The morning news., 1889-04-22
FUN WITH DETECTIVES.
MR.. THEODORE DEXTER'S RE
MARKABLE JOKE.

He Was Robbed of Great Deal of
Valuable Property and secured the
Services of the Police to Help Him
Recover It-Perhaps He Did Not See
Where the Laugh Came In, But IN
spector Byrnes Did.
(Copwight 1Ss9)
NEW YORK, April 20-He had the air of
cultivated, quiet man Of the world, con-
cealing serious agitation under we'll trained
self-possession.
81 should much prefer" he said "taat
this matter should not get into pr! II, Z /
detest publicity with all my heart J.
most think that l woull ra5usr To-. the
property without an efor5 to recover it
than to get it all back with an accompanl-
ment of reporters stories"
He smiled feebly and then heaved sigh
as he smoothed imaginary ruffies on the
crown of his silk hat. l advised him to
have no anxiety on the score of possible
notoriety, and assigned a man to accom-
pany him to his apartment and work up
the case The detectives report may serve
for an explanation Of the circumstances.
He found that the gentleman, Mr.. Theo-
dOre Dexter, lived III a fashionable house
arranged for bachelors quarters His apart
mentS we're on the fourth floor, reached by
an elevator and stairs on one slde and by
narrow winding stairs on the other. The
latter passageway was designed originally
for the use Of servants AID marketmen,
but as the tenants on the upper floor made
no attempt at housekeeping, not even haV-
ing their breakfast broug t in, 1T was sell
dom used above the third flight. 1t opened
at the bottom into m mature backyard
r. L. L. ..A lAgtHE "a
brick wa Is led to the street. The end at the
street as closed by heavy door, always
locked save when the ianitOr in answer to
ring opened it to admit the butcher or the
grocer.
Mr. Dexter's apartments consisted of four
rooms. One designed for no more than
pantry, and opening upon the back stair
way, was used by him as store room. In
it were trunks aud boxes and general lit
ter of papers. Next to it was dark room,
a window opening on shaft giving no
more than light enough to see ones way
| across it. This was designed for dining
room and was used by Mr.. Dexter for such
purposes when, on rare occasions he enter
tanned his friends. OF the other rooms one
was chamber and at last parlor. The
latter was well lighted aud separates from
the chamber by nothing more than por-
| there's.
MIR. Dexter has money enough to live
| we'll and to collect various articles Of brIc-a-
brac of great value Most Of these were
displayed in the parlor, the walls being
hung with rare paintings, etchings and odds
| and ends of various description. Ol man,
| tells were leweled watches OF ancient make
| five mirrors, plaques, gems III the rough
| etc In several glaSs-1oOred cabinets were,
any number of jewels and coins, intagllos
and personal ornaments. The entire collec-
| tion he valued at not less than $50, ,OOO, and
| he was pVl1a0tIV VprV nrOTlI of 1t.
One day he missed several rings and cut
stones from one of his cabinets. According
| to his report he made inquiries of all the
| employees of the house as to whether any
| body had been in his rooms, and could dis
cover no trace of the thief Although
greatly disturbed and annoyed, he let a
night pass without taking action, and then
found out that other valuables had been
| taken Thereupon he reported the case.
The detective had examined the cabinets,
which were always locked, the doors and
the windows without coming across any
| ciew either of the operator or the method
| Of operations.
Suspicion was first directed, of course, to
the servants of the house, but nothing sag
| gestive was learned from them. The value
| of the articles taken amounted to nearly
| s., 600, though Mr.. Dexter declared that he
would not have parted with them for much
more
one of getting accurate descriptions of all
! missing property and searching in the
| pawn-shops. Not single piece had been
put up. A similar search among dealers In
Jewels and bric-a-brac was equally fruitless.
! This work consumed the first day. The
| next morning Mr.. Dexter app ared at
| headquarters bright and early, and with no
little indignation and alarm complained
that still other valuables in his possession had
| disappeared The parlor did not appear to
| be disturbed in the least, and oddly enough,
| none of the articles eX0osed on the mantals
had been taken. The cabinets were rifled
| and the doors left Unlocked.
| Two detectives were sent to Mr.. DeXter's
| quarters to investigate. Some OF the most
valuable OF the goods remained untouched.
Somebody" said the owner, "has man
| aged to secure a key to my cabinet. The
| lock is peculiar. Would it not be good
plan to inquire of all the locksmiths in the
city whether they have made any dupli-
| Gates recentlyg'
The detectives thought it might, but had
Mr.. Dexter spent the night IN his rooms'
Yes, he had, and slept soundly in spite Of
| his anxiety.
Had he any theories or direct suspi-
ciOusl
No suspicious, but perhaps the thief might
have an accomDlice in the house who let
him in and out by the back stairs.
If an accomplice, why use the back stairs,
where the utmost caution was necessary.
instead of the front passage or the elevator,
where one might 60 up and down without
attracting attention.
Mr. Dexter could not say, but he was
| quite certain that the back stairs had been
used To enforce his views, he suddenly re-
membered that he had found a handker-
chief in the back room that morning that
| he had forgotten TO speak of. 1t did not
belong to him and he had never seen one
| like it.
The detective who took the handkerchief
then had an idea but he did not mention
it to the plundered man. He simply sug-
| gested that it might be good idea TO seal
the lock for another night and see what
would happen.
I'VE shall recover your goods, Mr.. Dex-
| ter, he said confidently; and if the fell
low raids you again to night we shall catch
! him all the quicker
Mr.. Dexter smiled.
"Oh, hope So" he exclaimed, and then,
in the detectives presence, be sealed up his
| locks with wax.
That night the detective who had caught
! the idea stationed his partner in the main
| hall Of the building. he was TO watch
| there all night, if need be- AT the tune ho
| took up the watch, Dexter was out a. din
ner. II might have been 10 o'clock g. IN,