The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-07-11
STORIES ABOUT THIEVES.
Two Instances Of Combined ingenuity and
Desperate Coolness.

i Two Instances os Combinsd Ingenuity and
Desperate Coolness.
The proprietor Of . large tewelry
house in Cincinnati can scarcely have
forgotten his experience with an ex-
pert knave, says the Chicago Inter
Ocean. 1t was along toward noon one
very hot day in the summer Of 1873
whom ministerial-appearing fellow in .
black suit, with white tie, entered the
store. He leisurely walked to tho show
case and asked to see some diamond
studs. After some hesitation he bought
small stone, for which he paid $35.
lie then wished to look at some rings =
thought Of making his vito q present.
As he followed the clerk to tho show
case containing tho diamond rings he boz
! gan to eat an apple. Several valuable
gems werc looked at with dissatisfac-
tion. Ono 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 cleverly tossed
it out OF the door. The clerk didn't
notice the move, but fellow who was
standing on the outside did, and hasti-
ly picked up the apple and departed.
The diamond purchaser decided not to
get his wife present till another day.
He was on tho point Of leaving when
the clerk missed the ring.
"Wait q minute, please" called the
clerk, who was nervously looking over
the tray. II can not find that large dla-
mond ring you werc looking at"
Tho sanctimonious gentleman in
black at once returned and remarked
that the clerk must bc mistaken. The
search continued, but it was fruitless.
Tho proprietor was called, and in very
austerc and blunt way insinuated that
1t might be found in tho folds Of tho
ring-buyer's garments.
81 am Rev. Dr. G--n," said tho
customer, in tones OF excited wrath,
naming clergyman who lived in viii
lage about thirty miles distant; land III
give you to understand that l did not
come hero to be insu.ted."
Well, the proprietor became angry
and called policeman, and the alleged
clergyman wac removed to back room,
protesting Indignantly at the treatment.
"A short consultation was held, and a
telegram was sent to the address given
by tho prisoner, making inquiry as to
his character and whereabouts. The re-
ply was slow in coming, and it was de-
cided to search the prisoner. lie 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 Rev. DIR.
G--n was one of tho most reliable
mon In tho town, and that he was visit
ing friends in Cincinnati. Up to this
time the proprietor had been OF the
, opinion that the customer was q pious
fraud, b.t the telegram changed his
tune. He wanted TO make amends right
away. Tho parson talked heavy dam
ages and law, but was at length soothcd
to silence by four crisp 800 bills. In
some way the story of the minister's
insult leaked out His friends heard it
ana asked him anout 1t. IN tho end he
called at the jewe:ry store to see about
1t, and the proprietor was not little
amazed to find he had been dupcd. De-
tectivcs were at oncc put on the case,
and in few days arrested tho bogus
Clergyman and his confederate irving to
pawn the ring. They were the notorious
"Frcnchy" La Mountain and Cal Dun
| can.
A night watchman who was employed
to protect jewelry store in Denver
against the ravagcs of thieves was neat
ly outwitted by tho notorious Billy For
rester some years before his death. Tho
firm carried an immense stock OF gems
!, and kept them in large old.fashioncd
safe. Forester had by long years. ex-
pericnce become SO familiar with safes
of that pattern that he could tell when
to reverse End when to turn the knob
forward by placing his car close to the
door above the combination, and in this
way could open the safe in short time.
by taking wax impression of tho kcy.
hole he made q key for the front door.
Having previously located tho safe in
tho store, hc was now ready to begin. It
was cold, snowy, stormy night about
ten o'clock, and Forester walked up to
the store with an air of ownership and
unlocked tho door. He carried q small
sample case in his hand. Going in, he
turned up the gas in the rear of the
store and then shook down the stove.
lie leisurely worked tho combination to
the safe. and in less than half an hour
he had before him thousands of dollars
worth of costly jewels and watches. At
this very interesting point the night
watchman came in.
! 'Good evening"" said the cordial
burglar, as he continued to remove val
tables from the safe to his sample case.
| "l'm packing up my samples" went
on the thief, suavcly. "Going out on
the road in the morning, and thought 1
would get ready tonight. Therc! isn't
that beauty?" he asked, holding ont
an elegant Jurgensen for the watchman
toexamine.
/! In this way Forester packed over
$1,000 worth of gems and watches into
his sample-case, chatting checrfully
with the night watchman al! the while.
! As he was about to close his sample
case he stopped suddenly as If struck by
happy thought and then picked up
very pretty ring. Turning to the watch
man he asked him II hc had wife. Tho
watchman had, and with careless
laugh Forester tossed him tho ring,
saying: "Give her that, and tell her it
is q mark of appreciation for tho faith.
full services rendered by her husband"
The brilliant guardian of other peo.
ple's property was delighted, and was
unusually wide awake ali the rest of tho
night 1t was not until tha next morn.