The Washington times., 1915-10-05
TINY SPANGLE CLUE
TO $4,000 THEFT
Little Ornament From Evening
Gown May Betray Mcmillan
Gem Robber.
Continued from First Page)

eronddeughters, Mrs. Preston Gibson.
were alone at dinner that evening.
A story from which number OF In
ferences may be drawn Is told today by
Morris II. Aschner. head OF detective
agency, which has been at work on the
mysterious theft. II was he would found
the all-important spangle In the jewel
after was asked to take up the
investigation my first impression was
that It was an outside Job. Before
| had worked on It a day I was salts.
fed that such a theory could be laid
aside. A careful examination Of all
the conditions attending the loss OF the
Jewels convinced me that they were
taken by some one familiar with the
habits Of the family and the place
where the gems were kept at night.
am of the same opinion today.
Police Not Informed.
"I found that although the men
from a well-known Boston and New
York detective agency had been work.
ing on the case for Ave weeks the
local police had not been Informed Of
the robbery. Chief Of Police William H.
Sullivan, Of Manchester. was surprised
when I called on him to get for me n
search warrant from local magis-
trate. which would give me the right
to investigate matters inside the Nc
MILAN home.
IT obtained the warrant and on Sep
tember "A went with Chief sullivan to
Eagles Head. We were met at the
door by John l.. Hall, Mrs. McMillan's
LAWYER from Boston. ! showed him my
warrant, but he refused to recognize
its authority. I explained that mad
not asked for the warrant until my IN
vestigations satisfied me that the roo-
ipo OIL 10 and TINT care
full study Of the physical conditions
| within the house was necessary to
place the guilt for the crime where It
belonged.
Found Spangle In Safe.
"Mr. Hall stood out for some time.
but at last consented to permit Chief
Sullivan to make the search. l had
| already told the chief what wanted
to, find. Within short time he
brought back the knowledge had
come after. He said he had seen
spanRled dress In a closet"
Mr. Ascher took from his pocket
book small piece OF tissue paper.
which he unfolded. Inside was tiny
! spangle. with peariy lustre. Then
he told where he had got IT.
"On the first visit ! made to the
| house." he said, IL was permitted TO
look at the safe where the Jewels had
| Deen kept. lounu TIC sdiS' Shpts
but took the precaution to feel care
fully in the compartment from whicf
the thief had taken the valuables
| When | withdrew my hand dlscoH'
cred sticking to my finger. which wal
slightly moist from perspiration. this
| little spangle. 1t had been lying or
the outside edge OF the compartment
Used Dictogrsph.
Mr. Aschner told Of his examina
| pf plpyphara tho Mcmillan
household. This was In the presence
OF several Witnesses The questions
and answers were taken down by Mrs
Mclean. private secretary to Mrs. Nc
MILAN. and with the later's consent
In order tha: there should be corrobor
ative evidence as to the statements. Mr.
Ascher had secretly installed n dicto
graph in the room. 1Ic sad that he ha
the records in his possession.
AS Is usual In such Investigations.
said Mr.. Aschner. II began with tn
heads of the household, Mrs. Prestoi
Gibson was the first to be questioned
on this occasion.
Ms' shs nssi RsaenS S t2'a Se loss ne sSs %
time as to the guilty person" person PatricI
Murphy, the chauffeur told OF drivinl
Mrs. Vincent and the governess I
Boston and of seeing Preston Gibso,
enter and leave the hotel while he
Murphy. waited Ave hours for hi
mlstresS l examined Mrs Mcmillan
Informally. but she could tell m
nothing that would help me-"
AS showing the difficulty he expert
enced in working on the case MI
Aschner told how on a visit to tn
Mcmillan house. he had been met b.
, Mr.. Hail. who, after he had gon
oyer with the detective all the sien
} Of the Investigation up to that time
, told him to stop work until he receive
further orders. Mr.. Hall said no want
ed to consult with Philip II. Mcmillan
|, MIR, Hell wired Mr.. Mcmillan t
meet him in New York as soon as pos
sDle." said Mr.. Aschncr. Il learne
that the meeting took place Septembe
!. 3. at the Biltmorc Hotel. where, /
room 10. the two gentlemen talked 70
long time. After the conference
, was told to continue my work"
Philip Mcmillan was interviewed !
, Detroit. He said:
1T is my opinion that the robber
at Eagles Head was an inside tot
, My mother believes that the theft wa
perpetratcd while the family was a
dinner. as that was the only time whe
the upstairs rooms were vacant. Tier
is not the slightest clue. But We ar
, convinced that the Jewels were nc
taken by servant. The grounds ar
large. and there are many trees an
bushes which could amply protect
man hiding among them.'
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