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Edward Renehan: Secret revealed in historic document theft case

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....

Read entire article at Newsday