New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-10-24
. nIAK RoRREsTER,s Ga1fEa

Curling GO SOrtune into Lake Michigans
eve reproduce the following from the
&ew YoPla S8t1t 90 that our readers can see
Aow inaccurate the New York press can be.
SIr. Scooter did not keep a pawnbrokers
office. noq gas his establishment on the
second Aooq Of the building. The story
chat jimmy Hickey hurled $4,000 worth Of
gcooler's diamonds into Lake Michigan is
shout as correct as the rest Of the sensa
Sion. We copy from the San!
The city papers of October Is contained %
dispatch from Memphis, Tennessee, refer
Png to 5be SCOOTER diamond robbery in
AeW Orleans on New Years eve, 1871 The
giispa9ch SAYS that one James Kenny, a no
eoriOus thief, at present serving term in
che Tennessee Penitentlary, has confessed
Phat the robbery was planned by Billy For
Gester, Dag0 Frank and Dave Cummings,
end that in order to draw away the police
srom the scene of the burglary, the three
burglars hired men to set steamboats, at the
landing ON fire, and that tSus six @nagniti-
Gent vessels were destroyed.
Yesterday a San reporter had an fn6A-
Piew with twG well known detectives of
Ghis city, whose knowledge OF this matter
may safely be considered as accurate as
envy that can be secured. From them Gle
SaCts subioined were obtained.
The SCOOTER diamond robbery 9Tas Perpe-
Grated by Billy Forester, DagO Frank,
S)ave Cummings, Mark Shinbury, and an
gther man whose name is unknown. This
gatter is new operator in the field, but is
believed to be respectfully connected, well
educated, and very smart.
The Gay before the robbery, thaG is, on
Che last day of December, 1870, this man,
&ashionably attired and with the bearing OF
% polished gentleman, entered a photo
gsraphers gallery adjoining ScOoler's pawn
broker office, and had his portrait taken.
SVhie the finishing touches were being put
90 the picture the gentleman walked around
Gle rooms, and was apparently examining
Che photographs on the walls. He remark
ed that ScOOler's pawn Office must be next
door, and that SCOOTER must be a wealthy
man. In due time ho got his portrait, paid
Cor it and departed.
The knowledge of the locality shus ac-
C,uired enabled the burglars to 60 TO work
with certainty of success. Sco0ler's pawn
office was situated in corner building, and
was on tho second floor 1t was only ne
sessary to ascend the first stair and break
9hrough a Iath and plaster wall of about
Shree inches in thickness to gain admit
tance to ScO0ler's rooms. This could be
done with the greatest ease, as no suspi-
cion had been excited and the burglars
were entirely shrouded from outside OBJ
servation. The story, therefore, Of their
having caused the steamers to be set on fire
90 draw off the police, must be considered
Gss wholly improbable and untrue.
At the time Of this burglary Billy Forces
Ger was going by the name of Frank How
ard, and WAS residing in the suburbs of
New Orleans. To his house the plumber
was taken, and there also the thieves con-
cealed themselves for some DAYS The
spoils were then divided, and Billy Forres.
ter went with his share to Memphis, Ten
nessee. where he met Angelo Marie, a de-
+ective OF that city, and a great friend Of
Dago Frank. Part of the plumber was sold
to Marie. and the rest was delivered into
the charge of Jimmy Hickey, wellknOwn
Southern express robber, who resided for
some wears in New York, and who was sup
posed to have been drowned of Coney
island steamboat some time the year before
last. Jimmy was a famous thlmole-Ig
man and three-card monte player, ana wen
known to The residents OF the seventh ward
and to holiday visitors to Coney island
With the diamonds handed over to him by
Billy Forester, Hickey started for Chi
cago
Just about this time, however, Jimmy
was wanted fer some express robbery near
Memphis, in which he was supposed to have
been concerned. On arriving in Chicago,
Jimmy learned that the detectives were on
the lookout for him there, and he at once
resolved to start for New York. He got his |
ticket and was, as he thought, safe on the |
train without his movements being known. |
The engine screamed and the cars began to |
move. Jimmy was congratulatlng himself
on his escape. In the meantime, however,
the officers had got wind Of his intention, \
and followed him to the railroad station. !
When they reached it the tram mad
started They rushed after it, and boarded
it just az it was passing Twelfth street.
They hurried through the cars, and soon
aspied Jimmy, merry and hilarious as usual
in the act of Offering whisky task 10 MS