Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-01-06
FT0M use L0nu0N TUNES, DEC.
Extraordinary Robber Of Jewels.

OF the StrangeSC on record, even IN the pr0lln
annals of London crime. Fielding when OF worl
upon the biography of Jonathan Wild the Grea
might have hit upon distant counterpart t,
| this romantic incident in the chronicles of th,
hulks, but even his eopious Imagination woul(
have failed him had he attempted to sketch th,
more delicate details and finer shades of such
picture. The robbery ofthe Royal nursery plat
was mere commonplace affair by the side o
such transaction as this. The abstraction o
the gold dust upon the South. Eastern was NJ
doubt planned with wonderful ingenuity follow
ed up with remarkable perseverance, and effect
ed with signal audacity, but it was altogether
wanting in the rich comic vein which peculiarly
distinguishes the achievement of which we arr
now treating. There is no insuperable difficulty
to be sure, in the removal of box from the top o
the cab by three London thieves who are on ths
lookout for anything that may turn up to thei
advantage. This box, however, was the prop
erty of lady of high rank, and contained jew
elry and dresses the value of which is probably
understated at 10000. The fellows who ha(
made this enormous coup were 80 entirely igno
rant of the extent of their own good fortune tina
| they mistook the diamonds for paste and the
dresses for theatrical properties and accordingly
disposed for O few shillings Of what had cos
some thousands of pounds. They appear u
have had pretty much the same idea of the rea
nature of their booty as mob of South Sea say
ages or q gang of drunken sailors might be sup
posed to have had under similar circumstances
The behavior of Clown and Pantaloon in {
Christmas pantoInirne, when their thievish eft
forts have been crowned with success, probably
presents the nearest known counterpart to the
proceedings of Messrs. Whitty, Saint and At
we'll when they were unpacking the results o
their little expedition. We were enabled in oui
impression of Saturday to lay correct version
| of the story before our readers as sketched BY
the master hand of one of the partners in the
theft. If we recur to the transaction to-day 1t
is not in the vain hope of rivaling the graphic
description of writer who might have extorte6
the applause of Defoe himself, but simply in the
discharge of usual duty. The robbery OF Lady
Ellesmere's Jewels is one Of the most striking in
cidents of the day, and we are bound to call at.
tention to it, now that the mystery has received
its solution. 1t is, however, but bare justice to
the eminent writer in question-Mr. William
Atwell-to state, that he has related the pro.
eress of the transaction in spirit which sets all
competition at defiance. 1t is not only the man.
ner In which he marshals his incidents which
commands our admiration, but the rich racy
English in which his narrative is enbalmed is
far beyond the reach of any ordinary tale-teller.
This gentleman has for some time past resided
in seclusion at Springfield Gaol, in the county of
Essex, and it is from this place of temporary re
tirement that he dates the narrative which we
are now about briefly to recapitulate.
On the 22d of Jannary of last year Mr.. Atwell,
in company with his two friends, Messrs. Saint
and Witty, set out upon little excursion from
London bridge to the West end, to see if any
thing could be done in the line of their peculiar
profession. When in the neighborhood Of Gros-
venor square they saw carriage drawn by two
horses, and immediately preceding it two cabs.
On one of these was placed large black port
manteau, with smaller one by its side. Mr..
Witty hereupon remarked, "There go Port st.
Peters," which expression, being interpreted,
means "trunks." The friends were instantly
fired with noble ardour. "May may be lag
aed.n exclaimed Mr.. Witty, full of noble enthu-
siasm. shut I'll have the big one." They &C
cordingly gave chase, and, when the carriage
and the two cabs parted company, Mr.. Witty
Jumped up behind the vehicle which was the OBJ.
ect of their especial pursuit. laid hold of the rail
with one hand, and with the other dragged the
bip portmanteau off into the road. 1t was SO
heavy that, we are told, Whitty, being then
somewhat out of condition, fell with it. The
horse in the cab-so violent was the jerk-rear.
ed up. but the rider was not stumbled, in other
words, had not taken alarm. The three friends
endured some moments of intense anxiety as
thew watched to see if the two "cheers," or cabs
proceeded quietly on their way. They did so
and it was only discovered at the railway ter.
minus that Lady Ellesmere's jewel-box or rather
level trunk, had apparently melted into all. :
Upon the CONSERVATION of the guardian valet
and of the lady whose property had thus mystic
rously disappeared, and Of her maid, when the
disappearance became known, we have no space
to dwell. Probably the last supposition that oc
Cured to any one was that so heavy box hao
been quietly lifted from the top OF the cab in the
face of the passers-by who were there, and o.
the police who should have been there. This
part of the story we must leave to the imaglna
lions of our readers nor can we dwell at any
length upon the ingenious manner in which the
trunk was conveyed to the shop of one Mr.. Ed
ward Jackson, an oil and colorman in Leonard
street, Shoreditch, and deposited under his coun
ter. as though it had been forwarded to him II
the regular course of business. The confederate.
soon assembled in Mr. Jacksons back parlor.-
They consisted of the three friends, Messrs
Whitty, Atwell and Saint already named, and o
Mr.. and Mrs. jackson. To give an idea of wha
followed, it will be proper to mention what was
the real nature and what the value OF the prop
erty which was soon to be tossed from hand u
hand in the little back parlor OF the Shoredltcf
olshop. We take at random from the detailed
account-a pearl necklace, diamond necklace
an emerald and diamond necklace, pair OF dia
mond earrings, pair of emerald and diamond
earrings. q large pair of diamond branches,
small pair of diamond branches, an emerald anc
diamond bracelet, and SO on throughout BE-
sides the iewelry there were lace dresses, China
sbawls. velvet cloaks, Indian scarfs, and Other
articles such as might naturally be supposed tt
form part of the wardrobe OF Lady Elesmer'
when on her way to Windsor Castle.
The back parlor, then, in Leonard street
Shoreditch, soon presented the appearance Q
Aladdin's Gave; but, like SO many ignorant Alaa u
dins, the confederates conceived that the JeWel
were only SO many bits OF colored glass or stone
Mr.. Atwell, indeed, appears to have had soh'
dim suspicion of the reality for, as ne TOOK up
diamond coronet, he exclaimed, "Why, tneu
things are sparks /" meaning diamonds; but th'
better opinion among the party was, thaI ln'
fire of the splendid jewels was mere sham.-
Mrs. jackson, who might be supposed TO De pei
fer informed than her male companions as u
such feminine mysteries, gave it as suggestion
THAT the lady who owned the articles musI o'
q kind of fashionable woman" But IL was ne
cessary to proceed to business that IS 10 Iisiu'
the spoil, and to convert into money, Mhi,t,
sold diamond butterfly which had failen 70 n'
share for 2s. to Mrs. Jackson, and also iace
shawl at the same figure The real value OF !. tne
article was about 5OL Other smaller por9ons
and Iii in the same way. Witty, among his share
Of the spoils, obtained pair Of Lady Ellesmeres
stavs , and linens which ''were all given by hin
to % . ladv named Polly Gentleman The more
serious discussion, however, was as to the value
Of Of the the GREAT bulk Of the spoil Jackson believed
the Jewels TO be worth about 40t-[he should
have said 14,oOOll; the others were completely PIE a