[MSN] insider theft: Secret revealed in historic document theft case

[MSN]

Secret revealed in historic document theft case

BY BILL BLEYER

bill.bleyer at newsday.com

11:52 PM EDT, April 20, 2008


Even as the prosecution continues of the former director of the Theodore
Roosevelt Association in the theft of historic letters, a surprising
revelation has surfaced:

The Oyster Bay organization was ripped off before, but at that time managed
to keep it quiet.

Former director Edward Renehan Jr. of Rhode Island, who is accused in the
theft of four historic letters, provided information earlier this month that
made public secret information about the prior case, according to people
involved in the new case.

When Bonnie Jean Gable was TRA office manager about 15 years ago, she was
accused of embezzling more than $100,000 to finance a theater group, sources
said. Rather than prosecute Gable, who had spent the money and had few
assets, the TRA agreed to place a lien on trust funds Gable stood to
inherit.

The association and Renehan also tried to negotiate a settlement, the TRA
and Renehan's lawyer said. The TRA wanted him to make restitution and return
other artifacts the group believes are still in his possession. But Renehan
maintains he has no other artifacts, so the TRA went to the Nassau County
district attorney's office, and Renehan was indicted last month for stealing
a letter written in 1918 by Roosevelt. He is due back in court today.

The Gable case became public when a statement prepared by a Manhattan
publicist was sent to Renehan friends who heard about the letter
investigations.

Several of an estimated 20 people who received the e-mail passed it on to
the association, which says it is investigating whether it can take legal
action against Renehan.

"We are deeply disturbed that Mr. Renehan misappropriated Theodore Roosevelt
Association property and now has inappropriately disclosed confidential
information," TRA president James Bruns said. "This is yet another example
of his abuse of trust and continuing misconduct."

Peter Brill, Renehan's attorney, said release of information about Gable was
"unauthorized by myself or by Ed Renehan." But he added that "it makes you
wonder why the TRA chose to quietly settle a larceny ... while they chose to
criminally prosecute Mr. Renehan."

Bruns responded that "unlike Mr. Renehan, Ms. Gable admitted everything,
made no demands and came up with a credible way of reimbursing the
association." In contrast, "Renehan's negotiations were focused on his
attempts to gain the best possible deal, using the documents taken from the
association ... as well as items still in his possession as bargaining
chips."

Brill said before negotiations ended, "Renehan offered to ... give them
whatever they wanted -- full restitution, full cooperation, with no
conditions whatsoever."

Gable had a stroke four years ago and lives in an adult home in Lee, Mass.,
said her brother, Patrick, a Pittsfield, Mass., attorney. "My sister fully
cooperated," he said. "The TRA will be reimbursed" the full value of his
sister's share of the trust, which is already worth more than the $300,000
the TRA anticipated.

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