Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-27
G|VESSTRANGE STORY
Of CHECKERED CAREER
American Arrested in London
on Theft Charge Tells of
Big Diamond Deals.
'oreign Correspondence OF The Star.


LONDON. January IS, 1918.
Behind commonplace charge of theft
heard before Allan Lawrie at London
sessions there was an extraordinary
story of a mans past. The prisoner, a
well educated man. giving the name Of
Arthur Braun, thirty-five years old.
was sentenced to three years penal
servitude and subsequent deportation
to America for having stolen an over
coat-value. $2.5O-belonging to Thomas
Ambrose Townsend. a clerk employed
at a bookstall at Euston station.
On going into the witness box Will
liams put forward a remarkable de-
Tense. He prefaced his remarks by
handing in a large bundle of docu-
ments and explaining that among those
of leading London newspapers and
others when he was negotiating to go
out to the Balkans war corre-
spOndent.
What are these papers put In lot:
asked Mr.. Lawrie.
To Take War Pictures.
ITO show whether it was feasible or
possible that / would commit SO con-
temptible a crime as to rob boy of
his $3.50 overcoat when my own cost
$31 80" replied the prisoner.
He added that he had arranged with
a picture film company to receive SloO
a. week for taking photographs at the
war. Other letters referred. he SAID.
to a company representing leading Lon
don firms whose names are synonymous
with incorruptibility and integrity,
and also a diamond syndicate in south
Africa with which he was connected as
a pa rtner Williams further claimed to
have been connected with Leading
financial institution up to 1898. and
again a continuity of that connection
down to last year.
I'm 1902 warrants were issued IN South
Africa against we'll known diamond
magnate and myself for buying diamonds
without a license he added. l was ad-
mitted to bail in $4,000, and the diamond
magnate in $4,000. He escaped and for
feited his bail bonds. l faced the music,
and was sentenced to seven years inn
prisOnment with hard labor. The Ameri-
can governmental am an American-took
the matter up, and it was appealed to
every court in the country. but unfortu-
nately there was no criminal appeal eX-
cept on certain points / was sent away
an invalid for life, to die. but l did not
die / escaped. and, after travelling 600
miles. reached England. fugitive from
justice.
Represented Wealthy Firm.
l afterward represented one of the larg
est firms in the world. with a capital Of
one hundred millions. l was connected
also with branch establishment in Chan
Gerry lane, when 1 was arrested for having
escaped from prison in South Africa. and
for buying $4,000 worth of diamonds.
The ambassador kindly gave me his pro-
lection, but finally my appeal against eX-
failed before the lord chief JUS
tice. / went back. My friends in the
African parliament brought about an in
quiry, and the chief of the detective de-
partment, whom l had previously i'm
pugned. was called upon on the question
of his motives.
His answer was to blow his brains out.
and 1 was released and granted a free
pardon for crime l had never done.
after serving one year and eight months;
but 1 was sentenced to two years i'm
prisonment because / would not tell who
the officers were who were involved at
the time of my escape. and who did not
give warning OF my escape until forty
eight hours afterward. After my sem
tence / returned to this country and re-
business, forming company
with my partner in South Africa"