Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-07-17
STOLEN PLATINUM
CAN Be IDENTIFIED
Safeguards Taken to Prevent
Many TheftS of Pre-
ci0uS Metal.

Platinum thefts. becoming more nu-
merous in the United States. have leo
to a systematic plan for safeguard
ing the all-too-small supply in the
hands of government and Commercial
institutions. The precious metal Is
necessary for the manufacture of GER
tain explosives in which various acids
are used. During the war it was
found the existing supply hardly met
the demand. and steps to conserve II
were begun.
Chemists have urged that federal
statute be enacted making the crime
of platinum theft very serious one
and punishable by heavy fines and
imprisonment, or both. And in the
meantime, the bureau of standards
has evolved u plan for tracing thefts
OF platinum and guarding against a
repetition. 1t will be Remembered
that the bureau itself was robbed
of platinum valued at approximately
$1,000 last March. and the metal
never has been recovered.
Has Characteristics.
Every rare stone. or jewel. has
be identified This fact has led to
many recoveries. because the stone
often is located in the possession of
man who knowingly or innoCently
bought ii from the thief. From him
information can be gained which leads
to the capture of the robber.
While platinum is similar in physical
characteristics. there different
grades which differ slightly upon chemi
cal analysis Working on this theory.
chemists are able TO identify stolen
metal For instance. pla tinum in the
possession of the bureau Of standards
will differ slightly from that in posses
sion of the University of Missouri. Both
of these institutions have been robbed
OF metal. and, if any is recovered. it can
be returned to the owner by chemical
analysis identification.
Now this theory worked in practice is
illustrated in recent solution to plat
mum theft, brought about largely
through the work of DIR. +. Wichers of
the bureau of standards.
"Round-Up" Ordered.
Two men. who gave their names as
Robert E. Carter and Joseph Fredericks
were arrested recently while attempting
to dispose OF $50 troy ounces of piati-
mum sponge, the porous state of the
metal On learning of the arrests the
bureau of standards dispatched Dr.
WicherS to assist the federal authorities
DR.. Wichers concluded there must be a
larger loss than that reported, judging
by the amount found still in possession
of the prisoners.
general roundup was ordered
mum used in several bureaus and p--,ni-
tons manufactures were made. C-emi-
cal analysis indicated that the stolen
platinum had come neither from New
Jersey plant, which had reported losses.
nor from the labOra tory of the bureau of
standards here. Its quality resembled
closely that of sponge platinum in pos
session OF the government plant at
Nitro, W. Va. and another at Jackson
vile. Tenn. Close analysis showed that
mol IN tro arr1a lot av-
plant.
Mercury Mixed With Dust.
Inquiry there led to the discovery
that Carter had worked in the "Old
Hickory powder plant in Jackson
Vile as a salvage foreman The ac-
cused man had di ga ppeared from there
without leave. sand later was dis
Acting on a hint from Carter, who
also used the alias Brown a chem
list in the Old Hickory plant was ar
rested His name was Crone, and it
developed that he recently had been
given an order to turn back" large
quantities of platinum chloride into
sponge This sponge was supposed
TO be stored in the factory safe, and
a search was begun.
In eighty-siX cans in the safe was
found a substance supposed to be
platinum. but which on further exam
ihdtioH turned out 10 De mixture OF
mercury and ordinary wet dirt The
real platinum had been removed
1t is understood that Cron'e defense
will be that the man arrested. Carter
is shielding the real thief. who en-
tered the vault and changed She con-
tents of the cans, and that he HIM
self is innocent.
1t is believed that the elaborate in
vestigat;on of the theft from the
plant at Jacksonville will do much to
check the stealing of platinum in the
United States.