The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-06-28
KENTUCKY BOY
ADMITS THEFT
Of$4S, 000FromBattle
Georgia.
SPENT MONEY LAVSHLY
While in New York and
Atlanta, Where He Set
EN- Staring.
is NATIVE OF RUssELLvILLE

Buffalo, n. z, June 22.-Ed-
ward Valentine Lee, the paymaster's
clerk who, when arrested in this
city, had in his possession \ little
more than half of the $4,000 he is
alleged to have taken from the safe
of the battleship Georgia, in Havana
harbor, February IL, was taken be-
fore United States Commissioner
Heating to-day and charged with
embezzlement. He admitted his
guilt, waived examination and was
held for grand jury indictment.
Before his arraignment Lee told
Government officers that he had
embezzled $4,000 some time before
his disappearance from the Georgia,
and had doctored the books. Then,
learning that an inspector was on
tour, he took all the cash from the
paymaster's safe and went to Allan
ia. He formerly was of Russellville,
Ky.
The Department of Justice and
the Navy Department are wrestling
with the problem of procedure in
the case. Lee was paymaster's
clerk on the warship. and it is a
question whether he should be tried
by court-martial or turned over to
the civil authorities.
Had Gala Time on Money
He Stole.
New York, June 23.-Edward
Valentine Lee, who was arrested at
Buffalo yesterday for the theft of
$4S,O last February from the pay
masters safe on the battleship Geor-
gia, has had a gala time on the
money he stole from the United
States Government. A month or so
after he committed the theft, Lee,
posing as a millionaire wheat OPP
orator under the name of A. w.
Carmichael, created a great deal of
excitement in New York and Allan
ia, where he was looked upon as
another Money Spending Angel"
In Atlanta he opened the eyes OF the
people when he entered a tailoring
establishment and ordered clothing
to the amount of 5000, and he was
equally as free with cash when tip
ping hotel employees, chauffeurs,
etc.
When Lee came to New York he
was heralded beforehand on account
of his doings in Atlanta, and he
proved to be more of a spender here
than there He brought with him a
large touring car and private
chauffeur. He stopped at the Hol-
land House, and the pages and 9th
err employees of the hotel were great
ly enriched by his visit TO the me-
tropolis. After spending few
days here he left, saying he was 60
ing TO Europe. and he dropped out |
of sight so suddenly that it was
generally understood at the time
that he had sailed.
Is y Native OF Russellyil'e.
Russellville. Ky, June 23.-Ed- +
ward Valentine Lee who, it is re- /.
ported, has been arrested in Buffalo,
N. Y, on the charge of embezzle- |
ment, is a native of Russellville, !
and is the son of a widow. His ]
connections are of the best
and his social standing was the !
highest. His business career began
here a few years ago when he was
made a bookkeeper in one of the
local banks. T.
"HellO" Girl Weds Him.
Buffalo, n. Y. June 24.-Ed-
ward Valentine Lee, the pay clerk,
who was arrested here on Wednes-
day on the charge of having embez-
zled $4,000 from the battleship Il,
Georgia, in Havana last February. +
was taken from the jail this morn
Ing under guard of a Federal Mar /
shall to the city hall. where he Sc
cured marriage license. The
prospective bride accompanied him.
She gave her name as Audrey F.
Kelsey, 22 years old. of Washing
ton. He gave HIS age as 25 years
and his home as Russellville, Ky.
The wedding took place at Trim I
Ity church in the presence of the
United States Marshal, two secret