFLES
NABBED By POLICE
Plumber Who Looted Man.
siOnS Finally Caught.
COSTLY BOOTY IS RECOVERED
Numerous Theffs at Embassies and
Fashionable Homes Said 90 Have
Been Committed by Him, and Jew
eIry Found at His Home in
BrookIand is Identified.

In John George Kempel, as he calls
himself. the police believe they have IN
der arrest the man who has been rob
blng diplomats. members Of Congress.
men prominent IN army and navy cir
cles, and well-knOwn merchants, for a
period OF several weeks. obtaining thou
sands Of dollars worth OF loot
KempeI was arrested az his temporary
home in BrOOkland. d c.. yesterday al
ternoon by Detectives BurIingame and
Weldon. and is Reid at the First pre-
cinCt station. He says he is tWenty-nine
years old, a plumber, and formerly lived
at 1213 East Biddle street. Baltimore
KempeTs arrest was what is known in
police circles as "a lucky catch" The de-
tecrves went 20 the house in Brookland
10 arrest the plumber for the theft OF a
collie dog from Ger Charles F. Hum
phrey, OF 1s2J Eighteenth street north
west. Kempel was found IN the parlor
reading a book. The detectives say they
found the dog in a rear yard. and then
began q search Of the house
4 Varied Collection.
Jewelry. bric-a-brac. china. glass
ware, ancient coins. and other articles
known 10 have been stolen within the
last few weeks were found IN the house,
the police auege. These robberies have
baf1ed the police. and II kempel had not
been arrested for the theft OF the dog Il
is probable the valUables would not have
been recovered, IL being the plumbers in
tention to leave the city IN a few days
The stolen goods were removed 70 the
central detective Office, in the Municipal
Building. The jeweiTy nearly filed a
large safe IL which unidentified valuables
are stored. Lamps. china. cut glass. and
bulky leather goods were put IN Capt
Robert BOardman's Office. which, for q
time. bore the appearance OF q second
hand shop.
Detectives have been detailed 70 trace
q number OF other mysterious thefts 20
KempeL a detective working on the
case was heard 10 say: -kempel stole
between $500 and $500 worth OF goods
About g week ago eighteen pieces OF
cut glass, forming a part Of the state
banquet service at the British Embassy.
1870 Connecticut avenue northwest dis
appeared. A plumber had been at work
81 the embassy at various times OF the
day. and this man was suspected Ac-
cording 70 the police, the cyss glass was
found IN Kempei's home, and has been
identified by a representative Of the en-
bassy as the stolen property
A plumber called at the home OF Sen
ator H A Du Pout. OF Delaware, I'll
Massachusetts avenue northwest, re-
Gently. Shortly after he left Senator Du
PoIt missed z scarfpin set with Tubies
and pearls which he valued IS an heir
--s--
scarfpin was among the articles a;
KempePs home, the police say
A young man obtained a position In q
leather establishment about q month ago.
He left suddenly after working a week
The clerks disappearance was sinUltane-
Gus with that Of a valuable camping
outfit Several articles belonging 10 the
camping outfit were found among KEN
pel's effects, II Is alleged
Parried One Query.
When asked where he obtained a new
Kodak valued al $50, Kempel said.
''Oh, I found that On HyattsvilIe car
about two months ego"
The police believe the Kodak was stolen
from a Washington store.
Mrs. Adds p. Browne. OF 1888 Wyoming
avenue northwest, was among KempeI
victims. il IS believed. A gold pencil
CUTiOusly engraved and wrought. with
rare stones. and q string OF heavy gold
beads, thought TO belong 10 AIRS Browne
were found IN the house al BrookIand
Mrs. L. L SmOot. OF 20T Wyoming ave
rue northwest. has reported 10 the police
the theft OF valuable jswelry by .
plumber The police are trying 10 tx
the theft on Kempel.
Other articles found in KempeTs posses
sion are a bOudoir set, valued at SO
stolen from r. Harris & Co. jewelers., Al
go Seventh street northwest. and ar
candels5rUm. valued al $50. stolen from
S S Shedd & Bro. Co, AZ Ninth street
northwest
Police officials decline 70 give out the
complete list Of stolen property, on the
grounds that most OF the articles have
not been Identified