The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1872-08-22
A WIDOW RICAUDE.
Leaffrom a Detectives Portfolio.

Sitting in the front office one morn
ing, engaged in perusing the Chica
GO papers, / heard the chiefs bell
tinkle rather excitedly. The ser.
geant answered it.
Send Morse to me- next reached
my ear through the half open door
Before the sergeant could repea,
the order, / had passed him and was
by the side of the chief.
sit down, Mr.. Morse he said, as
he continued making some notes in
the register.
obeyed, and anxiously waited his
commands.
Il have singular case before me
this morning. he began 'and l am
about to try your ingenuity to unrav
ell it,
My expectation was aroused.
Con the goth of last month the Hon
Mr.. F. gave ball at his mansion
in Michigan avanue, which was at
tended by all of the elite of the city.
Il remember it. l said.
Do you remember what occurred
there?'
almost every lady in the room
lost some article of jewelry,' l re-
piled.
Exactly for which no one could
account, as the party was mostly Sc
lect. and it would have been an out.
wage to have suspected any one pres
ent of stealing in such a wholesale
manner.
l acknowledged the justice of his
remarks.
The chief continued.
sOn the 10Th of the month grand
promenade concert was given at the
Academy of Music, and the same
thing occurred. This would not
seem SO singular, as there was plen-
ty of opportunity for the professional
pick pockets; but the remarkable
feature is that no gentlemen, were
robbed, but all who suffered were Ia
dies
This is, indeed, singular I re-
piled.
Perhaps responded the chief, in
a dubious tone. NOW for the last
event. Yesterday morning, as you
probably heard, Mr.. w. was we'd
ded to the daughter of Mr.. Geo. F.,
at st. Johns church. The assem-
blage was large, and, of course, COM
posed largely of the ton. The bride
received the congratulations of her
numerous friends and left the church,
but had not reached the carriage
when she discovered that one of her
bracelets were gone. A search was
Immediately made in the church,
but it was nowhere to be seen. Then
came another and another cry from
various parties-all ladies-who lad
lost one or another article of jewelry,
with an an occasional portmonnaie.
/ was greatly excited.
sWhat are your conclusions p /
asked.
q would first have heard yours,
said the chief, looking at me closely,
as though to test my penetration:
reflected a moment and could
form but one opinion.
There must be some person. said
1, figuring at present in fashionable
society, who is a second Darlington
in the lifting profession
"a very proper conclusion, said
the chief, smiling at my simplicity
sBut let us determine something.
For instance, is it man or a wo.
man p
sMost likely a woman l remarked,
sas none but women suffer from the
thiet's adroit practice
THAT would be the first conclu-
sion,' said the chief; but on the 9TH
err hand, man might perform the
deed, combining his practice to fe-
males only, to throw the blame up
on Them
you now have the particulars
continued the chief. l give you one
week to solve the mystery, and bring
the adopt to justice. Here is list
of the principal loosers. You can
take your own course as to the plan
you will follow. Good morning.
/ knew that this case had been
placed in my hands as "a test of my
skill, and I resolved, II within the
hands of ingenuity, to compass it. II
was most singular case, occurring
as, it did in the heart and center Of
society. 1t was impossible to &C.
cuse any body on suspicion; there
must be proof positive before a word
could be uttered. How was it to be
obtained? v M
sat down and thought seriously,
laying out my plans, as / grasped
each point OF the case. Then ! rose