The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-01-27
THE TIMES NEW BlooMFlELD Pa JANUARY 27 1880

was about to witness denouement
had not looked for. Up the road were
couple of policemen. My old compan-
ion was the chief, being a sergeant Of
police. He led the way to the museum
and was first to enter.
"Good morning, old friend" he said
on encounterlng the naturalist, " come
to take away few more parcels of your
cheap provisions.
! saw that the old gardener was de-
tected in the speaker, and that the game
was seen to be up. The old mans son
rushed to the door and scrambled off,
only however to fall into the clutches
of one of the officers who were Oh the
watch. The old man was utterly help
less and almost beside himself. Sink
Ing into his chair he cried out &c am
not the theft; the thieves are there,'
pointing to the door, and meaning 1
could see his son and confederates, al
though they were not present.
We went into the museum. The flrst
thing the old gardener-as shall still
call him-did was to take hold of
Bruce" while he desired one of his
comrades TO lay hold of /" Wonder" On
moving them, noise of loose metal was
heard.
A moments examination sufIlced to
reveal the secret In the Off side of each
animal, in the soft part an orifice had
been made by cutting the ska in such
manner as would enable the operator
to replace it with little care A part
of the stufIings had been removed leav-
ing vacancy just like throstles
nest. This was filled with jewelry-
watches, guards, earrings and finger
rings. A further examination of the
museum revealed other and as singular
hiding places; for example, game cock
was found put out of sight; on taking
hold of it, noise of blinking metal was
heard. On lifting up the feathers over
the crop, small hole was seen, out of
which rolled, when the bird was shaken,
number of trinkets.
Nearly all the proceeds of the two rob-
berries of the jeweler were recovered, one
watch and guard only being absent.
And some of the property of the provis-
ion dealer was found slowed away in
the breeding box, though most of it had
been used or sold.
scarcely need say that the parcel sold
to " the gardner" was part of it, and
had to do with the detection. The SER
geant, informed me that he had been in
duced to assume the character which he
had 80 well enacted entirely on specula-
ton. While making survey of the
neighborhood, a few days before he be-
gan to play his part, he had observed
the backward state Of the landlords gar
den; and believing that he would read-
ly catch at chance of getting it finish
ed in cheap way, and being good
gardener, he had hit upon the scheme
which had answered so well. He had
believed that the robbers were not far
from the locality of the public house,
and might come there now and again,
and so could he lodge there without be-
ing known or suspected he might come
at all that he desired. And as he had
hoped so it did come to pass.
The naturalist, who it came out, had
long been receiver of stolen property,
and his son, whose first burglaries these
were, got each five years penal servi-
tude: one of the other men-who came
from distant town and were old hands
was likewise convicted and punished !;
but the fourth, for some forgotten reason
got off. My friend came in for the good
reward offered in the case; and for the
part which / had taken in the affair,
the jeweler gave me gold pencil-holder
which / treasure as a memento.