New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-25
Diamond Traced to 5th
Ave. Betrays $l,75O
Vault Custodian
COST OF LIVING
TOO HIGH, HIS PLEA
Brothers in $65,OOO Lar
ceny Not Employees of
Hartman Bank

Arthur and Orville Daggett, the
brothers charged with the theft OF Mrs.
f. II. Harriman's $4,000 diamond and
ruby necklace, made complete confes-
sions to District Attorney Swami yes
terday afternoon OF the roles they had
played in the mystery. They told of
how they had gained possession Of the
precious stones, OF how the large dia-
mond and the larger ruby had been
peddled through the saloons and pawn
shops Of lower Manhattan, and finally
sold for a trife, and Of the motives
ttat had led to the theft.
1t is such a story as Emile Gaborisu
would have loved to have given to NJ.
Lecoq to untangle. 1t reveals the play
of passions that govern the lives oil
many men-the fear of debt, love for
home and family. and ambition for
good living.
Daggett's Story Doubted
Arthur Daggett's assertion that he
found the necklace and its tri-stoned
pendant in a booth in the vault at the
Farmers Loan and Trust Company is
the one part of his confession that Is
sneered at by the police.
They believe that Arthur Dagget'
took the gems from Mrs. Hartman S
private vault. But how he did it
when and under what circumstances viii
probably remain a secret for days to
come. The feat itself-that OF loot
ing a safe deposit vault-marks a new
era in the history Of New York Grim
inal practice.
Neither brother is employed by the
Hartman National Bank. as was stated
IN yesterdays Tribune. The officials OF
this bank have never heard of the men
The three stones which composed the
pendant Of Mrs. Harriman's necklace
and which gave it its great value, have
all been found by the police. The mos
valuable one of all, the $4,000 ruby
that is known to jewellers throughout
the country, was discovered in an old
tobacco sack which had been dropped
into the pocket of a pair of Arthur
Daggett's trousers. They and the gem
they hid were hanging in the kitchen
of his Lsrchmont home.
Ruby PeddIed In BarroOm
The second ruby was first offered Cor
sale by Orville in a barroom. but was
finally disposed of by clerk who
worked as a fellow employe with him
in the international Mercantile Ma
rine's Office. Its value is about $4,000
but Orville Dsggett got only $3.50 for
H. he asserts.
The third stone of the S65 900 trio, a
fawless diamond worth $4,000 and
weighing ia carats, Is to-day in the
safe of a Fifth Avenue jeweller. II
was sold by Arthur Daggett 10 Mas
Name. ieweller Of POS West Street
who is under arrest charged with re-
ceiving stolen goods. For it Name
maid $500. Before il reached the Fifth
Avenue shop it passed through the
hands of at least six other dealers. Al
each step in its journey 1t increased in
value. Each new seller cleared between
$3.50 ard $500 on it.
Arthur Daggett, up until the time OF
his arrest late Thursday. was the Gus
todian of the safe deposit vaults in
the Farmers Loan and Trust Company,
At Forty-frst Street and Fifth Avenue.
He is tall, gray hsired-an exact type
Of nan one would expect to be am
ploved by Fifth Avenue bank TO
guard the secrets of its millionaire
Clients. His salary was Sl,750 a year,
and with his wife and two children ne
has been living in a cosey bungalow at
Larchmont
Escorted Necklace TO Vault
To the deposit vault over which
Daggett watched, Mrs. Hartman came
ON Nav "a 70 lock up her $4,000 neck
lace for the summer. She was es-
corted to her private vault by Dag
cett lsuave and businesslike), VINO
Stood respectfully aside while she de-
posited her gems. IL was his custom
al the moment Mrs. Hartman arranged
her treasures inside the vault TO step
obligingly forward and close the door
for her. .,,
This is what he did-ostensibly, at
Iesst-on Nav q. But the police be-
lieve he only went through the no
Continued on psgf 3, column