Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1888-07-25


said an operator in that line, with
out knowing what l was doing"
"How did that como aboutP
"Why, you see ! happened TO be out
of job was book -keeper-and
was watching the Tribune advertise
ments, when l saw notice of office
help wanted answered the adver-
tisement, and before l knew what was
up found myself sitting in the cool
ing-room of the agency waiting for
orders.
THAT was an awful long day, you
bet. Nobody said any thing to me and
no orders came just sat there won
dering what was coming and what
tho work was to be. until finally a
man came in and asked me If thought
could shadow party and put him
to bed.
Il didn't know what he meant but /
soon found out. 'Shadowing' is fol-
lowing person everywhere and maxi
ing exact observations of every thing
done. When the party is traced to
his lodgings and there is no indication
of his going out again that night we
have put him to bed.
81 was taken down to drug store,
where a clerical-looking man was
quietly pointed out to me. You can
make up your mind l felt queerly.
Somehow tho ms tinct of cat watch
ing mouse came over me all at once.
The man moved about carelessly and
in less than five minutes he had lift
ed half dozen small articles. My
orders were to let him work hut to
keep tab on all he did. The only
pointer had was that he was minis
ter afflicted with kleptomania.
81 put him to bed all right in n
fashionable South Side boarding.
house and ldodged around until near
ly morning for fear of his coming out.
Tho next day l handed in my report
to the chief, who ordered me to appear
personally. He proved TO be the man
who had put me OH the trail. Before
he had finished reading my report, in
walked my clerical chap. grinning like
. cheshire cat.
You'll spoil your complexion, ,
said he. if you stay up every night
till $780, my son.
by gum. it was $3.50. when l went
off watch the night before. He had
simply been testing me. ! was too
mad and surprised to turn the laugh
on him.
IF you want any tooth-powder or
soap says he. carry neat line O.
them goods. And he actually laid
down the articles l saw him pinch the
day before. He said few words to
the chief and went out.
"Then the chief put me onto the
work in hand. Ten years or SO be-
fore this there was big diamond rob-
berry in an Ohio city. just make
the name Judd and call him
General. His wife and two
daughters had family Jewels
wort over ten thousand dollars, which
they kept at their bankers except
when special occasion demanded.
THE night of the robbery Mrs.
Judd fetched the jewels home in her
own carriage and distributed them
among herself and the young ladies
as they were TO wear them. There
were no strangers in the house. Mrs.
Judd had young woman, Evcline
Mason, whom she had taken as q COM
panion to her daughters som, time
before, but who had grown up almost
like another daughter 10 her. The
General regarded Eveline Mason with
sincere affection.
"The ladies were so accustomed to
wearing the jewels that they ddn' {
think of the possibility of loss. When
they went down to dinner they left
the sparklers on their dressing tables
in the three different rooms. When
they returned to their rooms not a
single jewel was to be seen. Mrs.
Judd discovered her loss first and sup
posed that her daughters had taken
the jewels tn their rooms 10 make Sc
lections to suit their costumes. but
when she made inquiry she learned
that the whole lot was missing.
1T was n winter evening, with light
snow. Not footprint was visible
near the doors or windows outside the
house and no evidence of forcible en-
trance was dscerniblc anywhere.
The case was treated In the only way
1t could be. The servants were sus-
pectcd. but not scrap of proof could
be found against any one of them.
General Judd at last called the force
off and declared he'd never lift fin
ger TO detect tho criminal
"The General died few years later.
II was reported that he left dying
request that nothing should ever be
done regarding this mystery. But his
executor, after Mrs. Judds death.
took more practical view of the case.
The jewels had never come to light
Whoever stole them still retained