Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-06-03

ever he went. He was popular fellow,
however, and Of course he had wide
choice for q wife. He fell in love with
Lily when she was scarcely in her teens,
but bis suit did not progress rapidly, and
il was not until four years ago that she be-
came Mrs. Hamersly. he died last month,
willing her every dollar that he possessed.
There will be a fight by his relatives,
probably, but with no propect of depriving
her of any considerable part of her five
millions. Doesn't that make her the most
loyable widow in America?
Diamond Thieves Games.
A detective who had been requested to
diyulge, thus expressed himself:
The diamond thieves secure so few real
prizes that what they do get does not pay
them for the great risks which they run in
the prosecution of their business. To make
the matter more plain, will explain that
nine-tenths OF the so-called precious stohes
now worn By people are paste limitations
OF The genuine articles. Therefore, when
thief gets one OF them he is usually badly
sold. Thieves reckon upon their chances
OF being detected, arrested and sent to
prison Just the same as an insurance man
calculates the chances of q building burn
ing down. He reasons that in committing
ten thefts or robberies he runs one chance
Of being punished for his crime.
It Doesn't Pay Him
TO spend term in prison for every gen.
uine diamond or other precious stone that
That's getting the business down TO
tine mathematical calculation"
"Oh, yes; but it's Just the way the
thieves look at the matter. Perhaps my
figures are not exactly in the right pro.
portion: Still, happen to know that my
theory is all right"
You say that nine out of every ten so.
called precious stones are really limitations.
Do you not THINK that is putting it little
too strong?"
No, sir. There are hundreds of wealthy
people who own genuine gems, but seldom
think Of
Wearing Them In Publie.
For instance, a wealthy person will pur-
chase a very valuable diamond paving
hundreds and perhaps thousand of dollars
for the treasure. The immediate family
and friends of the individual know that he
or she is the owner OF a high-priced dia-
II ond, and that is enough. The owner is
proud OF the possession of the gem, and
wears il at private receptions and parties.
But do you suppose that particular dia-
mOnd is worn in public? II is not. and a
paste imitation is substituted. The
paste limitations are so we'll made nova
days that even experts have some difticul-
" in
Detecting the Difference.
Can you tell me something of the tricks
of the diamond thieves in the days when
their business was III a tlourishing con-
diuon?'
Certainly ! can. It requires a great
deal more skill to take a Jewel from q
mans shirt front than it does to pick his
pocket The thieves had a cute trick which
was very successful. They had a little
knife arrangement which would cut "a cir
'Cular piece out OF starched linen very neat
ly and quickly, The knife was operated
by q spring, and all that was necessary was
to hold the arrangement lightly against
linen shirt front and press the spring with
the finger, and the work was done. AS
matter-of.course, the operator was careful
that the circular piece Of cloth thus cut out
held stud in which was set diamond or
some other precious stone. Another
adroit method of
Extracting a Stnd From q CreSat
or bosom was to use a chemical, with
which the cloth was saturated and made
rottOn, so that the stud could be easily
pulled out without attracting the atten-
tion of the wearer."
Another detective explained what he
termed "the tongue racket" which he re-
garded a. one Of the finest schemes ever
conceived"
please explain the scheme" was re-
quested by the reporter.
1t is this: Two thieves, usually Sc
date genteel-appearing man and woman,
who might be taken tor husband and wife,
enter store where precious stones are
sold. They ask to be shown some diamonds.
The polite proprietor or salesman IS only
too glad to give particular attention to such
evidently respectable people, and he forth
with sets out several trays OF diamonds for
their inspection. Neither the man nor
the woman touches the gems, They keep
their hands down at their sides, and thus
suspicion is srOuSed as to their
True Character.
The man pretends TO have very poor eve
sight and holds his face very close to the
gems, ostensibly for the purpose OF making
a careful inspection of intended purchases.
The proprietor or clerk, OF course, keeps
close watch of the diamonds, for the peo-
pie are strangers 10 him and he does not
know what they might do II afforded an
opportunity. He thinks that as long as
neither of his visitors use their hands they
cannot steal anything The near sighted
ness Of the old man increases. he leans
further over, and with his face even closer
to the gems, gaZes long and hNedly at
them
But still the gems are safe, presume
interpolated the reporter.
Not exactly; wait until | give you the
rest of the story" the detective continued.
While the old man is yet closely
Examining the Diamonds.
the woman, with an ecstatic exclamation,
points to some prominent article in an sd-
iscent case on the wall behind the sales
man. Instinctiveiv the eye OF the sales
man follows the direction indicated. One
instant is enough. The thlets tongue
meanwhile has been thrust into one OF the
trays, and as quickly withdrawn into his
month. with three or four of the gems ad'
herring to it. The theft can only be de-
tected by weighing the trays or counting
he GEMS. This is really resorted TO, as no
suspicion is excited. The next move on
the part of thieves is TO select couple oil
GEMS and order them set, or to order them
sent {. .. j. TO any address IN
Respectable Locality
that occurs 10 their minds. Then they
take their departure. This trick has been
,UCcesSfully played at Philadelphia, and
doubt not that it has been resorted TO IN
New York"
What dispcsal do the thieves make Of
diamonds
They put the stones right into the mar
ket again. II is not often easy 10 identiiy
n stolen diamond, and a dealer who has
been robbed may purahaSe his own prop
ertv back agaln and be none the wiser. On,
there's no trouble in disposing OF stolen
diamonds
SHERMAN'S SPEECH