Classic Film Manuscripts Recovered

Detectives recovered original manuscripts from the movies "Casablanca," "Citizen Kane" and "My Fair Lady" while investigating a series of burglaries that occurred in the Los Angeles area during the past year, officials said.

The manuscripts were among an estimated $500,000 in movie and sports memorabilia that sheriff's deputies found while serving a search warrant Wednesday morning on a run-down, debris-filled house, The Daily Press of Victorville, California reported Thursday.

"They didn't know how to get rid of (the stolen goods) because the stuff was so hot it's not like you can sell this on eBay. That's why they held onto it for so long," said Det. Sergeant Bobby Hughes of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's station in Victorville, about 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

One of the burglaries took place in a Beverly Hills home where thieves made off with a trove of Humphrey Bogart related memorabilia, including letters from Ingrid Bergman, photographs and an original hand-typed play titled "Everybody Goes to Rick's," which eventually became "Casablanca."

Not all of the $900,000 in stolen goods was recovered, authorities said. Among the items still missing were manuscripts of "Gone With the Wind," "Stage Coach" and "The Maltese Falcon," as well as a letter from Bergman to her agent.

Also found at the house were weapons, electronics equipment, valuable coins and sports memorabilia, including a signed plaque featuring Shaquille O'Neal and Anfernee Hardaway and a football used in the 2000 SuperBowl bearing the name of the game's most valuable player, Kurt Warner. Authorities were trying to link those items to other burglaries.

Reggit Stephens, 37, and Joseph Kelley, 43, both of Adelanto, were arrested for investigation of possessing stolen property.

Both men were being held at the Victor Valley Jail on $1 million bail each.