New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-13
CLEVER ARREST OF A THIEF.
A RED STRING GUIDED THE DETECTIVES.

THE RoBBER OF JoHNsroS's JEwELRY STORE CAPT
UREp AT THE ATLANTIC HOTEL.
The clever thief who stole tray of diamonds
valued at $4,000 from the store of j. II. Johnstoo,
No. 100 Bowery, On the evening of November 29.
was causht yesterday. Since the robbery CAPTAIN
meakim, of tho Fourteenth Precinct, in whose dis
trict the robbery took place. Ward Detective James
Currie and Detective slevln, of Inspector Byrness
staff, have been working up the case. The clerk
who was in the store at the time OF the ROBBERY
could not give an accurate description OF the thier
and but for slight oversight on his part he would
have probably got away.
On the night of the robbery wolldr young
man. with smooth ruddy face who spoke with
slight German accent went to the pawnsnop 9t
Moses Blow. No. As Sixth-ave., aud asked for
loan upon a diamond ring. The ring had several
stones In It, aud the young asked for much less
than would have been given by the pawnbroker.
he seemed nervous but as that is frequently seen
in pawnbrokers' shops. nothing was thought OF II.
When he got his money and went away Mr. Blow
noticed a small red string on the ring and this
aroused his suspicious; but the young man had
passed out of sight.
On the following day Inspector Byrnes to whom
the robbery had been reported out notices to all
the pawnbrokers IN the city of the robbery and
that the ring in his possession might be part OF
the stolen goods. sent word to Inspector Byrnes
The ring was identified as Johnston's property by
the little red string On all the rings In fhe tray
Vas a small tag, giving their weight and value;
The tag had been pulled of the ring hurriedy and
the tell-tale string had been left Mir. Blow was
able to give COOL description of the man.
Ii the idea of tho detectives at first that tine
robber was a professional thief, but ali the well.
known =" diamond sneaks' were found TO be out or
the city. aud the description Of this one did not
This made the work of finding him exceedingly dlf.
icult. The usual resorts of thieves were watched
in vain. The detectives found our thar there was
young man gong around among the pawh3rokeis
asking for loans upon rings, who answered the des-
cripton of the thief. but thev could not get
close" to him. He seemed to elude them win great
1t was learned early yesterday morning that there
was young man living at the Atlantic Hotel, az
New-BOwery aud Oliver ST., who had so ne dia.
inonds to sell, and who had also sold number OF
rings to peope living i'll the place. tie was thought
| to be a diamond broker by every one with whom ne
had dealings. Captain NJ akin and Detectives Cur
RE and Slevn started for the Atlantic Hotel yes
terday to interview the broker. They had got
within few feet Of the place, when young man man
dressed had q rnddy face. and looked like the man
who had called OF Mr.. Blow. He appeared IKE O
man of business and not thief but captain Mea ga
| kim touched him tightly or the shoulder and dld
not lei GO his hold when the man tr ed 70 run. ne
prisoner protested against the "outrage" az hrst,
but when ten diamond rings were Iouun III ~ ~. ~
side pocket, he lost his nerve aud went WIN the
| officers. -
| He was taken to Inspector Byrness house in west
Ninh-st and confessed his gniIt. lie said his name
| was William Wauser; his age twenty-five; that ne
was machnist. and gave his home as Chicago;
| He denied being professional thief, ann ciaihed
| that the Johnston robbery was his first ohence.
HIS story was that he came to New-York to get
| work SIX days before the robbery with snati
amount of money. e was attrac ted by the display
of iewelry in Johnston's store. HIS money was Wa
| gone and he determined to steal. lie asked T. w.
| fabb, the clerk, to show him diamonds An
inferior lot were show him aud he asked tor more
| expensive ones. Then he took ring from MS
| finger and told the clerk that he wan ed Que that
same size. When the clerk turned his back 70
measure it he dashed out of he dOnr, which had
Just been opened by boy. nth the whole tray. ti'
intention at rs to steal one ring only, nut the
| chance came and he took the tray. -,
| He ran through several streets TO Canal ana Elm
| sts. took the diamonds out aud threw away tn
| empty tray, where it was found in the street. IL
| told where he had sold the Rugs and theT can b
| recovered easily. lie said he only got forty rings
| while Mr. Johnston says that he lost sixty-slx
he others may have been lost 10 the street
Wauser says that ne bad no accomplice