Man suspected of stealing artifacts

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FALL RIVER, Nova Scotia, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- A hoard of historical artifacts and art that could be worth more than $1 million was found in a home in Canada, authorities say.

Nova Scotia police said more than 800 allegedly stolen items were recovered since Friday from the Fall River home of John Mark Tillman, 51, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.

The police investigation began last summer after Tillman was pulled over for allegedly breaching the conditions of his house arrest. Among the items they found in his vehicle was a letter written in 1758 by noted British Gen. James Wolfe.

The investigation took months and culminated in a search of Tillman's house that turned up the treasure of alleged stolen items.

"We believe such items as books, documents, paintings, antiques were stolen from private collectors around Atlantic Canada, also from local universities, museums and even the legislature. We believe we have a painting from the Nova Scotia Legislature so as one can see, it's a vast undertaking," Cpl. Scott MacRae said.

Also among the items seized was a rare edition of Charles Darwin's groundbreaking scientific work "On the Origin of Species."

Tillman was charged Monday with being in possession of four rare antiquities taken from universities in Halifax, from the archives and from the Nova Scotia Legislature, the CBC said.