The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-09
MRS. BLANKS DIAMONDS.
How They Were Recovered by a Secret
Service Detective.

| Service Detective.
In the winter Of 1S53-itwas the very
last week in Decembcr-a strange rob
berry occurred in the residence Of {
prominent United States Senator who
was occupying house on Massachu-
sets avenue. One afternoon his wife
discovered that her diamonds were
missing. She had them in her hands
on. say Tuesday afternoon. and on Fri
day afternoon they were gone. She
had them in box in bureau drawer in
her bedroom, and was sure that the
key to this drawer had not passed out OF
| her posses sion. The box was not locked.
and it had not even been lifted out of
| the drawer. Some one had simply
raised the lid and lifted the diamonds
out. The thief must have opened the
bureau with false key; but who was
| the thief? Only one domestic had
access TO the bedroom, and she was
above suspicion. No breaking and
entering had been committed, no caller
could be suspected. and the diamond
mystery" as it was called, was a
puzz,er. 1t was given over to the
police detectives to struggle with, and
We of the Government service did not
even hear all the particulars The
gems were valued ut $4,000. The
Senator at once privately offered 4 re-
ward of S5,O and no questions asked,
but nothing came of it.
Cured | was detailed to look up clerk
in the Treasury Department who had
pocketeI II, 800 of Uncle Sans green
backs and slid out. He had about
thirty hours the start of me, and he
kept increasing the advantage. He
went first to Philadelphia. While he
probably did not tarry there two hours
| was half dav learning that he had
gone to New York. He was not in
that city an hour. but | was Il day and
half learning that he had gone to
Syracuse. traced him from thence
to Buffalo, Detroit, Chicago and back
east to Poughkeepsie. The scamp
knew well enough that some one would
be after him, and he was playing the
fox to throw any pursuer Off the scent.
| was several days behind him in Chi
cago, and when l reached Poughkeep-
sic the trail had become cold.
1t was four DAYS before / got the
slightest clue, and then it came from a
citizen of Cortland, a hundred miles
away. He gave me a pretty fair de-
scription of the fugitive. and l was Oft
on the next train. When | reached
Cortland the stranger was still there.
He looked something like the man |
wanted, but easily identified himself
as a resident of Auburn. | was
dead stuck. The fugitive had
increased his start until he might now
DE half way to Europe. received tel
egraphic instructions to return to
Washington, and at once left by way
of Elmira, Harrisburg and Ph!ladel-
phia. At Harrisburg | had to wait for
three hours, and after eating lunch |
walked up and down the station plat
form for an hour. In so doing my at
tentiOn was attracted to middle-aged
woman in the ladies' waiting-room. l
saw that she was covertly watching
me, and in the same manner | took her
measure. She was quietly and modest
" dressed, and was perhaps waiting
for the same train l was. After bit
she got nervous and changed her seat,
but had full view through an open
window of the whole room. once
started OFF as if to 90 up town, but
lodged and returned, and 10! she went
to the door to look after me.
When the woman caught sight OF
me again she picked up 4 small travel
ing-bag and Il wrap and started for the
street | slowly followed. determined
to get Il better look at her face. Before
she reached the door she turned to To-
cate me, and rs she saw M only Il few
feet away she turned and flung the bag
at me and hurried away at Il run.
was 50 a,tOniShcd for two or three
that made no move. Then
picked up the bag, looked it over, and
finding it unlocked | opened it. In
side was paStcbOard box. In the box
were the diamonds stolen from Mrs.
Senator Blank. There was not another
thing in the BAG. which was quite old
and worn. | put the gems in Il safe
place and began hunt for the woman,
but though it lasted three days | got no
trace of her.
Who stole the diamonds? l have not
the slightest idea. Who was the
The wife of some crook, |
probably. carried the diamonds to
Washington and delivered them into
the hands of Mrs. Senator Blank. AL |
though her husband had offered So 600 |
reward he gave me $500, called me a
good fellow, and that was every cent l
received. Two weeks later | got my
man at JOhnstown, Pa, in which place
ne had opened 4 cigar store and be-
ieved himself dead to the outside world.