J. Vertebrate Paleo at risk in NJ and PA

Colleagues:

      re:  Library copies of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology at risk

      Watch out for Donald B. Hanson, of Little Falls, New Jersey.

About two years ago, forty articles running to several hundred pages, 
principally papers on fossil cetaceans, were found to have been 
excised from nine volumes of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 
in the Franklin & Marshall College library.

Subsequently, the journal was restored and sequestered behind the 
check-out desk.  Last summer, a person identifying himself as Mr. 
Hanson came in to consult the JVP.  He made copies of two or three 
articles, one of them on fossil whales.

Today, Mr. Hanson returned to our library, again wishing to use the 
JVP.  He gave the student assistant four pages torn from a volume of 
the journal, apparently to show what he wanted.  Our librarian was 
able to match the tears on two of these pages unequivocally with 
scraps remaining in the binding of our copy of the journal.

Mr. Hanson was arrested by the Lancaster police and charged with 
criminal mischief.  Thanks to our librarians, first for identifying 
Mr. Hanson, and then for catching him red-handed!

Apologies to those of you who live and work beyond Mr. Hanson's 
reach, who do not need this information.

Kind regards,   Roger Thomas
-- 
Roger D. K. Thomas
John Williamson Nevin Professor of Geosciences
Editor, "Historical Biology"

Department of Geosciences
Franklin & Marshall College
Lancaster
Pennsylvania 17604-3003

FAX:    717-291-4186
Office telephone:  717-291-4135
Home telephone:   717-560-0486