The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-28
STORIES ABOUT THIEVES.
Three Instances of Combined lnge-
nuity and CoOlEesS-
From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.

6A4 NOC%A-O-~-
From the Chicago Tnter-Ocedn-
It has not been many years since well
known jurist Glanced to ask a friend tie
time of dav as he entered the temple of
iustice. remarking at the same time that he
had forgotten MS watch at home. At the
conclusion of his days duties he returned
home and " hen he asked mis- wife for his
chronoIneter was not a little surprised to
hear that she had given II TO young man
who had come for 1t, representing that the
iurist had sent him The young man was
q thief. He had heard the judge remark
that he had forgotten his watch. Without
a moments delay the cunning rogue ran
TO the Judges Rome and told the good lady
of the house that her husband had seat
him for the watch. 1t was a clever story,
plausiblv told, and it won the watch.
The proprietor of alarge jewelry house in
Cincinnati can scarcely have forgotten his
exrerience with an expert knave. 1t was
along toward noon one very hot day in the
summer of 1875 when ministerial-appear-
ing fellow in a black suit, with white tie,
entered the store. He leisurely walked to
the showcase and asked to see some dia-
mond studs. After some hesitation he
bought a small stone for which he paid $50.
He then wished to look at some rings
thought of making bis wife a present. As
he followed LIE CltTk W JIlS ouOWC&SO CUu-
tanning the diamond rings he began to eat
an apple. Several valuable gems we're looked
ut with dissatisfaction. One valued at $500
plsased 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 custo-
ner 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,
r 40 cEopHinc foa mt
side did, and hastily picked up the apple
and departed. The diamond purchaser
decided not 10 get his wife a present Til
another day. He was on the point of leav
ing, when the clerk missed the ring.
"Wait a minute, please" called the
clerk, who was nervously looking over the
tray. II cannot find that large diamond
ring you were looking at"
The sanctimonlOus 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 very auStere and blunt way
irsinuated that 1t might be found in the
folds Of the ring buyers garments.
81 am the Rev. DR.. G-n," said the GUS
toner. in tones of excited wrath naming a
clergyman who lived in village about
thirty miles distant, land I'll give you to
understand that l did not come here to be
insulted."
Well, the proprietor became angry and
called policeman, and the alleged clergy
man was removed to a back room, protest.
ing Indignantly at the treatment. A short
consultation was held, and telegram was
sent to the address given by the prisoner
making inquiry as to his character and
whereabouts. The reply was slow in COM
ing. and it was decided to search the pris-
ouer. 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 tie village, thirty miles
away, came, saving that the Rev. DIR.
G---n was one of the most reliable men in
the town, and that he was visiting
friends in Cincinnati. Up to this time
the proprietor had been of the opinion that
the customer was pious fraud, but the tel
egram changed bis tune. He wanted to
make amends right away. The parson
talked heavy damages and law, but was at
length sootbed to silence by four crisp 500
bills. In some way the story of the min
ister'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,
ard the proprietor was not a little amazed
to find he had been duped. Detectives we're
at once put on the case, and in a few days
arrested the bogus clergyman and his con-
federate trying to pawn the ring. They
weret o notorious "Frenchy" La Mou tain
and Cal Duncan.
A night Waterman, who was employed to
protec5 a jewelry store in Denver against
the ravages OF thieves, was neatly outwitUed
by the notorious Billy Forester some years
before his death. The firm carried an i'm
mense stock of gems, and kept them in a
large old-sashioned safe. Forester had, by
long years experience, become so familiar
with safes OF that pattern that he could tell
when to reverse and when to turn the X OBJ
forward, by placing his ear close to the
door above the combination, and in
this way could open the safe in a short
time. BY taking wax impression
of the keyhole he made key
for the front door. Having
previously located the safe in the store, he
was now ready to begin. It was cold,
snowy, stormy night, about 10 o'clock, and
Forester walked up to the store with an air
OF ownership and unlocked the door. He
carried small sample case in his baud.
Going in, he turned up the gas in the rear of
the store and then shook down the stove
He leisurely worked the com animation 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 in-
teresting point the night Waterman came in.
Good evening"" said the cordial burglar,
as he continued to remove valuabIes from
the safe to his sample case
Come back to the fire and warm your
self; it is very cold out tonight"
The patrolman allow ed that it was, and
sauntered back to the stove.
Pm packing up my-samples," went on
the thief, suavely. 'Going out on the road
in the morning, and thought | would get
ready tonight. There isn't that besuty?'
he asked. holding out an elegant Jurgensen
for the Waterman to examine.
In tits way Forester packed over 50 900
worth of gems and watches into his sample
case, chatting cheerfully with the night
watchman all the while.
as he was about to close his sample case
he stopped suddenly as if struck by happy
thought, and then picked up a very pretty
ring. Turning to the Waterman he asked
him if ne had wife. The watchman had i,
and with careless laugh Forester tossed
him the ring, saying: Give her that, and
tell her it is a mark of appreciation for the
faithful services rendered by her husband +"
The brilliant guardian OF other peoples
property was delighted, and was unusually
wide awake all the rest of the night. 1t
was not until the next morning that he be-
came aware of the hoax that had been
practced upon him. Forester by that time
was " ell out of the way, and his connec ion
with the ROBBERY was not discovered till
few DAYS before his death, when he con-
fessed it.
HIS MASK DROPPED OFF.