The New York herald., 1872-10-19
THE new ORLEANS DIAMOND ROBBERY
The Great Steamboat Conflagratlon Of 1871 a
s6 Part Of the Plot.
Billy Forrester, the Nathan Murderer,
Leader Of the Robber Gang.

From the Memphis Tenn.) Avalanche, Oct 10.
In the AvdSasscAe OF Saturday, September n, ap-
peared letter from James Kenny, noted thief
to Chief OF Police Athy In which he referred TO the
great Sccoler diamond robbery OF January !, 1871,
In New Orleans. The letter was written In October
OF last year, and in it Kenny alludes to having
come to this city with Billy Forester about three
weeks after the robbery was committed. Kenny
stated also that Billy brought fourteen pieces OF
diamond jewery, consisting OF pins and rings with
him. These were given to Jim Hickey, another
well known thief who was In the city at the time,
and who undertook to "fence,n or dispose OF them
for Billy. The large centre stone OF cluster pm
worn by Angelo Marie was one OF the stolen stones,
Kenny thought. To whom the other diamonds were
sold, he did not know, but supposed they were all
disposed OF In this city.
~ VISIT a;C TO kESNYs zen = PRESENT T. QUARTERS VA & ono,
was robbed, seeing Kenny's letter. as published in
the Avalanche, Immediately to this city for
the purpose, II possible OF recovering some OF his
goods. Arriving here he proceeded to Chief Athy's
Office and, after an interview with that olfcial II
was determined that the two gentlemen should
visit Kenny, who is in the Penitentiary at Nash
vile. and see II he could not be induced to make
some additional disclosures concerning this great
Athy that the thieves carried Off diamonds to the
amount Of $93 600, first COST exclusive OF settings
When they reached Nashville Kenny was round
industriousiy engaged In chiseling stone for the
benefit OF the good people OF the commonwealth m
cuiar Benr T normed Of the Object Of the visit
kenny said he was willing to tell all he knew con-
cerning the robbery.
FoRREsrER IN THE LEAD-How IT WAS DONE.
1t was committed, he said, by Billy Forester,
Frank Dayne, alias Dago Frank, and Dave Cum
mings who had planned the job several weeks
previous. To AFFORD them greater immunity from
general observation the three burglars, the night
Of the robbery hired a. man to hre & several 9 boats
and IN the confagration the Thompson Dean and
nve other large first class steamers were totally
destroyed. A steamboat fire invariably attracts an
immense crowd
and in this instance the fire, being an unusually
large ana consequently exciting one, proved no
eral squares being ordered to the river
u1 paratvely s deserted. % Among @ other er'' beats
vacated by the men OF shields and clubs was that
in which Mr.. Scooler's store was located. The
knowledge OF this fact was properly appreciated
and taken advantage OF by the three gums who
by the aid of their fools, effected an entrance to
Of dawn had appeared on the horizon they quilted
the store unmolested and unnotced, with 100000
worth of the gllttering gems In their possession
For few days the trio kept quiet and after divid-
Orleans, accompanied. by. Kenny, for this city,
Hickey. With the exception OF the centre stone,
sold Angelo Marie, Kenny said he did not know for
certain what had been done with the sparks"
FORESTER UNDOUBTEDLY NATHANS MURDERER.
In q subsequent conversation with Chief Athy he
stated that he was certain that Forester was the
man who murdered Nathan the New York banker.
No one but Forresters wife knew, however, and
as for her, he said, ..She's too ny to give Billy
away.n Blonde Mollie as Mrs. Forester Is
iamlliarly known by her associates in this city,
was the friend who conveyed him the tools where
with to break jail while he was incarcerated in
our county stronghold and which he so conscien-
tiously turnef over to Jailcr Jackson.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
Returning to this city Chief Athy and Mr.. SCOOTER
visited the bank where Angelo's pin is on deposit
security for the appearance OF his brother John
before the Criminal Court for trial. AS soon as the
pin was handed him, Mr. SCOOTER identified the
centre stone as one stolen from him the night OF
the robbery. From other sources the Chief learned
OF two other diamond pins that had been disposed
or shortly after the robbery, and sending FOR them,
they were also promptly identified by Mr.. SCOOTER.
| The setting OF the two last mentioned had never
| been changed, the gentleman purchasing them sup
posing that all was right, and II was to this that
Mr. SCOOTER was indebted for his recollection OF the
pins. One of them is small cluster, the other q
solitaire of about one karat Chief Athy retained
the pms, and now has them In his possession. He
Is now busily engaged in looking up some other
gems that were sold here. and then sent East. OF
the three robbers that planned and carried this
most gigantic ana daring robbery to a successful
conclusion, Billy Forester Is In Joliet Qllinois
State) Prison. serving out an unexpired term ,Oi
thirteen years; Dago Frank is in Jail at jersey
City for attempted robbery Of national bank at
that point and Dave Cummings, last but by no
means least In point OF skill and daring, Is at lib
erty, although he is wanted by the authorities.