Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-06-17


The little world of fashionable Lon
don society was startled a few years
ago by reports Of a series OF daring
Jewel robberies. The most costly
gems seemed to disappear rs fly ma
gle under the very eyes of their ow n
ers. These robb-ries dched detection
4 clue IN one case was upset by the
facts in another. When nv aid as
private detective vas called in, | re
solved TO coniine my attention to three
distinct cases, though, Of course, il
useful information came in my way
concerning other matters, ] should
know how to take advantage of it.
The first of the three on my list was
the case of the Dowager Lady A, a
somewhat eccentric old lady, who
found her chief delight in arraving
herself in her most valuable jewels,
and visiting, in regular rotation, all
the West End theaters. One night,
when returning from one OF these ex-
petitions, her carriage hal been over
turned by colliding with an omnibus.
The dowager was seriously injured
and, within few days, she was dead
Then, apparently for the first time, it
was discovered that the whole of the
Jewels worn by Lady A. on the night
of the carriage accident had mysteri-
ousIy disappeared. Her maid was so
overcome by the sight OF her injured
mistress that she failed altogether to
remember what was done with these
Jewels al the moment when her lady
ship was uudressed. II was even a
question whether they might not have
been actually lost in the street during
the confusion of the accident. At all
events, no trace Of them could be
found, and it soon became evident
that, in the excitement Of summoning
relatives, fetching doctors, and, very
soon, nurses and undertakers, half a
dozen persons might have entered the
house and walked off with the Jewels
without any chance Of detection.
Then turned nv attention to the
second case-that OF the young Coun-
tess OF B. There seemed less room
for doubt in this instance The fash.
ionable wedding of the autumn had
been that OF the Earl of B. with Mis-:
Blank. There had been a churchfuI
OF people at 81. Georges, Hanover
Square, and a host of guests at the
breakfast at the Unique Hotel. Or
the morning Of the wedding, the Far
had presented his bride with a mag.
nifcent tiara of diamonds. As the
happy pair We're TO start almost i'm.
medlately for the Continent, these
diamonds. inclosed in case, were
hastily packed in travelling bag
which the brides travelling maid wa:
never TO let out Of her sight. On ar,
rivlng at Paris, the bag was apparent.
ly intact, but, on opening the lewe
case, the tiara was missing. Clearly
It must have been cleverly extracted
from the case while living in III,
brides dressing room, the empty cas-,
being placed in the bag. Who haC
stolen the Countess diamonds Tn,
maid, the brides mother, and ' young
er brother had alone, as far as it wa.
known, entered the room where tn,
jewels We're lying. | don mind saw
ing / had some difficulty in believing
that a bona fde robbery had beer
committed. Iou may not believe it
but am convinced that many a start
ling robbery Of Jewels would be ex
planned, If We knew of all the privat,
iebts incurred BY ladies Of fashion
! and Of the sacrifices sometimes mad,