The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-17
MRS. SPRECKELS.
TO PROSECUTE
Renews Charge That Barrett
Took 100000 Jewels I'm
der False Pretenses.
ARRIVES ON CARONIA
Says Husband Is Behind Her
in Determination to See
Case Through to End.


William d. Diamond BID Barrett,
the dashing young army Captain who
eloped more than a year ago with Miss
Alice Drexel, granddaughter Of the
late Anthony J. Drexel of Philadelphia.
and was reported last summer to have
deserted his wife in Europe. was
described yesterday by Mrs. John D..
Spreckels. Jr., of San Francisco, who
has accused him OF the theft Of jewels
valued at 100000. as a cad and an
adventurer. Mrs. Spreckels arrived
here aboard the Cunard line steamship
Caronia and made 1t known that she
was going to press the charges against
Barrett whenever he Is arrested.
Seated In the drawing room OF the
fog bound Caronia at Quarantine. Mrs.
Spreckels, who is little more than a
girl and exceedingly attractive. told a
reporter for THE NEW York HERALD
the details Of her friendship with Bar
rett and of her turning the Jewels
over to him to be insured, In the be-
lief he was an honorable gentleman.
What seems to hurt Mrs. Spreckels
more than the theft of the Jewels.
most of which have been located and
will be returned to her eventually, Is
the fact that Barrett, in whom she had
placed implicit faith, had violated her
confidence.
Met Him Eight Years Ago.
At first reluctan. to discuss the case
at all because OF the conflicting reports
that have appeared In American and
English newspapers, Mrs. Spreckeis IL
nally agreed to tell her story. and told
II in straightforward manner. declar-
ing there was absolutely nothing to
hide. Her only fear was that she might
reveal some details that might hamper
Scotland Yard In Its search for Barrett.
as. above all other things. she proposes
to prosecute him to the full extent of
the law. Mrs. Spreckels said her hus-
band was equally positive in the deci-
sion to see the case through, and even
had gone to the length OF employing an
American detective agency to aid the
British police In the search for the miss
ing army captain.
II first met Barrett in Seattle eight
years ago." Mrs. spreckels said. THAT
was two years before my marriage to
Mr.. Spreckels. He then was the same
debonnaire young man. He spent
money without restraint and travelled
in the best of circles. My friendship
with Barrett at that time. as In the
present unfortunate incident, was
purely social. He passed out OF my
life after q while and / did not see or
hear OF him again until 1911. a West
ern newspaper printed an article last
year. 1 do not recollect the exact date,
about Barrett. 1t stated he had be-
come engaged to n girl prominent So
cially In San Francisco. never have
found out whether. he married that
girl. whose name was not revealed.
"It was at the Sandowne racecourse
in March of this year that next saw
Barrett / had heard of his elopencn.
with Miss Drexel and was surprised to
find him at the races alone. He spoke
to me and questioned him about his
wife. His reply was that they had had n
disagreement and that a divorce or n
separation or something like that could
be expected In the early future. He
was exceedingly friendly to me, and in
vited me to a dinner party the following
evening"
Mrs. Spreckels said that she accepted
the Invitation and met many prominent
persons at the dinner. At this affair
she wore the greater part Of her jeweiry.
including the pearl necklace which she
had purchased at Tiffany's but a short
time before. Barrett. she said. rema rke 4
about the costliness of her Jewels and
averred Il was more or less Of n risk
TO wear them In public. On two or three
occasions that Mrs. Spreckels met Bar
rett afterward he continued to discuss
the Jewels and began to suggest that she
insure them.
Never Saw Jewels Again.
L finally became convinced that he was
light" Mrs. Spreckels continued "apd
l turned the jewels over to him during
the latter part of May. Aside from the
necklace, which cost $4,000 at Tiff
fany's, there was any engs cement ring.
which was worth $4,000. and several
bracelets and other trinklets. The ring
,ontained ~ caret stone. That waa
the last ! saw OF the Jewels.
II saw Barrett several times In the
next few weeks, and each time I asked
him about the jewelry he said II was
at the appraisers. As the weeks rolled
by | became alarmed and demanded he
return them to me forthwith Barrett,
said there was no need OF my being
afraid ms they were as safe ut the ap-
praiscrs as they would be az Tiffany's.
FIe said ne was going TO France on a
short trip and would get the jewelry for
mo upon his return. have not seen nor
heard from Barrett since that day"
Failing TO hear from Barrett. whose
pocketboOk never seemed to be empty