Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-07
DIAMOND THIEVES.
Some of the Clever Devices by Which
They Ply Their Trade.


n The thieves, both male and female, who
IRE frequently of very good appearance,
hang about the jewelers. stores until they
BEE some respectable-looking persons enter,
zapd then go in with them. They usually
say that some friend advised them TO come TO
that store to look at a particular line Of
goods, and they commonly ask for some
standard article. Then if they can get some
.yaRng and inexperienced CLERK to wait on
fffllm-and they always try to get served by
#4zsalesman of that kind-the chances are
that they will carry away a great deal more
than they buy. Sometimes they
Aay nothing, but usually they make some
sRall purchase, so as TO cover up their
ssfne more effectuslly. The umbrella"
stEafk was a very successful device OF the
thieves a few years ago, but is now pretty
s&tA known to the trade, and is therefore
skaf little practiced at present. Before
ats secret was detected a well-knoWn
4Ahef would enter store with an UNI
sbff3la in his hand closed, but not rolled up; he
was usually accompanied by one or two con-
federates. Seating themselves by the counter
they would ask to be shown variety of GER
tain goods, and, in passing the articles from
one to another the principal would dexterous-
ly drop one now and then within the loose folds
of his umbrella. When number of chains,
EIig5 or bracelets had thus been stored away,
sthe. man with the nov valuable umbrella
would suddenly remember engagement,
and bid good-by to his companions, who
would cover his retreat by buying some
trifling ornaments. Some years ago
clever rogue was successful in robbing several
diamond merchants in this city of costly
gems, having equipped himself by smearing
a little wax on the end of his nose and pro-
viding number of handkerchiefs in his
pockets. He was further prepared by wear
ingl spectacles, and Appeared TO be very near
sighted. When a package Of unset diamonds
Was shown to him at his request, he would
take it to the window and hold it very close
10 his face. simultaneously he would bring
! The, end OF his nose against diamond
and make Use OF a hand kerchief to con-
cesl and remove the stone which ad-
,hered TO the wax. BY affecting to have
bad cold, and always using different
handkerchief, he was able TO abstract a
number of stones from the same package
His last operation of this sort had an unsuc-
cessful ending, through his mistake in tax
ing out a handkerchief which he had used
already. diamond fell from it and rolled
upon the floor. Hoping that this was un-
noticed, but not daring to remain, he hastily
excused himself and went to the door, but
found it securely fastened. One OF the firm
OF diamond dealers, by pressing an electric
button under his table, had shot a bolt at the
entrance, and when the thief turned around
a revolver was pointed at his head. He was
searched, and number of diamonds were
found in the handkerchiefs distributed
through his clothing. His arrest followed,
and he was sent TO State prison. After this
a man with a cane executed theft very
neatly in New York diamond house. Point
ing over a counter with his cane at an open
package of unmounted stones, and asking
to be shown certain one he lightly touched
gem with the end of the stick, which had
been dipped in some glutinous cement. A
diamond worth 5000 adhered to the tip, and
the thief got away undetected. Some time
afterward he was caught while attempting
the same trick in Philadelphia, and wa
identified by his New York victim ~