Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-02-19
AN M ESCORT TO BALLS.
Charles Deans Complaint About the Lady
of the Diamond Breastplate.
NM New York World SAVE


Charles Dean, a musician by pro-
f%eSsion, sues Theresa Bell, whose
breastplate Of diamonds attracted no.
tice at several New York balls last
year, for 5000. His complaint, filed
in the Kings County Supreme Court,
sets forth that on January 10, 1867,
when the defendant was in San Fran
cisco, she met the plaintiff, to whom
she made promises and held out in
ducements under which he left that
city and became her travelling COM
panion. 1t was her intention to come
East and go to Europe on a tour.
She carried with her habitually Jew
elry, principally diamonds, valued at
S250,0O0, and he was employed, he
says, to act as an armed escort, taking
charge of the diamonds and other
precious stones, carrying them about
on his person and accompanying her
to places Of amusement and else
where to guard them. He claims
that she promised to see that he was
given opportunity to study music
abroad for a long time and that other
privileges were to be allowed in re-
turn for the services he was to rem
der. He says in his complaint that
upon reaching New York She insisted
hat be should represent himself
as her brother, and that he was
introduced as such at public and
private entertainments, which she
and the diamonds attended, while
in fact he was all the time acting
as an armed guard over the jewelry
which she was wearing. He performed
also the other duties Of an escort or
courier, looking after her baggage
when she travelled, and securing rooms
at hotels in the various cities visited
by her. After six months service, he
alleges, he was summarily dismissed
at Paris. He managed to raise money
enough to get home, and now brings
suit for compensation, complaining
that he has received none whatever.
The plaintiff being a nonresident
the suit was opened by the issue of a
writ of attachment by Judge Pratt. OF
Brooklyn, and under this the sheriff
Of New York has attached the baggage
of Mrs. Bell, and other valuable pro
perty belonging to her at the Hoffman
House, in this city, where she now re-
sides. The sureties on the attachment
for Mr.. Dean are VIM. West, of 45G
Pearl street, and VIM. Rapp, of 49,
Elizabeth street, in this city. 1t was
found impossible to serve the sum
mons upon the lady, SO closely did she
keep her room and Judge Pratt
granted an order permitting its service
by mailing upon the door Of her room
in the Hoffman House. A deputy
sheriff accordingly went to the Hof,
man House Tuesday, borrowed a tack.
hammer and some carpet tacks, anc
duly affixed the summons to the dool
Of the lady's room, evoking no in.
quiries from within. No answer hai
been fled.
Newspaper descriptions have mad,
Mrs. Bells diamonds famous, and Dear
tells an interesting story Of his expert
ence as the custodian Of them. Tn,
lady refused to have them put in an,
place Of safety, preferring to have then
taken in charge by Dean, whom shl
insisted should 20 heavily armed. IL
rode, he says, in her carriage to an,
from balls, travelled in railway car
and slept in hotels all the time wit
the jewels packed about his person
and never leaving him except to adorI
her. He had many narrow escapes
he Gays, and resOTsed often to subter
fuges 70 throw supposed highwaymeI
and robbers Of the track. especially
the common practice Of leaving ball
rooms privately while another escor
was provided for her.