An inquiry at the check room disclosed that a parcel had been left there the day before under the number 110—but it had been removed that morning by a man who had presented the proper claim check.
“I don’t remember what the guy looked like,” the attendant said. “I didn’t pay any attention. All I know is the guy had the right check and I gave him the package.”
At this point, Durant refused any further cooperation. He insisted that his mysterious contact had nothing to do with the missing jewels—and he refused to disclose the name of the contact or to make any further effort to locate the jewels.
The investigators had better luck with Kathleen Nash Durant. She admitted to officers the agreement in Germany between herself, Colonel Durant and Major Watson. She told of removing the numerous stones from their settings and sending a large number of them to her sister’s home in Wisconsin, concealed in boxes. Her sister was instructed not to release the boxes to anyone unless she heard or read the code word “Cemetery.” She turned over to Army officers the following note:
June 3, 1946
To Eileen, Jack, or David,
I have confessed to having the box of jewels, Bibles and fan that I hid in the attic. Will you please give same to officer presenting you this note, Major John D. Salb, our code “cemetery”—goes—sorry to cause you so much grief and I don’t deserve you to worry over me anymore.
Love,
Vonie (Kathleen B. Durant)
When agents flew to Hudson, Wisconsin, and presented the note to Mrs. Lonergan, she readily turned over the boxes hidden in the attic.
Kathleen Nash Durant and her husband were sentenced by a military court martial to fifteen years in prison. Major Watson was sentenced to three years for his smaller role in the conspiracy.