Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-08
Most Of Stolen
Jewels Found,
Army Reports
Colonel and Wife
Flown to Capital
To Answer Charges

Army authorities reported to-
day that almost the entire ST.
SOC, 900 in Hessian crown Jewels
taken in the fabulous plumber
ing of Kronberg Castle by four
military personnel has been re-
covered.
The announcement was made to-
day as Col. Jack w. Durant, So, a
former Interior Department attorney
and his bride of less than two weeks,
WAC Capt. Kathleen B. Nash
Durant, were flown to Washington
to answer charges in connection
with the plot.
Col. Ralph w. Pierce, chief of the
Provost Marshal's criminal investi-
cation branch, said the remainder
OF the jewe1ry was recovered last
night in box at the Illinois Gen.
trail Railway Station in Chicago,
after Mrs. Durant earlier had shown
agents where from Is to so per cent
Of the loot was secreted.
Two Still at Large.
Still at large were a major and a
technical sergeant implicated in the
looting of the historic castle near
Frankfurt, Germany, in November,
l945. Col. Pierce said the ARMY
could pick them up any time it de-
sired and was not concerned about
them.
1t was revealed that Col. Durant
and the WAC captain he met when
she was supervising an officers rest
camp at the castle, were married
May % by justice of the peace at
Chicago, shortly after obtaining a
new automobile.
From that time until Army agents
arrested them at 2 am. Monday in
Chlcago's La Sale Hotel, the couple
had led the detectives a merry chase.
They moved to Hudson, Wis: Min
neapolis, st. Paul and other points.
Broke Under Lie Test.
After she broke down in Chicago
under the strain of "lie-detector"
test. under the supervision of Leon
ard Keelre, Northwestern Univer-
sity criminologist, Mrs. Durant told
the agents where upward of half
the world renowned diamonds.
precious stones and antiques were
hidden in Hudson.
Shortly after $3.50 last night. Col.
Durant yielded key to the Chicago
railway locker and the Army found
there thousands of dollars worth Of
precious stones. Unlike the Jewels
found at Hudson, those in Chicago
were removed from the settings,
which have not been found.
Col. Pierce said he presumed the
jewels found in the locker and con-
tanned in q cardboard package
wrapped in white paper, were
brought to the States by Col.
Durant. Col. Pierce said he believed
some of the valuables had been
shipped by Mrs. Durant from Ger
many by parcel post in a wooden
package.
Face Court Martial Soon.
Col. Pierce. who directed the in
vestl2ation, came to Washington
with his assistant, Maj. John D.
Salb, in the plane which few the
accused couple here
1t was not definitely determined
whether they would be returned to
Germany for prosecution, but Col.
Pierce said Col. Durant and his
wife would be contaminated very
soon"
The accused couple has declined
to say whether others were involved
in the conspiracy other than the
missing major and sergeant, Col,
Pierce added.
Arrayed on four tables for a press
conference in the Pentagon, the
jewels removed from the royal house
OF Hesse-Darmstadt, made dazzling
display today.
Col. and Mrs. Durant were met
at Boiling Field by Col. A. C. Miller,
director of the criminal branch of
the provost marshal generals Office,
who had previously told the story
OF how the War Department relent-
lessly hunted down the principals
of one of the wars strangest stories.
Arrested in La Sale Hotel.
They were arrested early Monday
morning in Chicago's La Sale Hotel.
All night grilling brought a confess
sion from Capt. Durant and recovery
of Is to so per cent of the Jewels.
Col. Miller said the remaining loot
was secreted by Col Durant for
equal division among the other con.
spirators.
The War Departments address
for Col. Durant was 100 Cameron
road, Falls Church, Va, the home
OF a brother, James E. Durant, a
Government employe. Mr.. Durant
said his brother never lived at the
address, but stayed there on visits.
He expressed surprise that Col.
Durant had married the WAC cap
tain following the jewel theft in
November, 1945.
Before joining the Army Air
(See JEWEL THEFT, Page A-3)