The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-24

Daring Diamond Robbery in
Daylight.
CUTTING OUT A COAT POCKET.
Precious Stones, Valued at $4,000, Taken from
a Merchant in Broadway Conveyance.

Some person, az yet unknown, stole package
containing diamonds valued at $4,000 from the
breast pocket OF the coat OF Mr.. Jerome L. Babe of
2s Waverey place, yesterday afternoon while he
was riding down town In Filth avenue stage Is
appears that Mr.. Babe arrived in this city from
London, England, on the steamship Atlantic about
fortnight ago, bringing with him the property
that he was robbed OF yesterday Upon his ar
rival in town he took up his residence
at % waverley place and Immediately
set himself to work TO dispose of the
stock He remained IN New York eight or ten
days, and during that time visited nearly all the
principal diamond merchants Finding the trade
in precious stones somewhat dull, Mr.. Babe went
on to Philadelphia to what the state OF Affairs
In that city, and also to visit some frends The
market In Philadelphia not being up to the stand
ard OF his ideas of the value OF his diamonds, Mr..
Babe returned TO New York on Saturday last and
again set himself to work to dispose OF the pro-
perry During the course OF Monday afternoon Mr..
Babe again visited all the principal diamond mer-
chants Of the city, and he was continuing the work
yesterday, when
he WAS DEPRIVED THH STONES
in wholly unexpected manner. He had left his
house in Waverley place about ten O'Clock In the
morning, and, after calling upon one or two parties
In the neighborhOOd Of Broadway, went to the New
York Hotel to meet o friend with whom he had
made an appointment. Staying but short time
In the hotel, both gentlemen went out on the side
walk, and Mr. Babe, bidding his friend gOOdby,
took passing Fifth avenue stage and went down
town. When he got into the stage there were but
few people in it. He sat on the left hand side sf
the conveyance going down town, and almost
Immediately opposite TO him lady,
accompanied by gentleman. Having
seated himself rs far up the stage possiblethat
is as close up the drivers seat as he could get
Mr.. Babe turned himself half way towards the open
window, and, resting his left elbow upon the sash,
amused himself by looking at the street. While
sitting in this halfturned position and intent upon
the objects passing to and fro beneath his eye, Mr.
Babe never noticed the stage had gradually filled
body turned towards the opposite side Of
had S an excellent Opportunity to .work' at the
pocket containing the valuable package. II Mr..
Babe had been requested to place himself and the
for rObber he could not have better disposed OF
both. The diamonds were tied up In five small
packages, which were enclosed In piece oil the Ordi
nary diamond paper, thus making one little parcel
Of the whole, and this package Mr., Babe never
pocEet q his coat For some me he
remembered before he missed the package he no
ea n ms IN 1e n S ses
ing along Broadway he took no notice OF the mat
ter. Besides, what persons he had noticed In the
vehicle seemed to be thoroughly respectable, and
NO SUSPICION OF ANY WRONG
for moment entered his mind. Two or three
his head, and then everything in the stage seemed
quiet and oil the passengers looked to be honest
When as Ss, got to TO ae MY
Babe stood up to 60 out. He involnntarily put his
hand upon his pocket where the DIAMONDS tn were
gone. In the excitement OF the discovery he sunk
back into the seat and began to search for the ya
h,,t, nAtA uIu fha fo dQ
the coat ss pocket that held them mad been carried
riously at it, but nothing whatever renamed
but the pockethole cut IN the sde Oh tne
coat The receptacle ra se nad Seen Ra Sea way
in maze Of bewiderment, and 80 were the other
passengers. Every one IN the vehicle became ut
once concerned when the news OF the robbery
was given them. There was plenty OF sympathy
for the loser but nothing else The lady who had
been sitting opposite to him all the way down town
remembered having seen "a gentleman" ~ leave
the stage some few moments before Mr.. Babe dis
covered he had been robbed. He was rather plain
looking man, she remarked. quietly dressed and
went out OF the stage very softly-so gently, In
Decd that he seems not to have disturbed any one:
or how long before the theft found out the lady
could not exactly tell, but she noticed the man very
particularly and would be sure to know him again.
There can be no doubt this is the right party for
he remained close up to Mr.. Babe all the time no
| or not the police will soon determine 1t Ia, how
ever, highly probable he had one or more confedc-
| for some time and were thoroughly aware Of the
nature of his business. There can be no doubt that
the thief or
THIEVES WERE s.sHADowING" THE GENTLEMAN
since he into the city, and very probably had
found out just exactly what he was carrying on his
person. This they could very easily do by walt
ing until he went into some diamond merchants
Office store, then go after him, ask to be shown
some goods, and, while pretending to be engaged
examining the things before them, ascertain the
nature and value OF the goods he was Offering for
sale. Cases Of this kind are common, the only
asta
carrying so much valuable property upon their per-
should not be more careful When Mr. Babe July
realized the loss OF his diamonds he Immediately
rushed to the Office OF superintendent kelsO, gave
that gentleman the details Of the affair and added
the thief and the recovery OF the property or, an
equivalent portion OF that amount for the return "
these roSeres %ee sny
and then handed him over to acting Captain Tilly,
with instructions to put every available man IN the
Office to work at once upon the CASE Captain
Tilly then took description OF the property
from the gentleman and handed IL TO ms
officers Detective Phil Farley was afterwards
sent for by superintendent KesO in consequence
OF some instructions received from Presidenc
smith to the effect that the thief must be found II
the department had to be turned upside down.
MI. Smith said he would make some OF the scoun-
drels that had been proving around tne Guy 50
again IN harness. Detective Farley was ordered
by the superintendent to go out at once and 40
everything In his power to catch the thief and re-
cover the property. All this excitement In the de-
partment was created by
TIE DARISG OF THE THIEF AND THE BOLDNEss o.
THE ROBBERY.
Detective Farley went to work at once and COM
menced with the diamond stores. He visited
number OF them, gave them descriptions or the
stones, and cautioned the merchants II any party
went TO them TO sell any OF the property the police
should be sent for while the individual was In tho
shop He sent these instructions to all the houses
he could not personally go TO- and then turned his
attention to the express offlces, TO make sure that
no packages should be sent out OF the city likely to
contain diamonds without the authorities being
able to find out who they were sent by
and where they were sent rom. Detective
Farley then turned his attention to another
channel through which stolen goods frequently ina
their way. These dark and mysterious ways are
only known to the police and even then only 10 the
clever ones In the force, but IL IL to be hoped the
efforts Of Detective Farley will be successful anu
this daring robber will be brought TO Justlce: Ihs