Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-05-09
STORIES OF THIEVES.
INSTANCES OF INGENUITY AND
GOODNESS.
Good Tales of Light Fingered Gents

the temple of justice, remarking at the
same time that he had forgotten his
watch at home. At the conclusion of
his days duties he returned home, and
when he asked his wife for his chro-
nometer was not little surprised 10
hear that she had given it to a young
man who had come for it, representing
that the jurist had sent him. The
young man was thief. He had Leard
the Judge remark that he had forgot
ten his watch. Without moments
delay the cunning rogue ran to the
Judges house and told the good lady
OF the house that her husband had sent
him for the watch. 1t was clever
story, plausibly told, and it won the
watch.
The proprietor Of large jewelry
house in Cincinnati can scarcely have
forgotten his perience with an eX-
pert knave. 1t was along toward noon
one very hot day in the summer of
1875 when ministerial-appearing fell
low in black suit, with white tie,
entered the store. He leisurely walked
to the showcase and asked to see some
diamond studs. After some hesitation
he bought small stone for $35. He
then wished to look at some rings
thought of making his wife present.
AS he followed the clerk to the show
case containing the diamond rings he
began to eat an apple. Several valua-
BILE gems were looked at with dissatis-
faction. One valued at $500 pleased
him, but was not just what he wanted.
At length he saw one in the case he
thought was just the thing. AS the
clerk reached to get it the parson-like
customer pressed the $500 ring deep
into the apple he was eating and clev-
erly tossed it out of the door. The
clerk didn't notice the move, but fell
low who was standing on the outside
did, and hastily picked up the apple
and departed. The diamond purchas-
or decided not to get his wife present
till another day. He was on the point
of leaving when the clerk missed the
ring.
"Wait a minute, please" called the
clerk, who was nervously looking over
the tray. 81 cannot find that large
diamond ring You were looking at"
The sanctimonious gentleman in
black at once returned and remarked
that the clerk must be mistaken. The
search continued, but it was fruitless.
The proprietor was called, and in an
austere and blunt way insinuated that
il might be found in the folds of the
ring-buyers garments.
81 am the Rev. DR.. G-n,n said
the customer, in tones of excited
wratS, naming a clergyman who lived
in a village about thirty miles distant.
"and FL give you to understand that l
did not come here to be insulted."
Well, the proprietor became angry
and called a policeman, and the al
legged clergyman was removed to a
back room, protesting Indignantly at
the treatment. A short consultation
was held, and telegram was sent to
the address given by the prisoner, max
ing inquiry as to his character and
whereabouts. The reply was slow in
coming, and it was decided to search
the prisoner. He was forced to strip,
and every fold and crease in his clothes
was searched. 1t is needless to say the
ring was not found.
The telegram to the village, thirty
miles away, came, saying that the Rev.
DIR. G-n was one of the most reli-
able men in the town, and that he was
visiting friends in Cincinnati. Up to
this time the proprietor had been of
opinion that the customer was pious
fraud, but the telegram changed the
tune. He wanted to make amends
right away. The parson talked heavy
damages and law, but was at length
soothed into silence by four crisp 500
bills. In some way the story of the
minister's insult leaked out. His
friends heard it and asked him about
it. In the end he called at the jewelry
store to see about it, and the proprietor
was amazed to find he had been duped.
Detectives were at once put on the
case, and in few days arrested the
bogus clergyman and mis- confederate
trying to pawn the ring. They were
the famous Frenchy" La Mountain
and Cal Duncan.
A night Waterman who was employ
ed to protect jewelry store in Denver
against the ravages of thieves, was
neatly outwitted by the notorious Billy
Forester some years before his death.
The firm carried an immense stock of
gems, and kept them in large old
fashioned safe. Forester had, by
long years experience, become so ia
miliar with safes of that pattern that
he could tell when to reverse and when
to turn the knob forward, by placing
his ear close to the door above the COM
bination, and in this way could open
the safe in short time. BY taking a
wax impression of the key-hole he
made key for the front door. Hay-
ing previously located the safe in the
store, he was now ready to begin. 1t
was cold, snowy, stormy night,
about 10 o'clock, and Forester walked
up to the store with an air of owner
ship and unlocked the door. He car
ried small sample-case in his hand.
Going in, he turned up the gas in the
rear of the store and shook down the
stove. He leisurely worked the COM