Evening Star Newspaper, September 21, 1930, Page 91

THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, SEPTEMBER 21, 1930. office, employed at the time of the theft upon the work of preparing the packages for remit- tance. Under the direction of the Secretary and of the Solicitor of the Treasury, proceedings were at once instituted by criminal process for the trial of the parties suspected, and by civil process for the recovery of such of the money or its proceeds as could be found in the posses- sion of any of these parties. “The matter is at this time undergoing be- fore the proper tribunals an examination, which, it is hoped, will result in the conviction of the parties charged with the crime, if guilty as alleged, and the recovery of the moneys and property attached. These moneys and prop- erty (inclusive of $14,500 in $500 notes believed to be some of the identical notes stolen found on special deposit in a bank in Alexandria, Va., in the name of Ottman) amount in value to a considerable portion of the money taken. “That such a misfortune as the loss of this money should occur at the time that it did was particularly annoying to my predecessor, who was about to retire from the charge of this office, and it may well be believed that great relief was felt by him and by the employes of the office who had fallen under suspicion by reason of their having had the opportunity to commit theft upon this discovery, one of the parties implicated (Hallack) having confessed to his participation in the crime.” S stated by John C. New, the then Treas- urer of the United States, more than two months passed before any clue was obtained to the perpetrators of the theft, and it remained for our own Police Department to clear the matter up, and on Monday, August 9, The Star printed the story of the fine work of Detective George O. Miller in unraveling what up to that time had proven a mystery to the best sleuths in the employment of the Government. The Star's interesting account of this famous rob- bery follows: “The announcement in The Star of Saturday that our Washington detectives had arrested Theodore W. Brown and Benjamin B. Halleck on the charge of being connected with larceny of the package of $47,097.65 from the cash room of the United States Treasury on June 22 last caused some excitement in the community, par- ticularly among those connected with the Treas- ury. Among the latter class the announcement was particularly pleasant to those who had charge of the money at the time of the robbery or whose business called them to the cash room that day, as sinoe then they have been more or less under a cloud of suspicion. “As soon as Judge Wylie had dismissed the writ of habeas corpus and remanded Brown to the custody of Maj. Richards on Saturday, as stated in The Star, he was accompanied back to police headquarters by the officers. “It appears that after Brown's arrest and detention at police headquarters by Detective Miller on Thursday he was not locked up, but was allowed to sit about the office and was under surveillance. On Friday afternoon W. H. Ottman. who keeps a restaurant on Pennsyl- vania avenue just above Twelfth street, called at headquarters and had a short conference with Brown, which was interrupted after a short time by a policeman detailed to watch him. In a short time after this interview Mr. Newman of the firm of Moore & Newman called and had a consultation with Brown, the result of which was the application for the writ of habeas corpus. It is thought about headquar- ters that this action was not thought of by Brown, but was suggested by Ottman alone. “THE FIRST CLUE. “About July 20 information was communi- cated to the Washington detectives that Brown had a short time before asked John Kelly, a well known sporting man here, to change him a $500 note, stating that he was getting it broken for Mr. Ottman. Brown was not then in town, and it was surmised that he had gone to the springs. Although it was known that Halleck, a clerk in the cash room of the Treas- ury, was intimate with Ottman, it was not deemad advisable to arrest him or any one else just then. “ON Tuesday, July 27, Detective Miller re- ceived a telegram from New York from a person well known to him, asking him to come on at once and bring with him a blank war- rant. But, knowing what was wanted, Mr. Miller consulted with Maj. Richards and Chief Clarvoe, and as a result telegraphed that he could not come with the warrant, and asking what was wanted. A second telegram simply said: “Come without the warrant.” Being satisfied that there must be something worth going for, Mr. Miller started for New York on the night of the 29th. There he met his friend, and soon learned that Theodore W. Brown was at Saratoga, living high and clinging $500 bills around. “He immediately went to Saratoga, put up at the Gragd Union, and kept an eye upom Brown. & Ailler soon learned that Browm had passed a number of $500 bills. On being questioned as to how he was so flush, he stated that he had borrowed $2,500 from Ottman o Washington and had won considerable at Prench pool on the races. Mr. Miller informed Brown of his suspicions, and the latter con- sented to come to this city, but he was not taken into custody until Thursday, as above stated. “On Tuesday Brown had telegrapned to Ott- man to come on, as he was in trouble. “Prom Saratoga Mr, Miller telegraphed to Maj. Richards to look out for Ottman and Halleck, and the force here ascertained that they had left town on the Saturday previous, July 31, for New York, The officers were in- formed about the same time that Brown had * the Treasury robbery been seen with ; that the next day he had borrowed e town, and that he had not been seen here since; that during his abser he had been to New York, Boston and Saratoga, and that wherever he went he had plenty of money. ay night Detectives McDevitt and Mc esh started for New York for Hal- Jeck. Abou 1 o'cock Saturday night they ar- tived in the New York train on the Baltimore & A pencil sketch of Vermont avenue looking north from N street as it appeared in 1868. Potomac Railroad with him as their prisoner, Ottman being arrested during the meantime in ‘Washington.” A sketch of the alleged criminals, as given in The Star, states: “Theodore W. Brown is of the war population of the District. He was born in one of the Eastern States, enlisted, and during the latter part of the war was wounded and lost his left leg. At the close of the war he located in this city in the Quartermaster General's Depart- ment. He is 38 or 40 years of age, of good presence, always dressed neatly, and to a stranger is a most plausible companion. “Benjamin B. Halleck, the principal figure in the unfortunate affair, is a man about 31 years of age, below the average height, and of slender build, weighing about 125 pounds. He is of light, candy complexion, with blue eyes. He has a pleasant face and good address. He was born in Mohawk County, N. Y., and is the son of a clergyman, who lost his life in a railroad accident. * * * Halleck has been in the cash room since the Fall of 1869; was a good clerk and a, general favorite. “W. H. Ottman is full 6 feet high, with dark complexion, with black hair, eyes, and slight Detective George O. Miller, whose work brought to trial several persons charged with the Treasury robbery of June 2, 1875. side whiskers. His features are good and regu- lar, and the air and manner of the man such that he would not be suspected of such a crime. He is something of an athlete, and was for a time a prominent member of the Potomac Boat Club, rowing in several matches with the champion four. He was for a long time con- nected with Willard’s Hotel as a bookkeeper, in charge of the wine cellar and then in charge of the billiard room. Leaving there, he opened the place on the Avenue near Twelth street, where he still keeps. His family consists of a wife and several children.” According to Halleck's confession, the pack- age of money was taken from the Treasury Building by Ottman, having been transferred to him in one of the comfort rooms by Halleck himself. After the arrest of the suspects all of Ottman’s property was attached, which was stated to be sufficient to cover the.Governmeni loss. Jufl'h— the trial, or txials, of the suspeeh: terminacea the, widse @& nuv nave time to ascertain, but Detective Miller came in for much praise, the New York Herald saying edi- torially: “An example of what may be achieved by intelligent detectives has been fur- nished by the recovery of the funds stolen from the Treasury and the arrest of the parties im- plicated in the theft * * *~ As a lad the writer was well acquainted with the Miller boys, and, of course, knew Detective Miller by sight. In company with George, jr., with whom he went to school at Ninth and S streets northwest, he visited the Miller home many times. Fred Miller, the senior of the children, he also knew quite well, When grown to manhood he developed a fondness for horze racing, and years ago even owned a string of thoroughbreds. ‘One of his horses, called Larchmont, was gecidentally killed on the old Long Bridge around 25 years ago when returning from the races in nearby Virginia Pred and George Miller are still living and interested in the ponies, and another, spn.,of the detective s Robert I. Miller, the Wash- ington lawyer, who kindly lent me his father’s photograph. Mrs. Daniel A. Chandler, a daugh- ter, makes her home in California. The home of the Millers still stands at 1915 Vermont avenue, and as the writer recalls this square half a century ago he knows of but few other houses then standing in the block. On the Vermont avenue side there was only the adjoining dwelling to the Miller residence. Around on Ninth street, on the east side, near U street, there was a row of about six frame dwellings, in one of which (No. 1926) lived John S. Friel, printer, and his family, including a son, Basil, who married an old friend of the writer, then Miss Emma Williams. On the T street side there were five or six small frames up toward Vermont avenue, and in one of these (at 927) lived the family of William C. Robin- son, including his sons, J. Clinton and Eddie, who are quite interested in historic Wash- ington. There was nothing on the U street side where is now the police station, which the writer par- ticularly recalls because of the gruesome spec- tacle he witnessed when the body of Shaw, who had just the day before been executed, was laid out in the side yard, awaiting disposition, after it had been recovered from Jansen, the body-snatcher, who had taken it from Potter’s Field to be disposed of for medical purposes. This was in January, 1883. POSITE the Millers, on the west side of Tenth street, for' 30 years lived the family of Capt. T. Brooke Amiss, for years in charge of No.pl police precinct. His oldest son, W. l;l Amiss, also connected with the Police ?epan- ment, died some years ago. Another son, T. Brooke Amiss, jr., is identified with the Wash- ington Board of Trade. Nellie B, a daughter, married Harry E. Mockbee of Woodward & Lothrop’s, and another daughter, Sallie, who died recently, became Mrs. James H. Clear. At the northwest corner of Tenth and T streets resided Dr. Chesterfield Robb, who had two sons, Jim and Walter, and a niece, Lizzie Collins, who lived with the hmny: Kimball. lived in the house owned and formerly occupied Erastus C. Weaver, known as Squire Weaver, 'h.:gw e children were Augustus, Egbert and Robert. Next to the Pranklins lived the Prank family, which included August, Charles A., a teacher, and Julius A, & Government clerk. Lina, the daughter, married Oscar Towner, son of T. B. Towner, who kept a dry goods store at 131412 Seventh street northwest. The Rollins and Davis families were also residents of this side of the street. The Davis boy was named Charles. At the corner of U and Tenth streets was Altman’s stores, the sons of the proprietor being named Charles, William and John, and the daughter Annie. South of the Altman store a short way lived Police Officer John N. Salkeld and his brother, Thoaas L. Returning to the eash side of Vermont avenue, Mrs. Fliney lived at 1917, next to the Millers, then came the home of Yolice Officer Joseph T. Morgan in one of two bricks erected on what had been Mrs. Fliney’s side yard. Then came the residence of John H. Malconer, a clerk in the Post Office Department, whose house num- ber was 1921. The Miller, Fliney, Morgan and Falconer houses are still standing. The blpck bounded by S, T, Ninth and Tenth streets and one to the east were then entirely vacant ground. HE barsh things that are said about the Police Department today are only repeti- tions of the same old accusations made in some form or another ever since the Police Depart- ment was established, and it was one of these unsubstantiated and unproven rumors that caused the separation of Detective Miller and the entire detective force from the District Police Department, Indeed, the fact that public opinion is some- times. formed too hastily was surely demon- strated in the accusations against the detective corps back in 1882, when, upon the word of two three-card monte men, who were then in jail, public opinion was so poisoned that one of the detectives was removed from office by the Com- missioners, and then Congress took the matter up and legislated out of existence the remaining members of the corps. Indictments were found against the ex-de- tectives, and when they were brought to trial not a single conviction was had, though the allegations, made by two alleged crooks, were many and specific. Speaking of one of these trials, Mai,, Righaxed Sylvester.in his “District, of “The bottom fell out of all the cases. That 9 ez of John W. Coomes, who was afterward re- stored t) the force, brought out the following remarks from the court: «“«John W..Coomes had been on the detective force fcr years, and it was a place of trust which was generally filled by men of character. The presumption is that defendant is innocent ‘" of any violation of law, and when a man comes charged with an offense he is to be tried by law, not by clamor—senseless, passionate clamor. If he is guilty, let him be convicted; and if not, acquit him, notwithstanding the clamor. The three indictments grow out of the same transaction. He is charged with receiving stolen goods, extorting money and violating his duty by neglecting to report his reception of the money.’ “The court took up the charges, and said that a man who received stolen goods for the purpose of profit or extorting money from the owner should be punished. He did not see in this case a particle of evidence that Coomes was guilty under that indictment, and he re- ferred to the evidence, relating what had passed between Rittershofer and Coomes, in which a statement was made as to expenses, but there was no bargain or promise made. “Subrequently Coomes accosted McCauley, who denied that he knew anything of it, al- though he was the thief, and was promised $10 if he would produce them. McCauley then re- turned the things. If in this transaction they found that Coomes was working in the interest of Rittershofer, then it was impossible to con- vict him under the first indictment. The opinion was that Coomes was then acting for Rittershofer. The charge that he received stolen goods is absurd. Next, the charge of extorting money was considered, and the court said if an officer refused to perform his duties till paid he was guilty. There was no evidence that Coomes’ course was such. * * * “The jury without leaving the box returned a verdict of ‘not guilty.” There was some ap- plause, which was promptly checked. The court adjourned, and Mr. Coomes received quite an ovation outside.” was how Detective Miller was separated from the Police Department after, almost single-handed, having brought to justice the men accused of the big Treasury robbery of June 2, 1875. Truly, after the lapse of nearly half a century, it does seem that an injustice was done him. The members of the detective force dis- charged and legislated out of office most likély were Lieut. A. Eckloff, in charge; John W. Coomes, George W. McElfresh, James A. Mc- Devitt, Augustine H. Voss, George O. Miller and Joseph Acton. Regardless of whatever else may be said, these men were the equal, if not the superior, of any detective force in the United States, man for man. McDevitt, too, was very highly' regarded, and later successfully engaged in busi- ness as a private detective in Washington. He had a son, Dan, whom the writer knew quite well, but lost track of him some years ago. He also became an able sleuth in connection with his father’s detective agency in this city. Airera ft in Canadian Wilds. WITH attention centered upon aircraft de- velopment in this coun United States are inclined wu:'vecr‘fim-;:cm; being accomplished in aircraft lines in Can- ada. The advance of flying in the Dominion hn:‘ M;n both rapid and varied. uc unexplored territo: in stretches of the northern paryrt.s—tenigery u':: would have required years for ordinary ex- peditions to cover—has been well suryveyed by air. 'g’he development of the amphibf plane has aided greatly in this work, for where the almost limitless forest and mountain stretches have made landing places few and far be- tween, the myriads of small lakes have af- i!::ed ample landing places for the amphib- 'rhe_work of the planes in these areas is not Nmited, however, to exploration work, for much :.h::lble u;nb;r has been saved through the potting o res b, U b e y the timber patrols ‘of The commercial air lines in Cana some 7,000 miles, and the mileage pil:: ‘:v:; ;heset l:'oubes, together with the flights made or other purposes, has e o total.p Pos has reached a sizable an- There are 370 licensed private pilots, and 370 c(_)mmercial pilots in the Dominion. At the disposal of these flyers are 407 aircraft of va- rious sorts and 71 airports. In orfier to guard against planes being forced down in out-of-the-way places and being abandoned, caches of fuel and oil are placed at many points in the outlands, for the use of pilots short of fuel and left isolated. Wallpaper Output, REGARDLESS of what other industries may have suffered in cut production during the two-year period, 1927 to 1929, the wallpaper industry held its own, or nearly so. During 1927 slightly more than $30,000,000 worth of wallpapers was turned out, and in 1929, the figure was only down about $200,000. This represents a loss in sale price rather than a loss in output, for there was an' actual in- crease in the number of employes engaged in this business. Ounce of Prevention. r\PPARENTLY the ounce-of-prevention fdea is- beginning to take hold. During 1929, the total value of portable chemical fire ex- tinguishers increased more than one-third over 1927. More than $9,000,000 worth -of this type of apparatus was turned out in the 33 plants engaged in: their manufacture. The number of - WWEE eainess pngaged in the indusiry was not S0 lagge, 919 being so employed; but those! €m- ployed received 13 per cent more pay.