New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-06-14
CAUGHT BY A LOVE LETTER.
THE CAREER OF A CLEVER YOUNG THIEF


holds in the upper part OF the city during the ast tnieo
months. His visit was always pleasant out "hon NC
went smilingly away 1t would DO discoVere" "'o '""'
he had taken with him something OF Vaue' us""iiy m
the shane OF ewelry. He has been doing exceiiehs
hrs,ness as a thief and without taking much trouble
His work was done cleverly that although
have coming Inspector Byrnes nearly every o~y
for the last months from persons VINO
trty through the agency OF this young man. ne had until
last Friday eluied police. The complainants IN
leaving the description OF the man who had robbed the
creed with each other exactly that the police had
abundance OF dcserption but they could not get the
man.
Good afternoon" said darkcomplexioncd'
smooth-faced. fashouably dressed young man.
showing profuse amount OF gold uihns ~
his front teeth he kept on MS
everlasting smile to Mrs. Cameron. OF NO. Aoo "es'
Finy-sevcnth-st, few days ago He was u'herou NV
the parlor and said "My dear Mrs Cameron am
sorry that could around to see you earlier out
vour husband did not call office until nearly nooa
and had several places to go to on my way up
Mrs Cameron assured him that she did not know any
III ng about 1t. and he continues;
"Oh! I'm from the Phoenix Insurance Company and
have come up here make survey OF your personal
property. 1t will only take few moments IL you VIII
kindly show through the rooms"
Mrs Cameron went with the pleasant young man,
who never forgot to smile. until the bedroom was
reached remarked that he had eft Ills oooK
in the parlor and asked In his bandest way II Mrs cam
eron would get it for him She did lie then made
careful the book OF her property and was busy
calculating. when the lady went out OF the room again.
She returned quickly the young man was hurrediy
putting sometnnc his pocket. and he immediately e1
bmse saying that every thing was all right aud
smiled himself away. He had safe distance from
the house when Mrs. Cameron discovered that her
bureau had been rled and diamond ring worth 1880
gone.
she was frantic, more at thoway she had been de-
ceived than loss of the ring, but her feelings
were oueted in n measure by seeing a letter on the
floor the thief had dropped She hurried 10 In
tpecor Byrnes with the letter, and 1t gave MIN tho
clew to the thief
Detectives Sheldon and Hurd had been working
on the case, but had made little headway.
They found that the thief had several ways OF work
Ing houses At one place he would be an insurance
agent another he would represent himself as coming
from Knapps furnishing to measure the house Tor
window shades, and again he had been sent to ut
the beds with springs When he paid pleas
ant visit to Mrs Heard, Of No. 1877 West
One-hund red -and.twenty- -seventn-st, he was
pano-tuner, when he got to where the piano was
standing he his hands over the keys ana shrugged
his shoulders I'm French disgust, to DO IN keeping Win
his assumed French accent.
"Would the good lady be kind enough to get some not
water TO wash the grease oil the Keys nc asReu'
plaintyely She went into the hail to call servant.
was gone just moment, and after the piano had
been tuned ana had gone after collect
ing 50 for his work. she could not find jewery worth
flOO which had been carefully put away in an adIoin-
Ing room. The detectives by following up the letter
which Mrs Cameron brought TO Inspector Byrnes,
found the man In house In seventy 'nlthst
near Firstave and arrested him. He was highly indg-
nant when officers told him that he was under
arrest and protested loudly at the indgnity offered to
gentleman. He went along nevertheless AT Police
Headquarters he said his was William A.
Williams, his age twentythree and that he
lived at the Grand Union Hotel Beyond
DENYING the charge upon which ho was arrested
he would say nothing Saturday out Of forty persons
who have robbed seventeen appeared at headduar
ters and when the thief placed in line with
number OF persons they all picked him out as the piano.
tuner the insurance man. some one else who had
robbed them though he had forgotten to smile lie
has been taken TO court since he was arrested
and wa. remanded the custody OF Inspector Byrnes
When the thief that he caught so that he could
not escape broke down ana cried peousy and told
the story OF his criminal life
"Gambng" said he, "has been my ruin. There
seems to be a spirit within me that is constantly
calling me TO to the gambling table
Try however hard. could not resist.
have sold my and waisccat TO get money to play
'red and have gone without food and spent
ny last penny the gambling table, hoping that my
luck would turn. have never won. 1t has always
been my luck loose but the spirit within would orce
When nv money was gone. wonld steal TO get
money to play with aud for nothing else
The letter spoken OF is dated this city. aud is from
young lady who is said By Inspector Byrnes to he a
member Of one of the weanest families IN TINS city
ia letter and disclosed the real name OF tile thiri
He also belongs OF tie most prominent fainles
in this city and has brother who Is prominent In poll
tics 49,, ,,,.,, eo,,,,o,o rn.no,,or
Byrnes did not think that the ends OF justice would be
aided By giving his real name or that Of the young LADY,
when asked for it portion OF the letter reads:
II hereby agree that Mr. - tthe thiefs name) is
ton Of any oher gentleman Then follows profession
Of love and devotion that IL TO last forever ana the
letter ends with the words: AIN engaged written four
times large letters above the Of the young man.
Theresl nature OF the young man to whom she was 30
much engaged was broken TO her Yesterday py aer
brother and she prosraed with gref and under
o Ia % Vs ahy
found that Williams sole 5000 about six years ago
nvins He was arrested and sent 70 a reformatory
where he served a year and a half Williams went
which had been pawns,l;; The following
are among the persons robbed: Mrs. Oakley
No 25i West red.and. .twenty.six
seSar ssS soSo No. 5s @ Ear. nfiH $40 O samuel
HcardNo. 1877 West tl-st,
hiiy,third.y. 500; J. Lord No 1913 JoraIemon..t..
Bookyn s25S IakeSna M No. & q
st.. $500; Is. F. Pringt No. $40 West One,hundred.
ss %e!s f%S1ly $50
Thomas Ho.se o. ana oS Mo.
Johnson 800. The property was principally Jewelry
and watches All the lost property mentioned has been
Another of theft by supposed piano-tnner came
%o1Gns ngn pafeps The ycm tn: time M j. Bald
win, who lives IN one Of the Hats OF The Ar1annra;
manipulation OF the piano-bOard is goodookuS young
fellow who has been playing the same trick eIlensivey
in Jersey City and Brooklyn: On the afternoon & OF
parlor of the nat the sharp" was ushered In
and calmly announced himself as sent by the company
from which Mr. Baldwin rents his piano. to sec 1t was
still In good condition.
II don't know anything about 1t myself" said Mr..
Baldwin without glancug at the young
man. "Dut III tel Mfs boluwln
You are here With that he started of the room.
While supposed TOOK his scat at tho piano and
ran fingers hurricdly the keys He got up again
in half minute. however ana going quickly INTO the
adjoining bedroom suatched up at Random closed
case lying on the bureau and putting
IL into his pocket, pounding away at the piano
again when Mr.. and Mrs Baldwin ca.ne back to the
room. . .
This piano TO be all right" said tho
tuner. and with That be took up his hat AMI