The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-07-08
A French sensation-An E1traordi-
nary RObbery-Dt q m onds worth
Fight Millions Of Francs Stolen.

Eight Millions Of Francs Stolen.
The Figaro, of Paris, tells remarkable
story of a most ingenious robbery which
has been recently perpetrated in Paris:
There is now living in Paris lady-whose
name is not divulged-who has become cele'
brated throughout all Europe for her adj
ventures and for her magnificent diamonds
The value of these diamonds was estimated
at eight millions Of frarics. Among her init
mate friends Madame x. counted Sir JoshuH
d., a gentleman of cold and reserved bear
ing. He was very attentive to her, and was
her favored lover. But unfortunately fol
Madame X. the devoted Englishman did not
love her for herself, but for her jewels, and
he was in reality the chief of an organized
band of robbers. His plan was well laid
In the month Of January OF last year he in
duced the husband of Madame a. to have
the ceiling of his apartment freScoed, and
recommended to him for that purpose al
italian PAINTER who, Sir Joshua said, was an
excellent workman. The painter, Il member
of the robber-land, came from Milan, and
improved the time he was at work in the
room by taking an impression of all the
locks.
month alter this, Sir Joshua suggested
| TO :ne husband that his wife's diamonds
were not in safety, and that Madame n
ought to buy jewel.c case for them, at the
SANE time reu.arkiug. that he knew very
good E,.riis.: maker. The new jewel.case
was acco. dinghy made in London, and the
diamonds were place,t in it. At the end OF
two months later, on the warm recommends
ton of Sir Joshua, permission was granted
by Madame x. to another of his confede-
rates, Munich jewe!ler, to copy the designs
of some of her jewelry, ostensibly for the
Empress of Germany. The plan was then
complete. 4 oalet de chdn,bre, in the en-
ploy of Sir Joshua, opened every day the
iewel-case, which had been provided with a
secret and invisible opening in the back of
the case. 1t was only necessary to press u
button and secret spring opened the box.
In this way all the diamonds were re-
moved Que by one; their place being sup
piled by imitation stones, which were made
with such inihitable perfection by the
Munich jeweller tbat they exactly resembled
the genuine diamonds. Madame x. did not
perceive any change, and the robbery was
only discovered by chbnce. A few days ago
one of her intimate friends, lady who was
going to London, borrowed from Madame
Y. splendid spIitaire. "Take good care Of
it." said Madame X, as she gave it to her
friend, cit would be worth fifteen thou
sand francs if it die not have little de-
feet" The ;ady wore the diamond at the
Covent Garden theatre, and while there one
of the best known Jewellers of London, Mr..
B., was in her box. She called his atten-
ton to the brilliant, saying what pity II
was that it had a defect. Mr.. b. examined
it, and could not detect any flaw. He asked
to be allowed TO see it by daylight on the
following day. He did so, and pronounced
it an imitation diamond.
The English police were notified, Sir
Joshua, fortunately, had been arrested TWO
DAYS before this, in London, on suspicion OF
being concerned in the Bidwell forgery case
He was examined by MIR. Williamson, the
chief Of the detectives, about the diamond
robbery. at first he denied all knowledge
of the affair, but afterward, thinking that the
truth was known, he related all these inter
esting details, and gave the address OF many
of bis accomplices.
FIGARO adds that the whole band was then
in London, and probably all would be cap
tured that the friend OF Madame 4. had moi
dared 10 reveal her terrible loss to her, and
that she would first learn it from the Lon
don police on the same day that it was pub
lished in the columns Of the Figaro.