Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-14
He BEATS THE DETECTIVES.
How JeweIler PereivRl Cieyerly Cap
tured . Thief on European
philadelphia PresAl

JeWcller J.. l.. BerclNai, OF ZOJ LoItu
Eighth street, last night thought that be was
better detective than any OF the city's at
Fifth and Chestnut streets. He thought 80
because, In his opinion, he has proved It.
Mr.. Perclyal is the man who, as reported in
Yesterdays Press. was iuYeiglsd by Ger
man into takiBg $500 worth Of iewelry to
the house st 403 Fairmount avenue from
which 4 sick lady was to select present,
and who, after waiting in an outer room Tor
the sick lady 20 make her selection, discoV-
cred that the German bad 1od with his pro-
periy.
when Mr. PerciVsl reported HE loss to
Chief Wood Tuesday morning be wasabout
the maddest man in town. He is a thin,
nervous man. with a slight English accent,
and an air Of innocence that IL only exceeded
by his pluck. A detective was detailed TO
help Mr. Perciyal get his property back,
and 10 him the ieweller tod IN detail his eX.
perieuces with the shrewd Germsn, who had
given the name Of Francis Volath. Nolath
bad first visited the store Friday, November
30tb, when The proprietor was in New YORK.
III came again on Monday. and made an ap-
polntment for Mr. Perciyal to take some
watches, chains. and diamond rings 10 the
Paramount. Avenue House on Tuesd'y at Ill
O'Clock. The lady was too sick then, and
Mr. perciyal, who was accompanied by
German Interpreter. for Nolath could not
speak English, called at 4 O'Clock and again
at 6. Both men had big. seli-cocking pis-
tolls within hp-pockeis, and felt safe.
CHAGRINED As WELL AS ROBBED.
Volath took the iewelry into the room,
and a GIRL who said she was a sister OF the
sick woman, talked to them and alnyed
their suspicious. Finally the ieweller grew
uneasy and sent the girl In to see what was
the matter. A short time passed, and as
neither the girl nor Volath came ont Mr.
PerciVal hurriedly entered. The only occu-
pant Of the room was a bed-ridden woman,
apparently at the point Of death. Noath
had gone. so had the girl, and so, too, had
the Jewels. The ieWeller felt as angry at
being guled 50 at losing his iewelry. He snd
the detective could learn nothing from the
other occupants OF the house. 1t was clear
that the scheme WAS "worked by Volath
himself, who had lived in the house a short
time.
Looking over the papers left behind by the
thief hr. Perclyal found card OF the North
German steamship Line llealao ascertained
that the Saale vas 10 sail from iiOboken yes
leraay. lie formed the conclusion that the
man intended 10 60 on that steamship, and
told the detective so. Mr. Pe-ciyal says the
detective laughed at him. IIissuSpicion that
the man only wanted to raise enough money
10 leave the country was confirmed when he
learned that be bad attempted to dupe half
dozen other uadesmen the same way. He
had had $500 worth OF silks sent from Sharp
lesss, but an officer went with them. He
had tried 10 have goods sent from straw
bridge d Clothier's, from Hinchbach's the
ieWeler. from Muir's, and from Second
street dealer.
That was enough. Mr. Percival took the
owl train for New York aud scanned every
passenger that got out OF the trains at Jersey
CITY I'D to nearly noon Yesterday. Then he
went over TO the Saale's dock 10 IIObOken.
He proWed near the ship, but could not lind
ms man up to l2:4O O'Clock. Then he found
him Ia the sal0On. The Saale was 10 go at
| O'Clock. The jeweller says he was uncer-
tain at first because Volath had had his
moustsche shaved Oh and changed his COM
plexion with enamel The man started when
he saw him and the ieweller took him by the
arm and said he wanted 10 see him. Nolath
responded with a blow and Mr. Perciyal
struck back. The fugitive broke away and
led the leHeler chase all over the bost and
of on the pier. Here the two grappled and
crowd collected. With a sudden move
ment Voath whipped a pistol out OF his
breast pocket, but the ieWeler bad been even
quicker and had whipped pistol out OF his
/ hippOcket.
COMPOSING HIS GUILT.
The emigrants were siding with the pri-
s0ner and his dupe was beginning TO feel
blue again when Deputy Marshal +. Barnard
interiered TO see fair play. A big policeman
wss called and after many protestitions OF in
nocence Nolath broke down and offered TO
compromise. The Deputy Marshal took
him aside and after 4 talk said to DIR. Perc-
val:
Heres diamond ring I have taken out
OF his mouth. a watch and cham, some pawn
tickets, and slS. That's oil be has. VIII
YOU take - AS the ring was the cheapest
Of the two stolen, and as there was but one
watch out Of the three, and one chain out
Of six Mr.. Percival said be wouldn't.
Volath, nov almost in tears, was taken to
the Hoboken station. house, where be con-
sented u accompany Mr. Perciyal 10 Phila-
dephia. Detective Gallagher, OF Hoboken.
accompanied them, and VoIath was locked
no At the Central station at $50 yesterday
afternoon.
II turns out that his real name Is Gerhardt;
that the woman who Is sick ~ really his SIS
ter. and so is the glrl who was present at the
Al. a.. 4