Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-15
Col. Durant and Wife
Deny They Admitted
Any Criminal Act
BY The Associated Press


Col. Jack w. Durant and his wife,
WAC Capt. Kathleen B. Nash
Durant, denied through their counsel
today that they had admitted any
act which they considered criminal
in connection with the. Kronberg
Castle jewel case.
Their attorney, Capt. Frank M.
Bosworth, said in statement that
he had made formal demand on
the Army for copies of charges If
any" against the couple.
If the charges are not furnished,
Capt. Bosworth said he was de-
manding that Col. Durant and his
wife be released from custody.
The Durants have been held in
Army custody at an undisclosed
place since last week in connection
with the investigation of the re-
moval of the Hesse royal jewels
valued at $1,5O0,O00 or more, from
the Kronberg Castle in Germany.
Assigned as Interim Counsel.
Capt. Bosworth, assistant staff
judge advocate of the military dis
trict of Washington, who was as
signed as interim counsel for Col
Durant and his bride, said he issued
the statement on their request "tc
correct certain impressions that
have apparently been created by in
formation previously conveyed tc
the public"
All information on the investiga-
ton which led to recovery of most
Of the jewels and other valuables in
Chicago and Hudson, Wis, has come
thus far from War Department and
Customs Bureau officials.
The text of Capt. Bosworth's
statement follows:
Since being assigned as counsel
to Col. Jack w. Durant and his
wife, Capt. Kathleen Durant, I have
conferred with them several times
and they have requested that
make statement in their behalf
Neither has had any previous legal
representation in this matter
Under normal circumstances !
should have advised that no state
ment be made at this time, but be-
cause of the public interest that has
been created I have agreed with
them that they are only reasonable
IN their desire to correct certain
impressions that have apparently
been created by information pre-
viously conveyed to the public.
Available at All Times.
Col. and Capt. Durant want II
emphatically stated that they were
at all times available to military
authorities and at no time did either
do otherwise than to cooperate
with the military to the fullest ex-
tent. Likewise, that any impression
that has been created that they
concealed their identity or where
abouts for any reason is entirely
erroneous.
1T should also be pointed oui
that all information available up tc
the present time has come from
sources that are primarily interested
in establishing that a fabulous
amount of jewelry was removed
from Germany under circumstances
which amount to criminality. How
ever, no charges have been pre-.
ferred and l have advised Col
Durant and his wife that the,
should not attempt to anticipate
what action may be taken in the
future. Accordingly, it is not rea-
sonable to expect any specific state
ment from either. until they, know
Of what they are accused. They
: have asked me, nonetheless. to cor.
rect any impression that either have
admitted any act which they con-
sidered criminal. 30
f. Both Col. and Capt. Durapt have
initiated requests within the last
two days that Army officers of their
own selection be designated as their
individual defense counsel. II
should be known in the near future
whether the officers requested will
be available, at which time an
nouncement will be made.
I'm the meanwhile, I have made
formal demand on behalf of both
that copies of the charges, If any
be furnished to me; or. in the al
tentative, that both be released
from their present custody. Action
on this demand is likewise expected
in the near fut,lre"