The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-19
PERIls OF PRECIOUS STONES.
some ElabOrately Planned RODDer.
SOS from Jewellers,

A New York Herald reporter has been
having a talk with the head salesman OF
a prominent jewelry firm. Said the
salesman:
ssMost deliberately planned robberies
are very familiar to our experience. You
must know that sometimes we are re-
uuested to send an assortment OF Jeweiry
to the private residences of persons who
wish to buy, but who are for some rea-
son prevented from coming in person to
the store Recently it has become
rule never to let one man go alone with
such an assortment. The salesman now
a-davs is accompanied by sturdy por-
ter. and both of them have instructions
under no circumstances to let the jewels
pass for one instant from their sight
Before these wise precautions were adopt
ed number of statesmen calling with
assortments were the victims of robbery.
There was Kingsley, for instance, who
left us only few months ago to take
charge of large establishment in Phlia-
delphia. He was sent to show some dla-
minds to sedate looking matron ana
her invalid husband. They lived IN
small house in swell street up town
In that case the invalid husband suddenly
developed prodigious muscular strength
and overpowered the salesman, while the
sedate looking matron added the rob
berry of Ringsley's senses to that OF his
diamonds through the agency OF a hand
kerchief saturated with chloroform. In
vestigation showed that the house had
been hired by the month and that only
the hall and two rooms on the ground
floor had been furnished. So to speak.
only the accessories necessary to the
scene of the robbery had been put in.
s'Then, again, there was DumWlght,
who was found on the floor Of a suite or
apartments in a fashionable hotel, with
his cases rit1ed and his skull fractured.
Some of the clerks insinuate that poor
Dumwight has never entirely recovered
from his cracked skull, but, however
this may be, certain it is that Nlessrs.
Sparkle, Flash & Co. have never recov-
cred the pearls and rubies, valued at
$4,000, with which Mr.. Dumwight was
Entrusted on that particular occasion.
"But one of the most cunning rob-
berries that can recall was carried out
as follows One fine morning lady oil
charming manners: and. address called
upon a physician. who had high repu
tation for skill in the treatment of men
tai disorders, and who took under his
personal care few patients whose
friends could afford to pay we'll for the
attention. The lady,. with many signs,
poured her tale in the sympathetic pro-
fessional ear. She had brother who,
poor fellow, was slightly delanged He
was apparently perfectly natural on all
ordinary topics. but entertained extraors
binary decisions in connection with
precious stones His mania seemed to
consist in the belief that he owned a
quantity of jewelry and that he had dis
poised of it at high figure. He was in
the habit of clamoring for payment, and
when this was refused swonld bewail that
he had been robbed. = Terms, she init
mated, would be nc. object.
: V .''The physician listened patiently. a.
number of delusions of this character, he
remarked, had come under his personal
experience. Precious stones were favor.
tie subjects of hallucination. His closest
. attention, should. be given to.the case. -.
x sit was arranged that, to avoid excit
ing the patients suspicion, he should be
directed to call next day for his sister at
the doctors residence, and that she
should then take: occasion. to bring him
into contact with the doctor: The lady
then sorrowfully withdrew -.
"The heaviest purchaser at the diamond
counter that afternoon was lady whose
manners were marked by a fascinating
blending of dignity and grace. She
selected diamond parure of exceptional
beauty and high price. Having made
this purchase, she directed that it be sent
punctually at II o'clock next morning to
her residence. He husband, DR.. Blank,
would be prepared to make payment
upon delivery. This request was per.
fectly regular Itwould be unusual for
a lady to carry check book or so large
a sum of money with her. Dr. Blanks
name was in the medical, city and elite
directories. The ladv's request was read
lily acceded to.
cat the time appointed the salesman
presented himself at the house. He was
shown to the parlor, where he found the
fair purchaser of the day before awaiting
him. 'Were the stones there just as she
had selected them? Yes. Well, would
the gentleman step into her husbands
study and obtain the amount of his &C.
count? Before hewent away, however,
she would like to see him again with re,
gard to some rubies as to which she
would like to have the benefit of his
opinion
''The doctor received the salesman
with much suavity. How was he feel
ing? Had he slept well lately2 Was his
tongue coated and his rest disturbed by
unpleasant nocturnal visions?'
"'He was puzzled by the doctors
questions, was he? Mind unable te
grasp the meaning of these questions
He was not patient. Of course, not
Oh! he had come to collect bill fol
some jewelry? Oh! just SO. They
would attend to that little matter pres
ently-pres-ently. In the meantime
how was the appetizer
s'The salesman grew impatient. All
easily easily excited; Temperament
abnormally irritable The usual symp
tcms-the usual symptoms He had
bill for the jewelry delivered, had he
Just so, just so; an interesting bearin.
out of the old adage that there is offer
! method in mad-well, well; this BIZ
should be attended to-all in god tim
all in good time The doctor scenes
to be under some misunderstanding !!
Not at all The the doctor understood
the case thoroughly-very thoroughly
And now, how about the diet? Wcr
the meals taken regularly2 Very i'm
portant matter this taking the meal
with regularity!'
''The salesman became angry. Tn
| doctor fixed upon him magnetic ey
and was more professionally suave an
soothing than ever. The more the pay