New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-05

FIND S350,0OO PLUMBER
Chicago Police Unearth Rich
Booty After Arrest.
PRISONER EDUCATED FOOL,
Physician Says Alleged Robber
of Wealthy Homes Was
Ruined by Novels.

NhlCaSo. Aug AFTER twenty-four
hours OF work the police tonight com.
pieted an inventory of the art treasures,
Drlc-a-brac, iewelry, silver plate and
other articles said to have been stolen
by Jacob f. Guthrie, alleged society
burglar and forger. now under arrest, and
announced that the goods recovered are
estimated to be worth $4,000.
Last night, after a partial examination
OF the harm and the room In storage
warehouse which Guthrie used to hide a
portion OF the articles stolen, the police rs.
timated the value OF the property found az
SlSlVO. This was increased &c s350,OoO when
half dozen additional trunks and chests
filled with Jewelry, laces and bric-a-brac
were discovered. Much of the stolen
property was found I'm Guthries home.
where he lived> with his mother, sister
and brother, who is Chicago policeman.
Among the articles discovered was
large number of costly imported fans in
laid with pearl. The handles were ivory,
ornamented with gold.
Guthrie declares that he never sold one
article that he stole. and that he obtained
all the money he needed by committing
forgery. He says he never used intoxicat-
ing llquOr nor tobacco.
In one OF the trunks was found the
bank book Of Mrs. otto Young, one OF
Chicago's wealthiest women. The balance
to her credit In the bank was $4,000, but
checks In her name.
Besides the money, Guthrie is said 10
have on deposit In Chicago banks, he is
said to own $50 shares Of United States
Steel common stock.
Further investigation Of the young
mans history reveals that after Gradual
ing in a course in electrical engineering
at g. Chicago technical institute he OBJ
tanned employment with an electric COM
pany. Later he WAS employed In the nu-
nicipal laboratory. Subsequently he was
appointed an instructor in electrical eng-
neering at one of the public high schools.
Guthrie is tweRty-siX years old. feet
In height and weighs 200 pounds. He Is
poorly dressed, although when arrested
he had more than $4,000 deposited TO his
credit in Chicago banks.
T.
musician for the Guthrie family for q
number OF years. talked with the prisoner
an hour to-day and later conferred with
CAPTAIN Halpin, Of the detective bureau.
Or. Schwab said
Guthrie is an educated fool, In ms
opnion / have known him since child
hood He has always been a bookworn.
He read detective and problem novels In
cessantly. The effect Of this has been to
create a peculiar mental condition. He
has all the characteristics OF a confirmed
kleptomaniac. believe he has periods
when he is mentally irresponsible. II Is
ny intention To have an alienist examine
him in a few days"
Chief Of Detectives Halpin said:
Beyond doubt, Guthrie mas obtained
the most valuable collection Of stolen
articles ] ever saw in all my connection
with the Chicago Police Department
There Is an endless list OF all kinds of
jewelry, silverware. brie-a-brac and ART
treasures. There are diamonds ruoes.
sapphlres. emeralds and pearls worth
thousands of dollars.
All his hurglar!es We're committed N
the homes of the city's wealthiest CHI
zens. lie read the society column in the
newspapers. and when he noticed that
some wealthy woman had left home Cor
few days he would break into the MOUSE
and steal the most valuable articles lie
could find
After talking with DR.. Sehwsb, Guthrie
said:
Maybe [ am insane. ! feel that way
sometimes.
Thousands OF dollars worth OF the
stolen articles We're identified during the
day by society women who called at cen-
trail station.