The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-04-18
Operations of a New York Thief

A Z eleven o'clock on Monday morn
IN ing, clerical-looking gentleman
mounted the stoop Of the brown-stone
mansion, which is kept as frst-class
boarding house by Mrs. Hill, at 261
West Fourteenth street, and rang the
bell. He is about thirty years of age, Of
medium height, and slender build. His
clothes were black, and were made long
and square. They we're ornamented with
long rows of little black buttons reaching
to his shirt-collar, which was straight
and stiff, and bound around with narrow
black silk neck-tie.
When the colored servant-girl appeared
at the door, the gentleman asked to see
Mrs Hill. He placed his hat on the rack
in the hall, and was shown into the mag
nifcently furnished parlor, where he took
his seat on luxuriant divan. At this
moment Mrs. Hill entered. The clerical
gentleman arose, and with the politest of
bows, introduced himself as the Rev. DR..
Melville, Roman Catholic priest, who
would like to secure room and temporary
board. He referred to the Rev. DIR.
Leou of Westchester county. Mrs. Hill
thought that too far away, and he sug-
gested that she might call upon the Rev.
Father Hecker, in Fifty-ninth street
Father Hecker had known him intimately
in Rome, and was acquainted with his
family-in fact knew all about him. He
was shown to a room, and it pleased him
He was boarding in the Fifth Avenue
Hotel, and would drop round there and
order his baggage which would arrive
within an hour With another polite
bow he took his hat and walked out. f
He strolled down Fourteenth street in
the direction of Broadway, down which
he turned, entering Adams & Co.'S jewel
ry establishments He proposed to buy
two gold watches An assortment was
shown him. Their merits were discussed
and he selected two, valued at $247, or,
dering them to be sent to 251 Yves,
Fourteenth street, to the Rev. DIR. Nell
vile. He then retraced his steps tc
Mrs. Hills The lady meanwhile had
been making preparations to visit Fat hel
Hecker to ascertain the truth of the Rev
DIR. Melville's story; but she was mo-
ready when he returned. He walked int
the front parlor and took up his position
before the windows, looking out into thu
street Mrs. Hill requested him to bt
seated, and he thanked her and complied
She had slight suspicion of his honesty
so she instructed her servant to keep
watch on him. The told the doctor hi
,, room would not be ready until evening
and he answered that that would do
He would not take the hint to 60 out, 5,
| she started for Fifty-ninth street.
He had hardly seated himself whel
, the bell rang, and young gentleman in
quired for the Rev, DIR. Melville. Th
young gentleman is an employee Of Ad
! ans & Co., and held in his hand nea
! paper box containing the two gold watch
es which the Rev. DR.. had selected III
was shown into the parlor, and walking u
. to his Reverence delivered the parcel.
/" I declare l have forgotten the bill,
, he said.
!. "Oh, never mind. You can leave tn
r watches here, and run round to the stor
t and get it," said DR.. Melville at won
s take you but few minutes"
! The young gentleman was on the poin
2 of complying, when another employee 9
Adams Il Co. arrived in breathless hast
s. with the bill 90 m.i 'gs
Sorry for your trouble" said ID
/ Melville, as he drew blank check o
d the bank of America. lsirrH
D "Here Mary Ito the seryant.) Mary
/ pen aud ink if you please !"
The Reverend Doctor filled up tn
r check for $247. He then signed h
d name and handed it to clerk No. 2, ]
/ payment for the watches That gentl'
70 man received it with suspicion.
k But don't know anything about tn
check" said he. "How can ] tell whetl
< er it is good or not 7"