Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
NEW YORK; LETTER.
rHH KIHa OF ygwYLRY THIHvgs-Hls
CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.
Samuel Lobby's WHY sehemes-young VII
liam walter Phelps Dodge's Is
espades- "reminiscences Of Ed.
Stokes and Jim Fisk.
tcorre.pondonco OF Tho Richmond Dlspslch.l

A short time ago n cadaverous-loo
young man was arrested by tho Churcii-
street police for u,tering forged check.
lie had tried 20 pass 1t upon Staten
Island haYncss-dcalor. He had repre-
scnted himself ~ a reputable and we'll.
known New York merchant, and would
have succeeded in his game II the har-
noss-doaler had not been remarkably
cautious and suspicious man. The
amount involved was lets than 800, and
The police looked upon their prisoner as
a petty thief who had been induced by
hard luck 10 tako greater chances than
usual. He escaped from his cell that
night with the ala Of somapcrson either
inside the prison or well acquainted with
Its regulations.
KIN0 or JEwELRY THIEVES.
II the police had known who their pri-
eoncr really was they would not have let
him so 50 easily. He Is well known 80
iewellersin tho United states md Canada,
and for ten years he has been bugaboO
90 every man in the jewelry trade on tins
continent. lie has during this time de-
fraudcd the jewellers OF thiscity alone out
OF nearly thirty thousand dollars. Al
though oyerv lcwcllcr IN New York has
been warned against him time ond time
again, and, although jewellers are very
shrewd and very suspicious, yet be has
gone on trimphAnily in his nefarions
career. and has lived ike a prince ut the
EXPENSE Of bis diamond dealing VIC
Inns After making n camp Ao would
disappear as utterly IS though he
had departed this world, ami the
first time that tho police laid hands
on him was on The occasion already de
scribcl, when they were unaware OF
his identity. II tho same manner he
has gone through the country appearing
and vanishing like Eugene Sues dread
Wandering jew, and in the same way
spreading dismay and dosOlatOn about
him.
The brain Of this thief is remarkably
fertile in the invention OF schemes, and
he has well deserved his title Of King Of
Jcwelry Thieves. His recent escapade
was 50 low in comparison with bis usual
gains that it utterly amazed those who
have been following hrs career. 1t Will
be interesting 10 note some OF the plans
lie has successfully worked.
now HE WORKED A forged CHEcK
On one occasion ne walked into the
Office Of Saunders a. Ives, IL large whole
sale jowclry firm on Maiden Lane, and
asked for some loose diamonds. He sad
he was q jeweller doing business uptown
and selected $500 worth Of the gems. He
offered check for 81 600 in payment,
and then suggested TO tho salesman
that lie had better have IT certified.
This suggestion lulled any suspl-
cion that the salesman might have
had. a messenger was sent to
the bank with the check, and
the customer said be would step out Tor
a few minutes and return by the time the
messenger got back. "a soon rs he
reached the street he hastened after the
messenger and saw him present the
check. The cashier cast casual glance
IT the forged signature and certified 1t.
A few moments after the messengers re-
turn the customer reappearcd, TOOK the
diamonds and 500 in change, and de-
parted. Tho bank suffered the loss.
The game WAS bold and yet simple. Had
the cashier of the bank discovered the
forgery the thief would have seen it and
would not have returned TO tho store.
lie bought $500 worth of diamond
rings from III. NJ. Squire, tulton-street
lovcller, and said ho was employed in
the office OF Jordan J.. Mott, the million
aire iron man. One Of the firm accom-
panied him to Motifs Office. where tho
customer sad hc would give him the
money. Wien they reached the Office
the fellow suddenly dashed through the
doorway. ran out Of the rear entrance,
AMI escaped through some neighboring
buildings.
BE PLAYS A RELIGIOUS ROLE.
He swindled A. II. Smith, of John
street and Broadway, ont of $1,000 by
forced checks also. His latest and most
clever game was played on II Brooklyn
ieweller named Hart lie secured the
carb of a Catholic priest and went to Il
convent in tho outskirts OF the city.
There he Represented himself as holy
father and said that his brother wanted
t. put o little girl IN the convent, for
whose board and tuition he would pay
verv we'll. The brother would come, ne
said. that afternoon. he told the Mo
Their Superior that his brother was pecu-
Lar. and that 1t would be better II she
saw him first when he arrived. The lady
had 10 suspicion and asscntcd. The
same morning he entered Harris plsce
and srlecto diamond cross. lie SAID
il was for the Mother Superior Of tue
convent. lie ordered it to be sent there,
and SAID that II sho was satisfied with II
she would pay fvr 1t then. lie looked
80 innocent and his story was 50
pausible that the jeweller also
failed to suspect anything. Hasten
inc back 10 the convent he went into the
parlor and told the servant girl that as
his brother would be there 10 few
moments he would answer the bell him
self. Then he took out q prayer book
and became very intent IN saying las
pravers. When the messenger arrived
with the cross he took it and said he
would take il up 10 the Mother Superior.
He went up one flight Of stairs and down
another and skipped by way OF the base
ment door.
lie is known by various names, but
.he right one is believed to be Samuel
Lobby. lie now believed to be work
ing his schemes through the country.
A circular with his portrait and descrlp-
ton has been sent to every city IN the
United States and Canada, and Pinker-
.on's Agency is trying to secure him.
When ho is nabbed there will be COM
plaiuauts enough to keep him IL prison
lor Ale.
Young DopoE's EscAPADE.s.
The cable announcement the other
dav that young William Walter Phelps
Dodge, nephew Of the New Jersey states
man and a member o! one Of New York
proudest and wealthiest families, had
married clrcus-rider in London did not
cause one branch Of the family to shed
any tears. mean the Stokes family,
who are so closely connected with the
phelnses and Dodges that they are like
one family. The cruel hoax of young
Dodge last winter in advertising IN the
daily newspapers that he had married his
-, H. Ct,Eoe an heiregs 10 - tHle