The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 5, February 3, 2008, Article 16

NEW YORK STATE LIBRARY ARCHIVIST ARRESTED FOR DOCUMENT THEFT

[Bill Snyder and Dick Johnson forwarded this story about
an archivist gone bad.  Bill writes: "I suspect that many
of us will be hoping that they 'throw the key away' on this
guy!"  Here are excerpts from a Reuters article. -Editor]

A New York state employee who had access to government-owned
archives has been arrested on suspicion of stealing hundreds
of historic documents, many of which he sold on eBay,
authorities said on Monday.

Among the missing documents were an 1823 letter by Vice
President John C. Calhoun and copies of the Davy Crockett
Almanacs, pamphlets written by the frontiersman who died
at the Alamo in Texas.

In 2007 alone, Lorello stated he took 300 to 400 items,
including the four-page Calhoun letter, which drew bids
of more than $1,700 while investigators were monitoring
the sale.

The state library's extensive collection includes an original
first draft of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation
and complete set of autographs from the signers of the
Declaration of Independence.

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

[An Associated Press article credited the tipster who
notified the authorities.  Bravo!  -Editor]

Joseph Romito, a lawyer and history buff in Richmond, Va.,
tipped authorities off after he spotted one of the items
for sale on eBay and realized it was supposed to belong
to New York state.

After searching the suspect's home this past weekend,
officials found hundreds of documents and artifacts belonging
to the state. Officials believe the theft goes back to 2002,
Cuomo spokesman John Milgram said.

To read the complete article, see:
Full Story

[QUICK QUIZ: which numismatic author worked for the
New York State Library?  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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