The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-09-22
Attempt to Steal the English Crown.

In the reign of Charles H. desper-
ate attempt was made to carry off the
crown and other regalia of England
from the Tower of London, which was
all but successful. The chief perpe-
traitor of the deed was man named
Colonel Blood, who had previously
been engaged in other crimes of an
equally daring nature. He had once.
with several accomplices, waylaid the
Duke of Ormond, Lord-l4ieutenant of
Ireland, and was about to hang him at
Tyburn Gate, and it was only with
great difficulty that the Duke escaped.
The mode in which Blood set to work.
to gain possession of the crown was as
follows: The regalia were then. as now,
shown to the public in the Tower, and
he visited it disguised as clergyman,
with lady on his arm. While the
keeper-a man named Edwards-was
showing them his treasures, the lady
pretended to be taken suddenly ill, and
the keepers wife, being called to her
assistance, conducted her to her private
apartments, and treated her with great
kindness. A few days afterwards
Blood called with a present for Mrs.
Edwards, in acknowledgment of this
civility, and so ingratiated himself into
the favor of herself and her husband
that he became on constant visiting
terms.
The keeper had daughter for whom
his new friend, the clergyman, pro-
fessed great admiration. He offered to
find her a suitable spouse in the person
of his nephew, who, he said, was a
young man of good property. Ameet-
ing was agreed upon between the young
couple, and Blood was to bring his
fictitious nephew to the Tower for that
purpose. One morning, accordingly,
he presented himself at the jewel-house
with a young man and two others, who,
he said, were friends of his who were
just about to start for the country, but
were anxious to see the crown jewels
before they departed.
They proceeded Immediately to the
room in which the regalia were kept,
the keeper meanwhile having sent his
wife and daughter notice to be pres
emily in readiness to receive their eX-
pected guests. One of Blood's party,
on some pretense or other, was left at
the door to give an alarm to the rest if
occasion required. As soon as the
keeper with his three visitors had en-
tered the jewel-room, he was seized and
gagged, while his life was threatened
if he made any disturbance. Notwith-
standing this, he made desperate efforts
to create an alarm, but was beaten
about the head with q mallet until he
was compelled to silence.
Blood now secured the crown and
thrust it under his cloak one of his
companions took the orb, and another
the sceptre, which he was proceeding
to file in two for convenience of carry
ing it away, when some relatives of the
Edwardses unexpectedly arrived at the
jewel-house. The signal was given by
the accomplice at the door, and the
whole party fastened out with their
booty. AS they departed the keeper
renewed his efforts to attract attention,
and soon brought some of his family to
his assistance.
The alarm was Immediately spread,
and several persons started in pursuit
of the thieves, who, however, were so
far ahead that they reached the draw
bridge before any one attempted to stop
them. A warder now tried to arrest
Blood, but he was knocked down by q
pistol shot, and the thieves pursued
their course in safety TO Tower Hill
Here some of the keepers party over
took them, and one, Captain Beckman,
grappled with Blood, and escaping his
fire, tore the crown from his clutches
Several of the Jewels rolled out of it
upon the ground; the principal gem-a
ruby valued at 100000, and which
was given to Edward, the Black
Prince, by the King of Castile-was not
found until several days had elapsed,
when it was picked up by an old woman
who was sweeping crossing,
Blood's companions were likewise ar
rested and their booty seized, and the
whole party were lodged in the Tower.
The King, when he heard of the crime.
gave orders that Blood and the man
who had pocketed the orb should be
brought before him at Whitehall; but
he was so impressed by Blood's bold
ness and eifrontery, and with his plausi-
BILE address, that he not only pardoned
him, but gave him an allowance for his
subsistence, and until the end of his
days this unworthy miscreant enjoyed
the royal favor.-London Times.