Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-22
A HIGH SOCIETY THIEF.
series Of TheftS by IA Rew York Bro.
Eer Wen Known in the Clubs and
in FnshtOnBble Circles.

Series Of 'rheftS by IA New York Bro.
ker Wen Known in the Clubs and
in FashiOnBbIs circles.
New York Tribune.l
The dingy back office of a New
York detective was the scene of an
impressive spectacle several weeks
ago. In the presence Of the gen
tlemen-one a we'll known detect
i've, the other a prominent mer-
chant-knelt a fashionable dressed
man of middle age, confessing a
shameful story of crime, and i'm
ploring mercy.
81 admit ALL" he cried. 81 stole
the property, but cannot restore it.
| was driven to the deeds in order
to maintain my position in society.
My means had largely left me, and
| could not resist temptation"
This statement fell like thun-
derbolt upon the merchant, who
had known the speaker long and
fayorably. To the detective, how
ever, it was not all unexpected, as
he had already satisfied himself as
to the guilt of the man. The steal
ing which was here confessed was
one of those crimes in the higher
circles of society, which are gem
orally kept hidden from the public.
In the early part 81 last Decem-
Der the family of a prominent law
yer living on Fifth avenue gave a
social entertainment, to which only
persons Of high standing in society
were invited. The following morn
ing it was discovered that rings,
watches and jewelry, worth several
hundred dollars, were missing. The
most careful search and close ex-
animation of servants forced the
conclusion upon the family that the
robbery had been committed by
some one of the guests, although
this seemed incredible, as every
name upon the list of those pres
ent seemed to forbid the thought of
suspicion. The affair was put into
the hands of private detectives,
who were unable, however, to OBJ.
tain the slightest clue to the thief
or to the property.
A few days later a wealthy mer-
chant entertained a large number
of friends, and the following day a
wedding ring and other iewelry, to
! the value Of about $1,000, bat
priced far more on account of fam
| lily associations, were missing. Every
nook and corner OF the house was
searched, and detectives. watched
the servants, but mystery continued
to surround the matter. Meanwhile
another merchant held reception
in his brown-stone house on a fash
ionable uptown street, and also
suffered a loss, during the evening,
of jewelry, watches, and other prop.
erty, valued at from 5000 TO $500
The articles in this case were in q
room where the gentlemen assem-.
bled, and the theft lay between
some one Of them and an old ser,
want, whom the gentleman of the
house immediately exculpated, de.
claring that he did not suspect hin
in the least. The investigation O.
this theft also was given to detec
tiyes, who visited the pawn-brokers
shops Of this and other cities, but
none of the property was discovered
An entertainment at the residenc,
of another well-known citizen re
, suited in the disappearance of NOR
jewelry, and a mystery deeper thai
any of those already in the hand
of detectives.
One of the detectives at worl
upon these cases, becoming con
4 yinced that the thief in each cas-
was one and the same person, an,
moreover that this person was
member of the company at eacl
+ party, began u systematic course Q
\ action, which was finally crOwne
With success. The names Of til
ladies and gentlemen attending a
i' four Of the parties were obtaine.
and were entered in his note-bool
The list presented formidabl
: array of judges, lawyers, editor