Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-06-13
MAN WHO ROBBED
STATE BUILDING
HAS BEEN CAUGHT
TwitcheII Notified Of Confess
sion of Thief That Took
Valuable Nuggets From New
Mexico Exhibit at San Diego

/ ESPECIAL oeasssronosscE 10 MORNING JOURNAL
/ Santa Fe, June 12--Col Ralph f.
Twitchell, who expects to so to Albu-
querque tomorrow, was notified today
that the thief who stole $4,000 worth
of gold nuggets and l,500 worth of
precious stones from the mineral eX-
lhibit in the New Mexico building AT San
Diego. recently, has been captured at
Los Angeles and has confessed, al
though he gave a fictitious name It
lis Colonel TWitchell's opinion that his
right name is Martinez and that he Is
a former New Mexican. This is the
account Of the occurrence
After Outwittng all the guards and
detectives employed at the san Diego
exposition grounds and making away
with $4,000 worth of gold nuggets and
gold dust and $500 worth Of gems
from the New Mexico exhibit, Edward
dc Lux, Chat is the name he gaVe)
was arrested at Los Angeles by de-
tectives Bowe and Hurt as he stepped
from a San Diego automobile stage at
Fifth and Hill streets. Most Of the
stolen gold was found in the prison
er's suit case
Tells of Crime.
Arrested without a struggle, De
Lux told the two detectives how he
succeeded in looting the New Mexico
exhibit and how he intended to dis
pose of the gold. Although willing to
talk about his crime, the prisoner in
formed the police that De Lux was
not his true name, and refused to give
any other The police declare he is
attempting to cover career of crime.
De Lux however, states that he is
only shielding his family.
According to the prisoners story
the robbery was the outcome Of
weeks of planning. The getaway
also would have been executed with
out a hitch, he declared, if his money
had held out. When he found HIM !
self running short Of funds, De Lux, |
who Is dressed like a dandy, stated he |
knew he would be captured. He had |
sold the gems to a pawnbroker for |
SO and these, as well as the nuggets, |
have been recovered
For two weeks. De Lux related. he |
went to the exposition grounds every /
day. He never entered by the pay |
gate, but climbed the fence This |
means of entrance was taken by him
To avoid leaving any trace behind him
when he took the gold. He never
grounds and never remained over two
hours at a time about the building
containing the New Mexico exhibit
Knew Movements OF Guards.
"After careful study De Lux
learned that all the guards and de-
Iectives left the room in which the
gold was exhibited at about noon
every day. A single girl according to
him, remained in the building every
day and she remained in the office
He also learned that very few sight
seers entered the building between the
hours Of noon and | p. m.
with only pair of nippers, De
Lux walked into the building shortly
after noon and wrenching the cover
from the glass case protecting the
gold, stuffed the loot into suit case
discovered until nearly an hour later.
Hiding the gold in his room in a
downtown hotel, the thief again took
up his visits to the exposition grounds,
by the pay gate. He went
very day TO the grounds and re-
manned there several hours, walking II
N and out of the building from which
he had taken the gold
up to this point, De Lux stated, his
plans all worked well and then : he
IAN out of money and was unable to
nire an automobile to take him to Los
Angeles but was forced to take "a
ltage. San Diego detectives who had j