Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1871-04-08
The Romance Of Robbery,


The Romance Of Robbery.
The late audacious diamond robbery in
London, and the circumstances and subse-
qucns developments Of the arrest ensuing,
afford an interesting study of the pitiable
aud adventurous class in fashionable"
society which Is so strikingly typifed in
fiction by the Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred Lam-
nile of "Our Mutual Friend" On the
18th day of last month neat cab stopped
at the curb before the elegant jcwelry es-
tablishment of Messrs. Loudon Il Ryder,
New Bond street, and, therefrom alighted
and entered the store q well dressed, pale,
and rather distinguished looking man,
who, upon being approached by a shopman,
desired to look at some necklaces and rings
in irst-water brilliants. A rich assortment
Of the articles designated was shown; but
between not unnaturally wavering prefer
ences, first for this and then for that, the
stranger seemed unable to decide upon a
purchase, and finally requested, in mat
ter.ofcourse way, that the firm should
send a collection to his residence, by one of
their statesmen, in order that his wife, Mrs.
Tyrrell, might choose for herself. Such
selection was sent to the given address, in
Upper Berkely street, by trusted assist
ant named Parkes, who, in a fine, but rath-
er sparsely furnished reception-room found
Tyrrell and lady of corresponding aspect
ready to hold consultation over the glitter
ing wares. Flashing necklaces, sparkling
pendants, and prismatic fpger.rings were
drawn from green bag and displayed to
the admiring pair in due course; and
when the lady, after dwelling particularly
upon one necklace and set, stepped into
another room for moment, Mr.. Parkes
felt sure that decision was near at hand,
and leaned back complacently in his chair
while Mr.. Tyrrell examined a ring near
the window. In another instant, however,
he was astounded to feel sponge sudden
ly pressed over his mouth and uostrils by
the fair Mrs. Tyrrell, who had stealthily
rc.entered the parlor and while yet the
first fumes Of the chloroform confused his
faculties, he was bound securely with a
leathern strap by husband and wife, and
left to sink into insensibility during their
selection of more than twelve thousand
dollars worth of diamonds from his un-
guarded treasures. Upon recovering con.
seriousness, he found, of course, that his
despoilcrs had fed, leaving him entirely
alone in the house; aud great as had been
the robbery, more than half the jewelry
brought to the interview was left untouch-
ed 1t was the impression of the plunder-
ed firm, when informed of the above cir
cumstances that the Tyrrells had fed the
country; but the police thought it worth
while to at least beat the English bush be-
fore hunting in foreign parts, and the re-
suit of their homely sagacity has been the
capture Of the lady in the case. In. testi-
flying as to the facts of the arrest. Super
intendent Lund said that, from informa-
tion received by him, he had for several
days kept a watch on Windsor Villa,
Champion Terrace, bennington, where
the prisoner and her husband had resided
since June. Oa Thursday morning he
went to this house and found the prisoner
in front room. She was reading letter,
and when he entered and told her who he
was she said, g How dare you come into the
house ola lady? l request you will leave
the room Immediately" She then began
to read the letter which she held in her
hand. An opened envelope lay on the
table. Ho noticed that her countenauce
changed, and he snatched at the letter.
She erumpled it up in her hand, aud he
could not get it from her until it had been
torn into pieces. She said, I" You have
no right to have that; it is my husbands
letter." He put the fragments together,
and was able to read it. He showed the
prisoner letter, which she said was for
her husband, directed under cover to
friend. He then told her that he should
take her into custody on a charge of steal
ing jcwelry at No. 4 Upper Berkely street,
Marylebone, and cautioned her that what
ever she might say would be given in evil
dence against her. She began to cry, and ex-
claimed, {" Oh, my God! what will become
Of my child aud husband ? do not care
about being punished myself so long as
my husband is not, for he is not strong
enough to bear it," In the afternoon Of
the same day he went to the police cell
and read letter from her husband which
had arrived by the midday post. He again
warned her that anything she said would
be stated in evidence, and she replied,
"Mind you, I am alone to blame in this
transaction !; my husband would not have
done such thing if had not tempted
him to do it," These letters from her
husband revealed that the latter was travel
ling on the Continent for the purpose Of
selling the stolen jewels, aud at once
abouuded in eloquent expressions of the
most fervent affection for his wife and
child, aud indicated that the robbery had
been the last desperate expedient to escape
pecuniary humiliation in society" Im-
aginins the Mr.. and Mrs Alfred Lammle
Of Dickens novel as devotedly fond Of
each other, and the formers design upon
Miss Podsnap's jcwelry and the Boffn
treasury a coDioiut scheme to appropriate