The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-05
KING OF JEwELRY THIEVES.
His Schemes Reveal a Cunning and
Fertile Brain.


Fertile Brain.
NEW YORK, Aug. A short time ago a
cadaverous-lookiug young man was arrested
by the Church street police for uttering a
forged check. He had tried to pass it upon O
Staten Island harness dealer. He had re-
presented himself US & reputable and we'll.
known New York merchant, and would
have succeeded in his game if the harness
dealer had not been remarkably cautious
and suspicious man. The amount involved
was less than 800, and the police looked
upon their prisoner as a petty thief who had
been induced by hard luck to take greater
chances than usual, He escaped from his
cell that night with the aid Of some person
either inside the prison or well acquainted
with its regulations.
II the police had known who their pris-
oner really was they would not have let
him go so easily. He is well known to
jewelers. in the United States and Canad 4,
and for ten years he has been bugaboo
to every man in the jewelry trade on this
continent. He has during this time de-
frauded the jewellers of this city alone out
of nearly 100000 Although every ieweler
in New YORK has been warned against him
time and time again. and although jewellers
are very shrewd and very suspicious, yet he
has gone on triuinphantly in his nefarious
career, and has lived like a prince at the
expense of his diamond dealing victims
After making a coup he would disappear
as utterly as though he had departed this
world, and the first time that the police
laid hands on him was on the occasion al
ready described, when they were unaware
of his identity. In TIE 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 desolation about
him.
The brain of this thief is remarkably fer
tile in the invention of schemes, and he has
well deserved his title of King of Jewelry
Thieves. His recent escapade was so low
in comparison with his usual gain that it
utterly amazed those who have been fol-
lowing his career. 1t will be interesting to
nots some of the plans he has successfully
worked
On one occasion be walked into the Office
of Saunders & Ives, large wholesale jew
elry firm on Maiden Lane, end asked for
some loose diamonds. He said he was a
jeweler dong business uptown and selected
$500 worth OF the gems. He offered check
for 81 900 in payment, and then suggested
to the salesman that he had better have it
certified This suggestion lulle1 any sus-
picion that the salesman might have had.
A messenger was sent to the bank with the
check, and the Gust omer said he would step
out for few minutes and return by the
time the messenger got back AS soon as
he reached the street he fastened after the
messenger and saw him present the cheek.
The cashier cast a casual glance at the
forged signature and certified it, A few
moments after the messengers return the
customer reappeared, took the diamonds,
and 500 in change, and departed. The
bauk 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 the store.
He bought $500 worth of diamond rings
from II. n. Squire, Fulton street jeweler,
and said he was employed in the Office OF
Jordan l.. Mott, the millionaire iron man.
One of the firm accompanied him to Motifs
Office, where the customer said he would
give him the money. When they reached
tho Office the fellow suddenly dashed
through the doorway, ran out Of the rear en-.
trance and escaped through some neighbor-
ing buildings.
and Broadway, out of 5000 by forged
checks also. Ills latest and most clever
game was played on Brooklyn jeweler
named Hart. Ho secured the garb Of a
Catholic priest and went to q convent in the
outskirts of the city. There no represented
himself as holy father, and said that his
brother wanted TO put little girl in the
convent for whose hoard and tuition he
would pay very we'll The brother would
come, he said, that afternoon. tie told tho
Mother Superior that his brother was pc
culiar, and 1T would be better II she saw
him first when he, arrived. The lady had
no suspicion and assented. The same
morning he entered Harris place and Sc
lected a diamond cross. He said it was for
the Mother Superior of the convent. He
ordered it 20 be sent there, and said that if
she was satisfied with it she would pay for
it then. He looked so innocent and his
story was so plausible that the jeweler also
failed to suspect anything. fastening
back to the convent no went into the paror
and told the servant girl that as his brother
would be 1here In a few moments he would
answer the bell himself Then he took out
a prayec book and became very intent in
saying his prayers. When the messenger
arrived with the cross he took 1t and said
he would take il up 20 the Mother Supe-
rior. He went up ono flight Of stairs and
down another and skipped by way Of base
ment door.
He is known by variouE names, but the
right one is believed TO be Samuel Lobby.
He is now supposed 10 DO working his
schemes through the country. A circular
with his portrait and description has been
sent to every city la the Unitod States and
Canada, and Pinkerton's agency is trying
to secure him. When he Is nabbed there
will be complaints enough 10 keep him in
prison for life. JOHN Hoe.
HoRSFORD's ACID PHOSPHATE
Relieves the Feeling of Lassituds
SO common in midsummer, and imparts