Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves installment 5

[mitchtv]

Thomas Alexander Nevin
As told by Forrest Baker
When I lived with Tommy Nevin on Missouri St on Potrero Hill in 1973, we were visited by the FBI- they wished to talk to Thomas Nevin about some banking irregularities in Boston, Mass. Tommy has a policy of always doubling his travelers’ checks. The FBI couldn’t prove anything, so Tommy and I “doubled” some more travelers’ checks, and went off to Guatemala in Central America. Tommy paid for the plane tickets, he had a habit of “delaying” dope delivery and using the money for traveling expenses> While in Guatemala we had reason to visit the US Embassy, some business or other> While there in the waiting room Tommy notices glass case at one end. . In the glass display case was the Grand Order of the Quetzal. The quetzal bird is the sacred bird of Mesoamerica. Its long plumage and elegant appearance is used as the national emblem of Guatemala. In the case were the silk sash and gold sunburst pin withan enameled quetzal bird in the center. After urgent pushing and pulling, Tommy notices the case is not locked. Quicker than you can blink, the 14K gold pin and silk ceremonial sash (gifts from the Guatemalans to the American ambassador) were in Tommy’s pocket, and with a casual smile and thank you to the marine guardsman stationed by the door, we quickly left
Both these items ended up in SF police property file after Tommy was arrested for public drunkenness shortly after our return