According to spokesman Tom Conroy of Yale, "We have a rare book and manuscript library called the Beinecke; it’s where we keep many of our important collections such as our Gutenberg Bible and Audubon folios. He [Smiley] was at the Beinecke on June eight of this year and was observed by people in the library who believed he was acting suspiciously, and they contacted our police on campus. They came and observed him, and that led to his arrest."

According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed by Detective Martin Buonfiglio, a library employee found an X-Acto knife blade on the floor of the Beinecke rare document reading room, a room that is cleaned daily, leading her to believe that the person who dropped the knife was still in the facility. After checking the register and using the Internet, the employee determined that Smiley, who was in the library, was a dealer of rare maps.

Ralph Mannarino, security supervisor for the Beinecke library, then began a video surveillance of Smiley, as well as physically watching him, the warrant states. At one point Mannarino saw Smiley fidgeting with the inside pocket of his jacket and called the police.

At approximately 3 p.m. Smiley left the library, carrying his briefcase, and headed to the Yale Center for British Art. There, the warrant states, he was approached by authorities who asked if the X-Acto knife blade was his, and he replied yes.

After examining his briefcase, authorities found several maps and rare documents. Librarians checked the books Smiley had examined and determined Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England, or Anywhere was missing a map. The same map was found in Smiley’s blazer pocket, and he was placed under arrest.

According to the affidavit, Smiley also had the following maps in his possession: a 36.4 cm x 49.3 cm map titled Typvs Orbis Terrarvm, call number Taylor 188, valued at $78,000; a 32 cm x 44.8 cm map titled Part of America Part of China, call number Vanderbilt 57, valued at $50,000; a 42 cm x 55.5 cm map titled Vninersi Orbis, sevterreni glo, call number 1976 Folio 2, valued at $150,000; a 30 cm x 44.4 cm map titled Thorne map "Septentrio vniuersalis descriptio," authored by Richard Hakluyt, 1552-1616, valued at $500,000; a 30.2 cm x 38.8 cm map, Facsimile map of New America, authored by Hubbard, unknown value; a 37 cm x 48 cm map, titled Lac Svperievr, valued at $25,000; and a 37.2 cm x 51.1 cm map titled Carte generalle de la nouvelle France, authored by Chrestien Le Clercq, valued at $75,000.

Court records reveal that on June 9, Ellen Cordes of the Beinecke library told police that three of the seven items Smiley showed her on June 8 were the property of the Beinecke library. Cordes produced records that showed what books Smiley examined that day. Those records showed call numbers Taylor 188, Vanderbilt 57, and 1976 Folio 2 were examined by Smiley. They were missing maps, and those missing maps were found in Smiley’s possession. Cordes also produced a videotape of Smiley examining several books that allegedly shows Smiley removing the map from the 1976 Folio 2 book.

On July 8 Smiley appeared in Superior Court to face three larceny charges. A judge set his bail at $175,000.

The FBI is looking for more information and posted the following on an Internet mailing list: "On Wednesday, June 8, 2005, an individual identified as Edward Forbes Smiley III, age 49, of, among other places, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, was arrested by local authorities in Connecticut for the alleged theft of a map from the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA...The FBI requests that institutions holding rare maps in their collections review their records and collections as soon as possible 1) to determine whether Mr. Smiley reviewed books/maps in their possession and 2) to determine whether any maps are believed missing...The FBI requests that any information be provided to Special Agent Steve Kelleher, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 600 State St., New Haven CT 06511; telephone (203) 503-5116."