New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-16
STEALING AN EMPTY JEwEL-BOX.

OF REFORMED THIEF.
William Palmer, who is in business IN
wall-st and at time member OF the state Leg
saure was startled Oh May 25 by being informed that
some thieves intending TO rob him. HIS informant
was Captain Alaire. Of the Sixteenth Preclnct
police Since the death Of his wife, some years ago.
Mr. Palmer had lived in furnished rooms at No. 254
West Twenty fourth-s He kept his wife's jewels in
box OF curious workmanship, which he made when lie
was young employed in the locomotive
shops Of the New-York Central Railroad. inc
Jewels were valued at $1,000. The box was
valuable IN ITSELF being constructed with secret com
partments which not easily discovered by strangers
Mr. Palmer showed the box as curiosity only TO IN
innate friends, and he was much surprised when Cap
tain Allare gave him description of It and of the
jewels which it contained. The captain told him That
some thieves knew whore the box was kept and had
Planned to steal IT, Captain Aare had received his in
formation from reformed thief who had been asked
by OF his former associates TO aid in the robbery
Mr.. Palmer removed the jewels from the box and
placed them where they would be safe but he left the
box in Is usual place his bureau On the evening OF
June went out TO visit some friends leaving his
rooms c ked As he left the house he met on the
sidewalk by Lucien Parker, man whom he knew Dy
sight. When he returned about two hours afterward,
he found t his had been enteredby thieves ana
that tbe jewel-bOx had been stolen he Immediately
informed Captain Allaire Of his loss The Captain,
through the reformed thief found that the burglars were
Lucien Parker, alias Big Jim Watson, and William
Hart. Parker had obtained a knowledge Of the Jewel
box and its contents through brother who lived In
West Twenty-hfth-st This brother was respectable
man and was well acquainted with Mr. Palmer AZ the
time OF the Tweutvtnrst fire last Winter Mr. Palmer
became alarmed for the safety Of his furniture ana re-
moved several articles OF value into Mr.. ParkeTs
hOuse. Among these articles the jewel DoX.
Mr. Parker afterward spoke of this box TO his brother
OF whose character thief 10 Is said he was Ignorant
Mr.. Palmer hired the reformed thief, Charles ser
rene Of No 81 West WashingtOn-pace, 10 assist the
police Serene able meet his former companions
several. times aud learned that they were much disap
be was unable to make an appointment with them so
as to secure capture When Mr. Stone, the cashier
Of Hales piano factory robbed in Thiftyfourthst
Serene told Captain Aaire that he believed Hart aud
+" Big Jim were concerned in the robbery These men
and himself be said had planned TO rob Mr. Store last
Winter but they bad failed to get horse suitable for the
undertaking.
Captain Allaire and his detectives succeeded on
Wednesday evening capturing Hart and Parker, nj
Nnth-ave and FOrtysecOndst., and the robbers were
brought before Justice Murray at the Jefferson Market
Police Court yesterday. Hart Is short thtckSet man
twenty-five with black hair and mOustache. Parker is
large, frhared man. with smooth faceand regular Tea
lures An effort was made identify the prisoners as two
of the robbers who attacked Mr. Stone but the persons
who witnessed the robbery could remember seeing
them before. Serene made affidavit TO the statements
which he had already given to Captain Asire. He al
mted that he had served term OF imprisonment Tor
burglary, under the name Of Charles NazarO He was
committed to the House OF Detention as a witness.
Further examination was adjourned uu Saturday, the
prisoners being held In $1,000 bail each,