Evening star., 1928-05-24
RECLUSE ROBBED
OF $17,0()O CACHE
Thomas Barnett, IS, Had
Taken Money From Bank to
Avoid Legal Claims.

The loss of $1,000 that was stolen
yesterday from a hole In the yard OF
the premises occupied by Thomas Bar
nett, 7s-year-old recluSe, near Riggs
road and the Baltimore a. Ohio tracks,
worries the aged man to no great ex-
tent. 1t was evidenced today by his
genial manner when he returned home
after spending the night in a room In
the twelfth precinct station.
In the station he kept constantly by
his side a glass Jar in which he had
$2,500 In gold and q tin coffee can
containing nearly $4,000 In currency.
He allowed no one to carry them when
he left the station with Capt. G. l..
Plemmons to return home.
Barnett reported to the police last
night that he had secreted II $1,000
bills in milk bottle that he had buried
In piece Of terra Gotta pipe In his
yard and then covered with huge iron
kettle once used for scalding hogs. He
went TO see his attorney yesterday. and
returned to discover that his money
was gone.
Io-Year Litigation.
The loss came as result Of q 10.
year legal struggle over the property
that Barnett has occupied since he was
81. The courts have decided that ne
must vacate in favor Of other heirs be-
cause his deed was held invalid.
After his court defeat Barnett heard
that funds In the bank could be at
tached, so on May z he removed the
money and hid 1t. The other money
he had scattered through the rambling
old structure In which he lives He pro-
duced It when the police arrived. He
had already turned the jar of gold over
TO Henry j. Daniels. So. i04 Varnum
street, for safekeeping. This later was
returned to him.
When Barnett came here as a young
man he made his home with an uncle,
who had purchased the 7B-acre prop
erty several years before. His uncle
died, leaving two daughters. Mary Jane
and Isabel Murphy. His uncle re-
quested that he always care for his
cousins, duty that he performed until
the death OF both,
At the death Of the first sister the
property was left 10 the survivor, 50
Barnett claims, with the understand
ing that he was TO have 1t when the
latter died She gave him q deed for
1t. Barnett claims, but he failed 10
have 1t filed In a legal manner.
Relatives of the dead sisters last
month gained a court ruling giving
them possession of the property, but
Barnett 80 far has ignored the order
TO vacate.
During the years when Barnett was
caring for his two cousins he tended
his truck gardens and sold produce. He
also invested in real estate and amassed
q small fortune.
Suspected Banks.
Suspicious OF banks, he kept a greater
amount OF his cash on the premises
until colored man attempted 10 rob
him several years ago. He successfully
beat the man of and then placed ST.
900 IN the bank. where he left II until
adviEed by friends that he might lose
"a through legal processes.
He has guarded his financial transac-
tons and, although 1t ig known that he
owns large amounts of property, only
he can say how much.
Police last night questioned two
women and man. but did not detain
them They have no clues as 10 tke
identity Of the thieves, but believe the
presentation OF any 81, 900 notes In
payment for purchases or 10 have
changed will Immediately lead to them.
Barnetts home Ii one OF the few re~
naming log structures In the District.
II was constructed about l25 years ago,
he says.
When questioned az 10 why he does
not spend his money on himself, he re.
piled that he Ia now too old 10 enjoy
anything but the leisure Of his humble
dwelling. He spends his days sitting
In the yard and cooks all Of bis own
, meals.