The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-01-21
Diamond Stealing.

Office of well-lknown Fourth street da-
mond dealer, aud listened with rapt atten-
ton to "reminiscences and traditions of
diamond robberies successful and attempt
ed.
beginning here in ST. Louis, for in
stance, " said the dealer, 81 remember a
case that, while not strictly speaking a
robbery, had remarkable features. l sold
ssoltaire ring for $500 to lady living in
huoas place. About year atterward a
saan walked into my place, and throwing
down ring, asked me what it was worth.
l at once recognized it as the one had
sold, and questioned the man very closely.
Ne claimed to have come by it honestly.
| talked for long time, and at last told
my clerk to go and get policeman.
"Before the clerk got out of the store,
the man let down completely, and told me
that he was plumber that three months
before he had been called to a house in
hncas place to fix water pipe which was
stopped up. He found the ring in the pipe
SAID nothing about It, and waited for three
months to give the loss time to blow over.
the only one in the city where the ring
would be recognized He saw he was
found out, made the best of the job, re-
turned the ring, and secured a reward of
$780,"
Que day respectable looking gentleman
with young lady, to all appearance his
wife, came to the diamond dealers place
and spent several hours looking at dia-
monds. One cross and earrings, valued at
$4,000, seemed to strike the young wife's
eye. The husband demurred at the price.
The wife playfully coaxed him to buy.
swell, WELL will think about it," said he,
as they departed without buying.
The next day the woman drove up in
coupe, and said "My husband desires to
see those diamonds again. think he will
buy. He is sick in bed and will you go to
the Southern with me, or send clerk P'
Warned by previous bitter experience,
involving loss of $1,000, the dealer did
not send a clerk but went himself. The
couple had a suite of parlors on the second
aoor. The young lady was quite engaging.
Her husband was sleeping. Would the
gentleman wait a few moments? He would
The lady was unusually interesting, and,
always susceptible to the charming woman,
the time passed agreeable to the diamond
dealer. The young lady got up and enter
ed the inner apartment, but returned inn
snediately with the announcement that her
husband was awake. With the sweetest
afectation of enthusiasm she picked up the
case containing the jewels, and with "Let
me show them to my husband" disappear
ed within.
The door seemed accidentally to blow
shut. The diamond merchant jumped up,
aid as he did so he heard key turn in the
lock. He at once recognized what was up
snd sprang to the door opening to the hall.
He found it locked. He was prisoner.
The solid door Knocked him. He was des-
perate. In an instant be drew his revolver,
placed it to the lock, fired, it was shattered
and the door swung open to his touch.
hike a madman he tore along the halls,
down the stairs, through the rotupda, and
around to the ladies' entrance, just as a
sauy ih q OoiitaBO BdFo tuo Oiuott Aelhy
Depot, East st. Louis.''
He leaned into the window of the car
riage and said, "Will your husband take
the diamonds, nadam?''
She gave him one long, searching look,
quietly said. "The price is too large, and
than they are such hard things to keep;''
produced the case from the recesses of her
mnff and handed it to him, saying, 81
should have been quicker" Spyer looked
at the diamonds, saw that they were all
right and bade the young woman good-day.
Within the hour she and her confederate
had left the hotel.
Since then the dealer has never let a
diamond leave his hand for more than two
seconds. The idea is just this Two smart
thieves can afford to work couple of years
TO make a haul of $4,000. Take, for
instance, the travelling diamond merchants
who carry with them from twenty to sixty
thousand dollars worth of gems. The
chances are that no one of them ever leaves
New York without he is shadowed by
some adroit thief, who lives in the same
hotel with him, rides ON the same train,
sleeps in the same Pullman, rides in the
omnibus from the depot, waiting, watch
ing for chance to possess himself of the
small satchel or case that is the burden of
the drummers life