It seems someone else has been stealing historic documents, antiques, and other valuable items. This time, the 800 or more antiques, rare books, historical documents and paintings allegedly pilfered over two decades were put on display in a suburban Halifax, Nova Scotia home. Homeowner John Mark Tillmann is charged with possession of stolen property.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are still cataloging the items but believe the total will be more than 800 historical artifacts, all of them apparently stolen, including a letter that British general James Wolfe wrote in 1758 and now belongs to Dalhousie University. The letter was written 10 days before the British fleet sailed from Halifax to Louisbourg.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are still cataloging the items but believe the total will be more than 800 historical artifacts, all of them apparently stolen, including a letter that British general James Wolfe wrote in 1758 and now belongs to Dalhousie University. The letter was written 10 days before the British fleet sailed from Halifax to Louisbourg.
The Mounties are also trying to track down about 250 other items that might be in local pawn shops, museums or private collections or with dealers who specialize in historical items. The alleged thefts reportedly go back to 1996.
Tillmann has a lengthy criminal record that includes convictions for extortion, assault and fraud. He remains in jail awaiting a trial date on these charges as well as on earlier legal problems, including an assault charge.
You can read more in articles in the Herald News at http://goo.gl/n75Lp and in The Star at http://goo.gl/T6nYp. You can read more about Tillman and his many past difficulties with the law by starting at http://goo.gl/KRiLR.
My thanks to newsletter reader Herb Proudley for telling me about these crimes.
