The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-08
Colonel, WAC. Wife Confess
 HolF oF Sl,S00, 900
 Loot, coEporol
 And Moior Hunted

Washington. June, e.-(UPD-- Military Police today hunted an Army major, a corporal and about half of Sl.500.O0O worth of German crown jewels stolen from lead. lined box hidden in a tunnel un. derneath historic, i0-roon1 Kronberg Castle near Frankfort.
 Search for the two men and the remainder of the jewels followed disclosure by the War Department that a honeymooning Army colonel and his WAC. bride had confessed to the theft and had turned over about 50 percent of their loot. They were arrested in their bed early Monday morning at Chicagos La Sale hotel. less than is hours be- fore 1t was swept by fire.
 The honeymooners were identified by the War Department as Col. J W. Durant. 36, Falls Curch, Va, and WAC. Captain Kathleen B. Nash Durant. 34. of Hudson, Wis.
 Names Kept Secret
 Col. A. C. Miller. director of the Provost Marshall Generals criminal investigation branch. expected ar- rest Of the major and corporal mo- mentarily'. Their names were not disc losed.
 Al Fort Sheridan. 1ll.. it was re- ported without confirmation late last night that Sd Army nnem- Der" was being held with the Dur ants for investigation. The pro- voSt marshals office said early to- day. however. that there was noth- ing further on additional arrests"
 The jewels. including rubies, em- eraids, a diadem of diamonds and pearls, and a jewel-encrusted Bible. belonged Go the former ruling House of Hesse.
 Although they are hunting the major and corporal. Army officers made it clear that the actual jewel theft vas committed by the WAC. captain. If proved. it would give her the dubious distinction of hav- ing staged one of the largest singies handed robberies ever recorded.
 Refuses Co Reveal Cache
 According to the War Depart ment, the Durants brought the en- tire jewel collection back with them from Germany and were planning to split their loot four ways. They still held the jewels when they were arrested but the colonel stubborn ly refused to reveal where he had cached the half still unrecovered. The War Department said that Captain Nash formerly command ed a swank rest center set up for officers in Kronberg Castle. There she met Colonel Durant but the War Department did not make it clear in its announcement just how he enters into the case. They were said to have been married "a few days ago"
 Army sources said that Colonel Durante was on terminal leave when he was arrested. Special or- derS have been issued rev0kin:, his separation from the service and eg- tending his active duty period un- til the Army's investigation is com- pleted
 Special orders also were issued on May g extending Captain Nash's active duty. She too had been sep- arated and her terminal leave would have been mp the next day-Mav %.
 Wine Turns l0 sewelx
 The corporal involved in the ease was searching the Castles cellar for ancient vintage wine when he discovered the jewels under the floor. The Army said he promptly turned them over to the WAC. captain and she locked them up without reporting the find to her superiors.
 4 faithful family servant 0f the House Of Hesse learned that the jewels had been discovered and so informed the Princess Sophie. who is a granddaughter of the late Kaiser wilhelm,
 She went 10 the WAC. captain and was told that she could get her part Of the jewels at any time she wished them but that they were being held for safe keeping by the Army.
 But when Princess Sophie sent back to claim the jewels last ArFil. both the WAC. captain and the jewels were gone. She complained 10 the military government and the Provost Marshall's Office took ID the search.
 Eil6e 1nEasligalsrs
 Ten suspects in the case Eers narrowed down to the WAC. eap- tain and the colonel when the Army investigators learned Of their marriage.
 The criminal inYesligat0rs closed in on the couple at the home Of the brides sister al Hudson. Wis. They eluded the searchers and vent io Chicago where the arrest was made.
 Princess Margareta of the House of Hesse was aSlsep last night when news of the arrests and discovery Of half the family's jewels reached Kronberg where she Is living in an eighi-r00m cottage None of the servants dared awaken her.
 Heinrich Lange, manager Of the princess estate. asked if those ar- rested included a colonel and a woman eaptain2"
 Those are thetwo all right" he declared. T remember them sell"
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