Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-07-11
a FRENCH SENSATION.

An Extraordinary RObbery-DtA-
mOnds worth Eight billions OIL
Francs stolen.
The Figaro Of Paris tells remarka-
BILE story of 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 celebrated throughout all Eu-
rope for her adventures and for her mag
nifcent diamonds. The value Of these
diamonds was estimated at eight mil
lions of francs. Among her intimate
friends Madame Y. counted Sir Joshua
D., a gentleman of cold and reserved
bearing. He was very attentive to her
and was her favored lover. But unfor.
tunately for 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 rob-
bers. His plan was we'll laid. In the
month. of January of last year ne in
duced the husband of Madame x. to
have the ceiling Of his apartment fres-
coed. and recommended to him for that
purpose an Italian painter, who, Sir
Joshua said, was an excellent workman.
The painter, member of the robber
band, came from Milan, and improved
the time he was at work in The room by
taking an impression of all the locks.
A month after this, Sir Joshua sug-
gested to the husband that his wife's dia-
monds were not in safety, and that
Madame X. ought to buy a jewelcase
for them, at the same time remarking
that he knew a very good English maker.
The new jewel-case, was accordingly
made in London, and the diamonds were
placed in it. At the end Of two months
later, on the warm recommendation OF
Sir Joshua. permission was granted by
Madame X to another of his confede-
rates, Munich jeweler, to copy the de-
signs of some of her jewelry, ostenslbly
for the Empress of Germany. The plan
was then complete. A valet de chambre,
in, the employ of Sir Joshua, opened
every day the jewel-oase, which had
been provided with secret and invisl-
BILE opening in the back of the case. Ii
was only necessary to press button
and secret spring opened the box.
In this way all the diamonds we're
removed one By one, their place being
supplied by imitation stones, which were
made with such inimitable perfection BY
the Munich jeweller that they exactly
resembled the genuine diamonds. Mad:
anne X. did not perceive any change,
and the robbery was only discovered by
chance. A few days ago one Of her in
innate friends, a lady who was going to
London, borrowed from Madame X. a
splendid solitaire. "Take good care OF
itH said Madame x, as she gave it to
her friend, "it would be worth fifteen
hundred thousand francs if it did not
have little defect" The lady wore the
diamond at the Goyent Garden Theater,
and while there one of the best known
jewellers of London, Mr.. B was in her
box. She called his attention to the
brilliant, saying pity it 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 .ol-
lowing day. He did so, and pronounced
il an imitation diamond.
The English police we're notified. Sir
Joshua, fortunately, had been arrested
two days before this in London, on sus-
pieion Of being concerned in the Bid
well forgery,case. He was examined by
Mr.. Williamson, the chief Of the detect
ives, 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 in
teresting details. and gave the address
of many Of his aocomplces.
The Figaro adds that the band was
then in London, and probably all would
be captured; that the friend Of Madame
Y. had not dared TO reveal her terrible
loss to her, and that she would first
learn it from the London police on the
same day that it was published in the
the columns of the Figaro.