The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-07
THEFTS TOOK PLACE
MANY YEARS AGO

/ Deductions after keen study by off,
Gals and attaches of the State library
! led to a theory last, considered the
more plausible. that the theft of valua-
BILE historical documents, dated back
In the eighteenth century. was COM
mitted during the chaos and confusion
prior to 1878.
Their theory is based upon the fact
that no record was kept OF the docu-
ments In the State library until the
wear 1875. when DR. William p. Palmer
secured from the press his FIRST vol
ufne of the calendar of State papers.
the eleventh volume of which was
printed in 1898
State Archiyist Fl. J. Eckenrode
clfngs to the above theory It was he
who received the letter from New York
indicating that there was to lie sale
or documents In that CITY bearing every
evidence of having belonged to the
colony and State Of Virginia close
study WIS given 10 -he catalogue U;1-
closed. ard there seemed every reason
to believe that the papers were OH
eial. ard the lawful properly C the
state of Virginia.
\ Although the mystery alta ched TO
the theft Of the documents from the
library may never be revealed and the
calendar does not list the missing pa
pers. 1t Ia certain that at one time
they were kept within the States ar
chives
To obtain possession OF the valuable
relics. Assistant Attorney General
Richard -. Davis and Librarian Fl. r.
Mcllwaine left Yesterday for New York
to Investigate the eighty-four docu-
ments offered for sale by the Ander-
son Auction Company. Fortteth street
and Madison avenue.
Valuable Papers in Lot
Among the relics in possession of the
New York concern are orders from the
british government to the colonial gov
ernor OF Virginia. letters written in
l7Sl by George Washington to Thomas
Jefferson. private correspondence be-
tween Nathaniel Green and Thomas
Jefferson. one letter from Benedict Ar
mold, SOL TO General Thomas Nell
son. and the letter from Sir Guy Garlic
ton. governor general OF Canada to
BENJAMIN Harrison. governor of Nir
ginia in 1882
The manuscripts are offered for
shie in New York by the heirs Of the
late Benson John Tossing. one OF the
greatest Of historians and the author
of the Pictorial Field Book Of the
CIVIL War in the United States" and
the Pictorial Field Book of the War
Of 1912"
IT Is not believed at the State H.
orary that Mr. Lossdng obtained these
manuscripts frauduiently, other than
buying them from other persons. or
another person. paying a large sum
during his work Of research prepara-
tory to writing the books mentioned.
Losing Famous Historian.
Losing was born in Beekman. y.
y. in 1913, and BECAME editor Of the
"Poughkeepsie Telegraph" in 1898,
and later editor Of the "Poughkeep-
sic Casket." a literary Journal In
1888 he became an editor and illus
traitor in New York on the Family
Magazine" He was a frequent con-
tributor to "Harper's Monthly" and
to the London Art Journal Dozens
of famous histories were produced
by his pen and he was a figure of in
ternations1 Importance in the literary
world as historical writer and an
notator
In his annual message to the Leg
islature that convened In Richmond
In 1897, Gov. Charles r. o Ferrali re-
ferred to the theft OF certain docu-
ments from the State, a portion Of
which were recovered.
He stated In the message:
Tn March last, I received a COM
IT,