The morning news., 1891-01-27
AN EYE FOR DIAMONDS.
HERBERT HARsIs GETS AWAY
WITH A s7oo CLUSTER.

OA11aOuQ 4ulSFeS capture LuS ESOO
Der of Mrs. E Kuhlman's Jewels
Harris Leads the Omcers a Lively
Chase, But is Finally Captured anC
Owns Up-His Efforts to Ssll ths
Diamonds Give the Robbery Away
The Jewels Recovered.
Detective We her horn captured a negro
diamond thief named Herbert Harris yes
terday, after a lively chase uader the
bluff
On Saturday Mrs. z. Kuhlman Of No
105JS Jones street bad handsome diamond
pia, containing twenty-one stones, stolen
from her room. Sne placsd the matter in
the hands OF Detective Wetherhorn, who
called in Detective Basch to assist him.
Simon Sternberg, Of n. Sternberg & Bro.
the Broughtcn street jewellers, informed the
detectives Sunday that he had in his posses
sion fifteen diamonds brought to his store
on Saturday BY negro who wanted to sell
them. The negro, he said, came in with
the stones wrapped up, and asked him what
he would give him for the lot, saying
that he mad found them IN the street. The
leweler did not believe the story, and turn
ing to bis brother asked him in German to
detain the negro until be could find De-
tective Rasch. Mr.. Sternberg slipped oct
of back door, but fail ed to find the officer
He then Id the negro that their diamond
expert would not be back until Monday
morning, and he would keep the stones until
then to find out their value, and would give
him whatever they were worth.
THE FIRST CAPTURE.
The ruse worked, and Harris, whom the
negro efterward proved 10 be, walked out
apparently satisfied. The detectives felt
that they were about TO capture the Kayton
diamond thieves, and early yester-
day morning sta ioned themselves
across the street from Stsrnberg's,
with the understanding that when the
negro came TO get his money for the dia-
naonds Mr.. Sternberg was to signal them.
After several hours two strange negro boys
entered the store and asked for the stones
left by young colored man Saturday.
The understood signal was given and tho
detectives, Wetherhorn aud Basch, walked in
and arrested the boys and demanded Of them
where they got the diamo ds. Both imme-
diately declared, 1--WE amt got nothin' to
do with 1t, boss. Herbert Harris axed US
70 come after de tings." The officers asked
who Harris was and where could
that Harris was the man who swept out the
National Bank Of Savannah, aud that he
was then waiting for them on Barnard
street, near the market
SAW THROUGH IT AT ONCE.
Then it dawned upon the detectives that
Harris was the man who had
robbed Mrs. Kuhlman, as her son.
who is discount clerk in
the bank, had told them that he had en-
pioyed Harris TO clean windows at his house
on Saturday.
Detective Wstherhorn started out the
lane door after his man, but Harris spied
him as he turned into Barnard street, and
started on a run through the market
basement and made his escape. The de-
tsctive returned, and finding tnat the two
boys arrested were innocent of any crime,
told them that they would turn them loose
II they would hunt down Harris Both
agreed Detective Basch took one, and.
accompanied by Mr.. S ernberg, went to
Harris home at No. 129 jefferson street,
but he had not showed up. Detective
Wetherhorn went back to Justice Naugh-
tins office and told the other boy to report
to him as soon as he could find Harris.
A LIVELY CHASE
About 1:30 o'clock the detective was
standing at the corner of st. Julian and
Whitaker streets telling the story of the
mornings occurrence TO a MORNING NEWS
reporter when the colored roy ran up
almost breathless and said: "Mr. Wether-
horn, l see him; he's sitting at de Exchange
dock" The detective lost no time
in getting around. and when be
reached the steps leading down
from the exchange the boy pointed Harris
out. While the detective was deciding
which way to get up to the man without
being prematurely discovered, Harris
turned round and looked up. The moment
he saw the detectives face he spranR M
and started on a run along River street
eastward. The detective turned back and
ran down Bay street to Abercorn, and just
got below in time to ses Harris go by. A
wagon was passing, and, jumping In, De-
tective Wetherh rn took hold Of the
drivers reIns and started the horse on a
lively gallop after the fugitive.
Harris saw that he would be captured IL
he remained on River street, and turned his
steps toward the Bay. The pursuer drove
up Lincoln street and along the alley 1ust
below Bay street. He met Harris as be
came out at Price street, and, covering him
with his revolver. ordered him to throw I'D
his hands.
THE THIEF RUN DOWN.
Harris yelled: Don't shoot. I'll sur
renderP The prisoner was placed in the
wagon and taken to Justice Naughtin's
office, where he made full confession, after
being identified by Mr.. Kuhlman as the
man who had been sent by him to wash
windows, and by Simon Sternberg as the
party who brought the diamonds to his
establishment on Saturday.
Harris said that he saw the pin on the
bureau while washing the windows of Mrs.
Kuhiman's room, and he put it in his pocket,
As soon as he finished work he went home
and broke the pin for the purpose Of getting
the stones out. He threw the gold portion
into vault, put two of toe stones
under brick over the door, took
four or them to Emile Fauna
Fegeas on Broughton street, and was given
81 apiece for them. and the other fifteen he
offered to MIR. Sternberg for SALE
FEGEAs IN TROUBLE.
Mr. Kuhlman swore out a posssssorv
warrant against Fegeas for the stones, and
he gave them up, saying that the negro
told him plausible story about finding the
stones, ard he bought them, not knowing
their value. he not being an expert. Fegeas
admitted, however, that he had tried the
files on the diamonds before he purchased
them.
Harris was committed to jail to await
the action Of the grand jury, and FeReas'
case will probably be looked into by So
licitor General Fraser.
The value OF the diamond pin was $7O0.
Harris also admitted stealing a collection
of old coins, belonging 20 Cashier Thomson
and Teller Abrams of the bank, about three
weeks ago, shortly after getting employ.
ment at the bank. He was suspected at the
time, but denied the charge so stoutly that
nothing was done about it. Harris said he