Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-16
HOLD D|SCOVERER
Of WHITE INDIANS
Richard O. Marsh Is Arrested
Here as Passer of
Bad Check.

Richard Oglesby Marsh. discoverer
of the world famous white Indians,
was enmeshed in the tolls of the law
today as a result OF his futile efforts
to convince science that he had found
riddle Of biology buried deep in the
hills OF Panama.
Told that his Indians were merely
albinos and not true white men, his
funds depleted in his search for the
mirage of science, Marsh gave the
New willard Hotel a check for sum
he did not possess and was arrested.
Released Under Bond.
Mr.. Marsh was arrested at his home,
$500 Connecticut avenue, yesterday
by Headquarters Detectives keck and
Weber He was formally charged
with passing a worthless check and
in Police Court this morning was re-
leased under $500 bond after he had
demanded trial by jury.
Mr. Marsh first came into promi-
nence some months ago when he
sent word from Panama, where he
had been sent to study rubber con-
ditions, that he had discovered a
whole colony of Indian aborigines
that were white. Some leading
biologists frankly secuted the state
ment. Others awaited personal ex-
animation.
when the young discoverer arrived
in Washington with several of the
Indians some of the best inform ed
biologists in the world made careful
examinations and II has just been
learned publicly that they declared
the Indians to be a'binos, people with
deficient pigmentation that are
known to exist in every race.
The young explorer had spent
almost his last dollar to bring the
Indians to America. He did not
attempt to commercialize MS dls,
covery at a time when the world
was almost ready to believe his
theory, friends said. and the verdict
of the cold scientific facts crushed
his ambitious hopes.
Check Found Bad.
Mr.. Marsh contested the decision
of the biologists defantly. Some
days ago he asked the Willard Hotel
to cash a check for $500, and when
II was returned from the New York
bank marked insufficient funds" "
and he could not make good the
amount, his arrest followed.
To the police, it is said. he ex-
plained that he knew he had only
$500 in the bank, but expected to
receive a draft for the difference
within a few days. Marsh said he
asked the bank to take care of the
difference, but that the check he had
hoped to receive did not arrive at the
expected time.
Friends Were Shocked.
When Mr.. Marsh's friends in scien-
tific circles learned of his arrest they
were shocked, and all declared they
unoualifiedly believe his explanation
of the incident as given to the police.
They credited his plight to indiscre-
tfon in a desperate attempt to con-
vince science of the soundness of his
theory concerning the Indians.
One prominent biologist pointed out
that although he could not accept
the Indians as being white, Mr..
Ma rsh's. discovery of such a large
colony of people suffering from albin-
ism was of considerable Importance
to science. He said that the young
mans work had been a highly val
uable contribution to science, even
though his highest hopes had been
dashed.
The Indians Mr.. Marsh brought to
washington are still here. Their
arrival created furore in scientific
circles and the public evinced tre-
mendous interest in them. Several
of the local broadcasting stations had
them speak to radio audiences, but
they were never placed on exhibition
for the general public pending the
decision of the biologists.