A Nova Scotia man accused of stealing more than 1,000 rare artifacts is facing new charges, while a second man has been arrested in the case.

John Mark Tillman, 51, of Fall River remains in custody after police executed a search warrant at his home on Jan. 18.

Police seized about 1,300 stolen artifacts valued at about $1 million from the home.

Police say they have laid 23 new charges in the case against Tillman, bringing the total number of charges against him to 27:

  • Fourteen counts of possession of stolen property under $5,000
  • One count of theft under $5,000
  • One count of possession of stolen property for the purpose of trafficking
  • Two counts of trafficking in stolen property
  • One count of obstructing justice
  • Two counts of possession of forged documents
  • One count of uttering forged documents
  • Four counts of possession of stolen property over $5,000
  • One count of causing someone to deal with a forged document.

The new charges come after police raided a second home in connection with the case on Friday.

Police seized sheet music authored by a Henry H. Tillman from the home on Yerevan Drive in Sackville.

Investigators believe the item was stolen from Memorial University in Newfoundland.

A number of books and war medals were also recovered, including a letter written by George Washington, which was stolen from the Dalhousie University Library Archives.

Michael Moosberger of the Dalhousie University Archives says Washington wrote the letter in 1775 after his appointment as head of the Continental Army. He says the letter contains the appointment of Moses Child.

“Telling him to go up to Nova Scotia to tell him what he could about the state of the colony and City of Halifax.”

Moosberger says Washington had wanted Child to find out what the revolutionaries were facing from the British.

“I would probably refer to him as a spy, someone sent out to gather information.”

A 23-year-old man will face charges of obstruction of justice, perjury, and possession of stolen property in connection with the case.

The Sackville man was released from custody and is due to appear in provincial court on April 24.

Tillman is scheduled to appear in provincial court on Friday.

Police say the two men are known to one another.