Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1848-12-06
FaoM THE new Yorx PoLicn oAzErrs OF r0v. le.
TIE ROBBERY AT THE PATENT OFFICE.
Robberu of the State Je,rels-The Thiepes


bove aud beyond the mere nominal value of loss.
The articles were contained in a large double glass
case, which stood nearly opposite the main entrance
Of the great hall tho second story and consisted
of a splendid gold snuff box set with diamonds.
presented 10y the Sultan, and valued at SIX thousand
dollars; gold scabbard. belonging TO sword pre-
sented to Com. Biddie by some other potentate.
and valued at three Thousand five hundred dollars
pint bottle of the of roses, OF three times the
value OF its weight in gold presented by an Eastern
Prince a necklace OF the most resplendent pearls.
Of similar donation two extra large pearls, which
repDSed in the gold box; sword and scabbsTd or
gold, presented to Commodore Elliot, another sword
with diamond hilt; and several gold medals and
Roman coins, making an aggregate Of valuation of
fifteen Thousand dollars
The manner and method Of the robbery appear
to have been ingenious and daring in the extreme,
and give evidence Of having been the plan of expe-
rienced feunous minds. The time selected shows
fore,huught and rare Judgment; for, though the
pure moonlight nigh: would, under ordinary cir
cumsances. have been most NAL cprOpos selec-
ton, the raging storm OF tho Presidential canvass
obscured all nicer points of observation.
While, therefore, the politcul watchmeu were
cngrosscd in calculations the chances of Cass
and Butler, the robbers entered the front door with
nippers, which grasped the key inserted on tho in
side, and having locked the door behind them, lels-
urely proceeded up stairs. A skeleton key next
opened the door of the great hall on the second
with piece Of cord, that, fdisurbed, they would
have time to make egre,s by the window with a
knoied rope, they set about their work. To avoid
making any noise by the breaking OF the which
contained the jewels, they pasted the glass well
over with heavy paper, and then striking il with All
iron instrument, slivered it gently with muffled
sound, none of The pieces dropping TO the floor
Removing this carefully, they used the same pre-
cautions with the inner case, taking out from each
the sheets of cohesive fragments, and laying them
beside them n chair.
They then commenced the rhing OF tho roposi-
tory, but probably alarmed at the sharp strokes Of
concealed bells attached TO The gold box the scab-
bard and the string of pearls, which had been sto-
len once before, they cOn,ented themselves with
such booty as lay within the sweep of their arm,
and hurriedly decamped by the kuuied rope which
hung from side window down hy the corner Of
the main porch. The job SO admirably conceived
completed tho robbers got of safely with
their plumber, and the traces of their operations
were not discovered till the following morning
Then, however the hubbub commenced and ever
since the police of every town which has received
the news have been cudgelling their brains guess
out the perpetrators.
For our own part, we do not feel much puzzled.
We are confident that the robbery was not commit
ted for the mere sake of pecuniary gain, and we
believe we can indicate the perpetrators and signify
their motives.
To BIO plain, :hen, and as brief as plsinness al
ways ought to be, we believe from the bottom of
our souls, and below that, if necessary, that Tom
Hand, alias Shustor, and Jim Webb, the two most
renowned burglars of the age, were tho main per-
Potrators of the sbilfu depreciation and believe
moreover, that the object Of the plumber was TO
gain advantage ground that would enable them and
their agents 10 enter into n treaty in an imposing
manner for the release either of Ned McGowan
from his peril in Philadelphia, for the pardon Of
Charles Webb from the New York State prison
/ hf n
great reputation on ii, is the arch di-
of the whole and his recent visit TO this city
10 consult at nlidnig.l; with Ton Hand and the
burglar Webb stands recognized at last In its true
bearings.
We are writing cautiously and thoughtfully, and
not in the hot temper Of some sudden flrt of the
imagination Let the reader, therefore, listen to
us in the same attentive spirit.
The Patent Office was robbed of these same jew
els or the most valuable of them, before, and
On that occasion the depreciation was committed at
he direction of an entangled felon, by Tom Hand,
10 accomplish his release. The criminal to whom
we aude was the renowned Tom Walker, (the
ormer companion of the Webbs,) now in south
I'm penitentiary on u ten years. sentence for rob
,ing the mail. This man stood inerlocked with
ome dozen or of daring and heavy burglaries
IN Baltimore and New York, and. having no hope
)f compromise by ordinary means, he summoned an
outside friend or two his assistance, and directed
The Patent Office To be robbed. 1t was done. A
reward Of s 900 offered fer the recovery of
he property by the Government. ''Let me slip
through my present Dangers" said Tom Walker
10 certain confidential officers, "and III turn up
his Government swag." The experienced officers
ook the hint, and having made all the necessary
with the local district attorneys,
1ingly advised the agents of the government 10
raise the reward to fifteen hundred dollars. The
$500 were added !; when 10 as ifby magic, the
frunk cootainu0 the MISSING Jewels was found ra
posing all ready to the hands of''ye vigilant po-
ice, ;" upon the deck OF the brig Mary Bright, and
Tom Walker maugre all his accumulated crimes,
was hocus pocussed into the open air. No inquiry
was made after the thieves, and the Government
with dirty fondness for its worthless baubles paid
the price for their recovery, without making any
efforts to vindicats its outraged laws, and the
thieves went by with the wind-no man to qucs
ton them
1t remains 10 be seen if this latter transaction is
to end in the same way. For our part, we hope 1t
may not. We are opposed to compromise in toto.
Rather than that the thieves should buy single
day from a ten years sentence obtain a shade
IF favor from an associate, by restitution, we would
see the Jewels thrown into the sea, or consumed
be fore Our eyes and we believe ownership in
hem is as great "a thai of the President himself
They are worthless in every sense indeed, mere
Daubles Of barbarian caprice, and OF value purely
As trilng as they are, however, they
VIII not " Hut~, t'd, W g'Du Siiht, VIII Coh'N
back again. The ottar OF roses will never be
-orked the thieves are not fools enough for that
the jewelIed snuff box will remain undespoiled
and the scabbard Of ihe diamond hi!ed sword will
never safer under the crucble, the scratch
Of an irreverent pin. This is a matter, however,
hat should give great Government very small
concern. lis true inquiry is after the despolers,
md its legitimate aim the punishment Of those who
have so audaciously dcficd its laws.
ExTRAoRDfNARY CLoCK-BEARD At THE DIS
rANcE OLE THEE nCNDRED NILEs.--Jhe various