Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-09-10
Thieves at Weddings.

"Thieves are not up to the tricks
here that they are in the East" re-
marked Central Station detective in
the course of Il conversation last eve-
ning.
"How's thatp" inquired Daily News
reporter.
"Why, they are not SO 'Hy,' and
there are many tricks they do there
that have never heard of being done
here, notably the sneak-act at big wed.
dings, when valuable. presents are Cd
exhibition"
That's where you are wrong"
interrupted grizzled policeman, who
has, since MS first connection with the
force, acted as patrolman, detective,
lieutenant, and patrollman, again.
"That games an old 'un here; and
many's the good time I've had u
watchin' 'em. Why, ten years ago
there were two or three clever conf
dence men and sneak-thieves who
worked that game pretty successfully,
but they were compelled to abandon
it and leave the city, as they knew we
got onto 'em. They came here from
the East; had travelled extensively;
lived in London number of years and
knew many of the nOtables; had gam
bled at Monaco, rested in the Champs
Elysees at Paris, and, in fact, were
men who had blood in their veins
and had seen the world. They soon
became favorites and mingled in the
best of society. American society is
manufactured anyhow, you know, and
not very hard to get along with, so
that a man can be a mechanic the first
few years of his life and end it up 'sas-
siety man." Well, these young fellers,
as said, got into society, and when
ever there was swell wedding they
always managed to get an invitation.
Ii also got to be a regular thing for
some OF the most valuable of the pers-
ents to be stolen or 'sneaked during
the evening. but no one could i'm.
agine who were the thieves. The thing
became SO regular, however, that an
other officer and myself were detailed
to work it up. We had to go to the
weddings and wear swallOw-tails, Just
like the rest of 'em. We spotted thes
foreign high-hyers the first night, but
did not catch 'em taking any jewelry.
although some was missed. We spent
the next few days in finding out who
they were, and the next wedding had
the table holding the gifts placed in
front of closet door. This door we
left open just wide enough to see the
table. My partner worked on the out
side and | did The closet business. At
a certain time two of the foreigners
approached the table. There was
crowd of guests around it, but saw
one of 'em pick up diamond solitaire.
| gave the signal and both of 'em were
nabbed. We searched them catefully,
but 1t could not be found, and we
were compelled to let 'em go. The
lady of the house was very indignant
and did not believe that they were
guilty but was sure of it. The next
day they skipped, and week later
l received short note. 1t was signed
by'a noted New York thief and said:
You dashed fool, | am the foreigner
you searched the other night. Had
you examined small pocket in one
of my socks you would have found
your precious bauble. / sold il yerster-
day for 5000, Many thanks. The last
time | heard of him he was in London.
'At another time, on Wabash aye
nue., [ caught young aristocrat who
had always borne good reputation
and whose father was wealthy. He
had succeeded IN 'nipping' valuable
bracelet. The matter was hushed up.
though, by the property being return
ed, and the young man was sent away
from town."
do you have many requests for de-
tectives at big weddings?" was asked
one of the heads of the detective de-
partment.
Every rarely" he responded. "A
policeman generally does the work by
watching on the outside, and sneaks
have no chance of getting in. l have
not heard of loss at n wedding since
| have been in the detective depart
ment - Chicago NeOS.