SONOMA ROBBERY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 56, 30 November 1921, Page 5

SONOMA ROBBERY

RECOVERY OF STOLEN GOLD SOVEREIGNS FOUND IN A VENTILATOR Most of the gold stolen from the Sonoma has been recovered. An investigation of the steamer’s records revealed that one of the passengers had made three consecutive trips, and the arrest of this individual is expected. By Telegraph—Prana Association—Copyright San Francisco, November 28. Five thousand five hundred and sixly English sovereigns were discovered in a ventilator in the hold of tho Sonoma. Mr. F. Samuels, manager of the Oceanio Steamship Company, announces that 5500 sovereigns were discovered stuffed ' in rubber hose aboard the Sonoma. An engineer, Mr. Knudson, made the discovery.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rcc. November 29, 5.5 p.m.) San Francisco, November 28. The Unite(l Press reports that 75,000 dollars more of the Sonoma’s gold has been discovered, and the "Chronicle” states all the gold has been found.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. SPECIE 'SUSPENDED IN CANS. (Rec. November 29, 8.20 p.m.) New York, November 28. Seventy-five thousand dollars was in tho original container, buoyed by a large oil can, tied by a rope to the Sonoma’s rudder. Another message states: "Fifteen thousand pounds were found in three milk cans suspended Tinder tho water at the stern of the Sonoma.” — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • AN ARREST EXPECTED DIAN WHO DIADE THREE CONSECUTIVE TRIPS. (Rec. November 29, 10 p.m.) San Francisco, November 28. The discovery of part of the Sonoma’s gold was totally accidental. Dlr. Knudsen, finding a ventilator shaft out of order, opened, it and found a. rubber hose stuffed in it, shutting off the air. Ho then pushed a shower of sovereigns out. This strengthened the belief of the detectives that the remainder of the gold was still on board, and searches were renewed, proceeding over the vessel slowly and minutely. The Burns detective agency was called in, and. advanced the theory, partially substantiated by tho known facts, that tho thieves were passengers on board the Sonoma. The company officials immediately consulted the records, which showed that one man had made threo consecutive trips. The name of the man has not been disclosed, but the Burns agency declares that the individual is now en route to the East, and it is believed his arrest is likely to follow shortly—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SONOMA’S CABIN BOY ATTEMPTS TO IDENTIFY AS CHARLES BARRETT FAIL. (Rec. November 29, 9.5 p.m.) New York, November 28. The San Francisco "Chronicle” states that attempts to identify J. Whatton, the Sonoma’s cabin boy, as Charles Barrett,, who was implicated in the bullion robbery on the steamer Humboldt in 1920, failed to-day, and according to Chief Detective Dlatheson there is no possibility of Whatton being Barrett Ho said: "I arrested Barrett when I was working in the Humboldt ease, and am certain Whatton is. not tho same man. There is absolutely no similarity in their description. It is almost certain that Barrett is at present in the East. The habits of the two men are totally dissimilar.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SODIE OF THE GOLD STILL MISSING. (Rec. November 30, 0.5 a.m.) New York, November 28. A final check shows that thirteen thousand dollars of tho Sonoma gold are still missing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Fifteen boxes of gold were shipped by the Sonoma at Sydiriy, and five of tliein were'repoitcd to have been stolen. Each box contained 415000.]