New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-31
SAY PACKER STOLE MRS.
J. P. M0RCAN'S RING
Antique Setting of Rubies and
Diamonds Arrived in 1907
on the COrOnia.
PRISONER HAS ONE LIKE IT
Appraiser Bird Causes Arrest of
Employe Detectives Watched
for Weeks - Theft of
$4,000 Specific Charge.

The loss of valuable antique ring i'm
ported by Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan in
the fall of 1907 was disclosed yesterday
through the arrest Of James Prin. gov
ernment packer employed in the APP
praisers Stores. who was charged with
systematical looting of many Of the
packages intrusted to him for opening.
The ring. valuable because Of it's beau
tiful antique setting and for sentimental
reasons was sent to this country on the
steamer Caronia. arriving on OCTOBER TO-
1907. The package was delivered at the
Appraisers Stores. but the ring had dis
appeared. and the most diligent search
on the part of officials failed to disclose
the least trace of it. The suspicion was
that the ring had disappeared in the
transit from Europe, and there was no
thought that the theft could have oc-
CURED in the Appraisers Stores.
A diamond and ruby ring answering
exactly the description of the one lost
ty Mrs. Morgan was found yesterday IN
the possession Of Prin. Mr.. Morgan was
notified Immediately and was requested
to examine the ring.
Many importers Complained.
Prin's arrest was the result OF an In
vestigation started by Francis w. Bird.
Appraiser of the Port. soon after he as
sumed office, early in May. The COM
plants of importers that cases of goods
that passed through the Appraisers
Stores had been looted were piling high,
and Mr.. Bird refused to accept the eX-
planation that the plundering was being
done on steamers or by truckmen while
the goods were in delivery to the govern
ment stores.
Suspicion was finally directed toward
Prin, who frequently reported that he
had found goods missing in cases he
opened. When with the frequent reports
on missing merchandise made by Prln
there came information that the packer
appeared to be living above his means.
and maintained a rather expensive
establishment at No. 80 Watts street
Mr.. Bird ordered a close watch TO be
kept on Prin.
Government detectives were put on
Prin's trail, and for weeks watched
closely every move he made. They as
serted that they found evidence show
ing a continued and systematic looting
of imported packages extending over
many years.
Packer Ressts Arrest.
Yesterday Special Agents Craft and
DYER of the Department Of Justice ar
rested Prin. Taken completely by sur
prise. the man nevertheless resisted ar
rest. but was quickly overpowered and
taken 10 the Federal Building.
The specific charge upon which Prin
W arraigned before Commissioners
Alexander was that OF stealing mer-
chandise valued at $1,000. Carl L.
Whitney. Assistant United States At
torney. asked that the prisoner be held
in 5000 bail, as the thefts thus far dis
closed had aggregated a very large sum.
Commissioner Alexander fixed bail at
$1,000. and Prin was taken to the
Tombs.
Appraiser Bro sald yesterday lldl IL
had been impossible TO tabulate all the
articles and their value the loss Of
which might be charged against Prin.
A lot Of unusually fine Italian laces and
shawls had been found in the possession
of the prisoner. he said, but they had
not been appraised as yet Mrs. Nor
gan's ring was perhaps the most valu-
able piece Prin was suspected Of steal
to- iyI