The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-12

Chicago Has Desperate Hat Criminals
II is said that the Arabs, who are notoriously
the most expert thieves in the world, have been
known 20 steal the shoes from the feet OF a
runner. Whether this Is truth or tradition. saws
the Chicago Mali, the fact remains that Chicazo
thieves have little 70 learn from the lie ht fin
gered sons OF the desert either Ia audacity or
proficiency. The daylight robbery Of the Office
OF Alerton & Co.. the South Chicago bank rob
berry, the theft Of q mail pouch while in transit
rom ne oepot 70 the postoace, and the looting
OF q hre department. station while the iremen
we're absent upon wild goose chase in answer
ing false alarm sent In by the thieves are still
fresh in the minds OF all Chicago readers. But
bold as were all these criminal events they are
very tame and spiritl5ss when compared with a
robbery perpetrated few days ago at the
Palmer house in broad daylight.
The many friends Of Harry Jones Of the
Tribune will be panied to learn that be is thu
latest victim Of the expert crooks who lately
have caused the local police much uneasiness.
FOR several years an Immaculate tall silk hat
or ratner asemi-annuel succession OF them-hSs
surmountei Harry's towering dome OF thought
as thing OF beauty and Joy forever For the
last few days this familiar Landmark has been
missing from the Tribune force while, its ersu-
while proud possessor has been going up and
down in the land disguised Ia a brown derby OF
vintage OF So The causes thereunto moving
may be briefly told as follows:
The other day Mr.. Jones went to the Palmer
House to interview a gentleman upon an i'm
portant matter AS soon as the interview was
ended the newspaper man lost no time in writ
ing out his notes while the subject was still
fresh in his mind he did not wait till he re-
turned to the Tribune Office to do this but
rushed downstairs into the hotel writing-room
seated himself at table, and commenced to
convert the interview into copy Tie air in
the room was oppressively warm, and the heavy
silk tile felt heavier than usual upon the Young
mans brow, which was wildly rhrobbing under
the exciting prospect of an important ''scoop -
The unnecessary burden was removed from its
resting plac and dep sited upon the table close
70 his elbow, and tbs literary work commenced
1t had progressed very satisfactorily for about
one minute, when there came an interruption
in the shape of messenger boy, who handed
him sealed envelope Tearing it open Harry
drew from it a sheet of paper bearing the
Palmer house letter heading. Written across IL
in round, masculine hand were the words:
Where did you get that hatf''
Throwing down the paper with an eiacula-
ton oetokening that tired feeling" which pat
ent medicine poets sing about he returned to
his writing. But at the same time he instinct
lively glanced in the direction of his shining
head -ea1. Was he dreaming? Or was it only
on the very spot where he had placed his tall
silk tile but a moment before, was battered
brown kerby. And there was no other hat i'm
sight either.
"Whsre did you get this note?" cried the
startled young man, addressing the messenger
boy
"a gentleman gave It to me-"
What gentleman ~
Indeed, don't know, sir''
How did he look Can you see him about
here anywhere nowS'
No, sir; don't see him here now He wore
tall silk hat. He called me to him-out in the
LOBBY there-gave me dime, handed me that
envelope, and asked me to give it to you"
How did you know where to deliver il ?"
HE walked with ms as far as the door over
there and pointed you out to me-
Then an excited young man. bare headed and
accompanied by a small boy, made hurri I'd
tour OF investigation about the hotel. It proved
fruitless. The tile had passed away from his
sight forever.
The derby is an old-timer-so old that the
date Is almost worn oR-and it has neither hat
band nor sweatband. A gentleman who was
writing at the same table at the time of the
robbery noticed tall, well-dressed man. who
sauntered up to the table, nonchalantly picked
up Mr. Jones hat, and walked over to large
mirror as If to see how he looked in an aristo-
cratic tile. Here the chew was lost. The re-
marks OF Mr.. Jones upon this occasion are
withheld for revision, since they were not in
tended for publication, but were given merely
as an evidence of good faith and earnestness.