The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-30
A STRANGE THEFT.
The Dodge by Which a Shrewd
Detective Was Outwitted.

Detective Was Outwitted.
Several stories of crime, taken from
the notebook of a celebrated English
detective, recently on a visit to this
country, have already appeared in these
columns. Many others related to the
writer are still untold. and among these
the following is perhaps the most inter-
esting. 1t is written almost word for
word as taken down from the lips of the
narrator:
There had been big robbery of jew
els from the country residence of Sir
George NJ, in Warwickshire, on De
cember %, 1867. The residence of Sir
George was about four miles from
bennington and about two from War
wick, and stood in small park with
MANY trees. The entrance to the park
was at the east end corner, and the
drive was somewhat circuitous The
house was large irregular building.
and at Christmas it was always filed
with guests.
''On this occas on many visitors came
week before Christmas Day, and there
was, of course, the usual round of
amusements. On Christmas Eve there
was to be an old-time jollification, and
representatives of the best people i'm the
neighborhood were to be there. 1t was
an occasion when the ladies of the fam
lily were expected to look their best. and
some very valuable jewelry was to be
exhibited on their persons.
During the afternoon of December
Esd the jewelry was brought from its
usual depository and displayed in Lady
nj. S apal tments. Much of it was very
old, including a magnificent set of dia-
monds of great value, presented to the
first Baronet's bride by Charles l. The
chief feature was stomacher, consist
ing of one immense gem of great purity
and beauty. surrounded with circle of
garnets and emeralds alternating. The
actual value of this ornament was, of
course, very great, but the family set a
value upon it which could hardly be
represented in figures
''This piece of jewelry was laid on a
cushion placed on Lady NJ. S bed. and
was gazed upon with great admiration
by her friends and visitors. The bed
room was upon the second floor, and
could be entered in two ways, both
leading from the gallery which ran
round that part of the dwelling where
the main stairway was, and below which
was the great hall or entrance-room
into which the main door opened from
the grounds. One door opened from
this gallery into Lady M dressing
room, which opened again into her
chamber, and another door opened
from the gallery into small ante
room, which in turn also opened into
the chamber.
.'After inspecting the jewelry Lady
MS visitors retired and employed
themselves until dinner-time, according
to their several tastes. Lady NJ. and
one of her two daughters remained in
the room and put away the Jewels.
Hiss Julia, the daughter, seeing the
case for the stomacher lying closed upon
the bed, and supposing her mother had
restored the article to its depository.
placed the case in cabinet where it
was usually kept. remarking to her
mother at the time that she had done so.
when the case was opened the next
day, the inside appeared as it usually
did. Several layers of wool covered
the contents, but on removing these
nothing was found but a handful of
silver and copper coins. l was not
there, Of course, TO witness the scene,
but one may easily imagine what it was
like. What preliminary steps they took
i don't know, but that same evening |
received a telegram at my house in
Bayswater, requiring my presence at
Scotland Yard. There l was directed
TO go at once to the residence of Sir
George NJ. Ipacked my portmanteau.
took all my stylish clothes and s. few
of those inconsiderable things which
indicate a modern swell, and went
down by the London & Northwestern to
Lexington. / received the telegram at
about six o'clock, and 1 was at Learn
ington by nine Taking a carriage,
drove straight to Sir George NJ s. It
was lovely night, and he received me
at the door.
Sir George said, Il am an iuti-
mate friend, whom You were expecting,
and nv name is - Brooke
Thai will do capitally, Sir George
replied, and / was shown to room.
There / put on my dress suit, and after
: brief talk nth my host, who explained
all as have already related il, 1 went
down and was introduced TO the guests.
Lady M had received the cue and
saluted me as an old friend, as did also
the daughters.
81 looked around among the guests
who by the way had been kept in
complete ignorance OF the robbery
took stock of them. That night L
didn't sleep much. L lay awake think
ing. Sir George had put me in posses
sion of all the facts and l had quietly
inspected Lady Ms apartments and all
their surroundings. [ regretted that l
had not brought with me a young
Seotchman named Watson, who had
been my assistant for two or three
years, and was very shrewd, intelli-
gent fellow. Next morning / tele-
graphed for him in cipher. and instruct
ed him to come on as my servant. He
arrived the same afternoon and soon
made himself at home in the servants
hall, where he admirably sustained the
character he had assumed.
Now, as you may well understand.
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