The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-16
MRS. TERESA BELLS JEWELS.
THE PRECIOUS BOX THAT DEPUTY
FIIZP1TRICk AITICHED,

little over year ago young and
wealthy married lady Of San Francisco stopped
In New York on her way to Paris. Mrs. Teresa
Bell ia the wife Of rich Californian merchant.
and has spent the last year or two IL travelling
on the Continent of Europe and In America.
Mrs. Bell In described ns about 39 years OF
age. tall. with regular features. auburn hair.
and blonde complexion. She dressed richly
and with good taste. went into society good
deal. and spent large sums OF money in adorn-
ments OF all kinds. In particular she was noted
for her ponchant for jowery. and she lavishod
large sums in gold ornaments OF the richest
and most costly description. Her passion for
diamonds was extraordinary. She had con-
stantly in her possession large quantities OF
these gems both set and unset and tho daz-
zling beauty and splendor Of hor toilets mado
her famous wherever she went. At tho Licder-
kranz ball Of last season she carried about
her diamonds TO the value OF over 100000
in the form OF bracelets. armlets. necklaces.
and. above all. a Rirdlo OF SURPRISING rich
ness and benuty. SO dazzling display
attracted universal attention. and Boil dia-
monds became tho talk OF the town.
and tho office OF Splcss & Rosswog. In
Maiden lane. in which they were stored was
visited for weeks afterward by throngs OF
curious sight-seers. Diagrams OF them. show
ing tho size and arrangement OF the. stones.
were made for the use OF importers and manu-
facturers OF those articles.
There were three large necklaces two OF
diamonds alone. and the third Of emeralds and
diamonds. The richest Of these valued at
100000. and consisted wholly OF diamonds OF
the finest lustre strung together on links OF
polished gold The front OF the necklace bore
hve pendants in the form OF stars. tho centre OF
each star being solitaire stone worth $1,000.
The second necklace was also OF diamonds
linked with gold, with small crosses OF gold.
completely studded with sparkling gems rs
pendants, The lowest estimate OF its value was
$4,000. third necklace WAS OF large emeralds
and diamonds. the emeralds being set at inter-
walls OF an inch or two. and the diamonds ar
them. This necklace was valued At f2O.OOO TO
t25.000 Occasionally Mrs. Bell would wear the
$40 900 necklace as tiara, and the sparkle Of
the big sOlitaires contrasting with the dark
brown OF her hair formed strikngly beautt-
ful spectacle.
But the gem OF the collection was the eirdle
and stomacher, together valued at tl25 600
The girdle or zone. was made up Of cunningly-
worked links OF polished gold an inch and a
half wide. and extending in row entirely
around the waist The whole series Of links was
studded all over with diamonds of tho most eX-
qusite form and brilliancy, whose baze in a
mer OF sunlight on running water A concealed
clasp Of gold terminated the girdle in front But
stomacher-a glitLerinR pendant OF golden cres-
cents and stars. frosted with small diamonds
and studded with solitaires the whole dangling
more than foot below the girdle. and
terminating in a gold star. bearing 5000
solitaire. 1anked with smaller stones
In the stomacher alone were over coo diamonds
OF al sizes distributed 80 as 10 cover the entire
surface OF tho gold with fretwork OF gems
Each OF the fiye alternate stars contained big
solitaire in the centre. surrounded by Ave
smaller stnrs evcry ono sparkling with smaller
stones. Tho gold crescents. also diamond
" the sars%Se % % Whole % s,omscSer nors foTmns w'a
radiant band OF gold and diamonds from one to
one and half inches in width and fifteen
Besides the ornaments already enumerated.
Mrs. Bell had pair Of diamond bracelets and
diamond nrmlets worth altogether a. 600 or
about SIS, 900 pair. She likewise owned the
celebrated poacock's feather, made entirely Of
diamonds, and which was exhibited by Tiffany
said 10 have paid t22 OOD-the single stone
forming the eye beng valued al 5000; This
water would have been worth many thousands
more; Besides these ornaments. aegregating
her on her travels elegant toilet articles scent
bottles. dc.. adorned with diamonds. She had
gold birds and butterflies Tor wearing in the
hair. These. too. were studded with rubies,
emcralds aud diamonds in the most lavish aud
costly manner.
Although possessed OF so much wealth Mrs
Bell could hardly be called happy. Her dia-
monds were constant source Of trouble and
annoyanc. to her the danger OF being robbed
often counterbalancing the pleasure gained by
wearing thcm, She was compelled to employ n
courier and In January 1917, she engaged the
then residing in San Francisco. Mr.. Dean
Is about twenty years Of age. tall with
dars moustaehe His pripieiRHl i R,. business II as
tours In Europe and this country, caring for
her baggage. SECURING rooms in hotels. and
last but not least looking after the safety OF her
diamonds Mrs Bell was aniinventive lady and
nj times resOrted 10 the most subtle tactics to put
possible thieves on their guard. She would
enter a ball room ~ ono door and suddenly
vanish through u side entrance. in order that II
any one was lying IN wait for her he might be
foiled. She took great risks at timcs. but by
the vigilance Of her couricrs and her own tact
she has hitherto escaped robbery. Said "A gen
tleman Yesterday who knew her;
- She is woman OF remarkable courage
Indeed. no one without greHt bravery would
dare to wear such treasures at public balls,
| among thousands Of Strangers"
Six months ago. while in Paris. Dean says no
WAS suddenly ischarged by his mistress with
| out cause or ptOVOcation Of any kind There
| upon h. sued her IN the Kings County supreme
Court for $1,000, alleging that Mrs Bell had
patd him no wages, and that that sum
the th anxiety and trouble he hal suffered
He says that while in Now York Mrs Bell in
| sisted on his passing IA her brother In order
that he might Ac,ompahy her To balls anu On
| trrtanments ani Keep watch over her gems
| On the application of Deans counsel, M"-srs
| Townsend and Weed. an order WINS granted 10y
| Judge Pratt attaching tAe diamonds which had
been deposited by Mrs. Bell in the safe Of the
Hoffman House. At which. upto yesterday. she
| Deputy Shern who carried the order Of attach
ment and Judge Pratt granted an order per-
writ ON the door ~ tho defendnnts apartments
This was accordingly done with all due for
| Hullty,
Yesterday morning In the Brooklyn Supreme
| Court, Mrs. Bells counsel, Mrssrs. Tlghe COf-
| nn raised The point that Deans affidavit had not
| been filed until more than thirty days after tho
| service Of the attachment papers-an error
| which the Court declared to bc fatal 20 the
| plaintiffs case. Thereupon MIR. Weed. who
| with his colleagues had anticipated the result.
| telegraphed to New York to have a new suit be-
| gun in the New York Supreme Court. This
was at IL O'Clock. A second order Of at
| tachment was granted by Judge Donohue.
| and the papers were placed in the hands OF
| Deputy Sheriff Fitzpatrick. who hurried Ia the
| Holman House with all speed. II was known
| that Mrs Bell intended leaving town, ana her
trunks were found packed and strapped; Tho
| Vigilant deputy assisted by the plaintiffs law
| yers. saw the precious tin box in which Mrs.
| Bell carried her diamonds untouched in the
| safe and were satisfied that all WIS we'll Mrs.
| Bell was allowed TO depart on n midday train
on the Penpsylvania Railroad. and II. was not
| until she had got far into the neighbOrlng state
that the clever attorneys for the plaintn scented
| the trick which had been played on them.
1t seems. by the story Of her lawyers. that
| ipvalidity OF the suit which Dean was bringing
against her IN Kings County. Forthwith the
| clever lady set TO work. and. under tho plea Of
| OF them into her baggage. which was duly
| checked for San Francisco. After the tin box
! had been empted of the last diamond. Mrs Bell
! carefully filled II 10 the brim with the finest
quality Of canary bird seed. She gave the plain-
| tin good measure. When she hnd finished, the
| box was returned to iis place in the safe
/ uf Holman Hpttgn In ~