Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-08-30
FILCHED THE GROWN.
BOLD ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE
BRITISH ROYAL JEWELS.

Carry or the Insignia OF British Roy
atty and Very Nearly succeeded-what
Became of Them Afterward.
Perhaps one Of the most daringly con-
ceiyed and executed robberies in history il
that which occurred in the year 1878, when
the bold attempt was made by Colonel
/. Blood and his associate to get away with
the crown, orb and scepter Of English roy
'alty. One is almost tempted to wish that
the scheme carried so far had been a sue
cess-a feeling engendered no doubt by the
distinctive sympathy that humanity feels
with any who attempt a daring deed.
Blood was no ordinary thief or burglar.
AS his title indicates he had served his
& king and his country in the army, and had
been gallant officer. His confederates
were one Parrot, silk dyer, who had
seen some fighting in the civil war be-
tween Roundheads and Cavaliers, and a
young man named Hunt. son-in-law Of
the colonel. Blood fancied he had q griev-
ance against the king, alleging that he
had not been sufficiently paid for his serv-
ices. He had INDUCED in plots against
the king and the Duke Of Ormonde, which,
failing, he bethought himself Of the crown
jewels as offering rich plumber as well as
h his coveted revenge.
His plan was ingenious. Attired in a
parsons habit and accompanied by
woman, who posed as his wife. he visited
the Tower Of London and requested to be
shown the regalia. The warden, a Mr..
Edwards, received them courteOusly and
conducted them to the jewel tower. While
they were inspecting the symbols Of roy
: atty the woman pretended to be suddenly
seized with severe pain and fell in faint.
q Sympathetic. yet cautious, Edwards sent
T his wife for restoratives, but did not leave
5 the apartment. Mrs. Blood soon recovered
Z Sufficiently to be able to stand, but as she
I was still weak she was invited into the
house to rest awhile.
The "parson" and his lady returned in
three or four days with a gift of some
loves as an evidence Of gratitude to their
kindly hosts, and from this sprang
friendship and intimacy which ultimately
eliminated in the proposition by Blood Of
a match between his nephew (really his
son-in-law) and "that pretty gentlewom-
an" Edwards daughter. Edwards was
. immensely pleased with the idea, and in
vited the parson and his wife to dinner the
next day, when the final arrangements
were to be made, ostensibly for the en-
{. gagement Of the young people, but in real
ity for the theft Of the regal jewels.
At the hour appointed Colonel Blood, his
"nephew" and two friends, Of whom Par
! rot was one, appeared at the Tower, and
were met by Edwards with n cordial greet
\ ing. Edwards was arrayed in purple and
fine linen for the occasion, or, as we should
l. 1ar~ h.
less" To pass the time until dinner was
ready they went into the jewel house,
leaving the nephew" at the door as a sen
tinel. Once inside work was quickly be.
gun. A cloak was thrown over Edwards
and a wooden gag forced into his mouth,
an iron hook being used to close the nos
trils and prevent him from making the
+ slightest noise. lie was told that to resist
meant death, but nevertheless he kicked,
struggled and tried in every way to give
the alarm. lie was then knocked on the
head with a mallet, a dagger was plunged
into bis breast and the conspirators be
lieved him dead.
One man put the globe into his breeches
pocket. Blood hid the crown under his
cloak and the third man tried desperately
to file the scepter in too it being too long
TO carry away in its entirety. While all
this was going on Edwards son, who had
Just returned from the sea, reached the
Tower. He was met by the sentinel, who
asked him his business, TO which Edward,
replied that he belonged to the house. Sup
posing that the young man wished to ss'
i his father, the warden, Edwards went M
. stairs and promised to send his father
down. Hunt, the sentinel" Immediately
gave the alarm and the conspirators tool
flight. The old man Edwards, who hat
only been feigning death, Immediately
pulled the gag from his moSth and yelleC
l''Murderl TreasonW His daughter hearl
the cutlery and rushed to his side. Seems
her father wounded she Immediately raj
out upon Tower hill and cried; Treason
The crown is stolenW
The alarm being thus given Blood an,
his companions found themselves in dan
ger. They nudged each others arms ant
thereby aroused suspicion, whereupoi
they quickened their steps. Young Ed
wards and an officer Of the Tower name'
Captain Beckman were by this time Of
the trail OF the fugitives, who had got be
yond the main guard. The alarm wa
again given and the sentry at the draw
bridge challenged the rnen. Blood dreS
a pistol and discharged il at the soldier
who was SO terrified that he immediatel
dropped. At the warehouse. for som
understandable reason, no effort was mad
10 stop the thieves, and they gained tn
street.
Then they led the mobin an excited chas
after the miscreants, meanwhile maxim
their way toward their horses, which wer
tied at St. GATHERINGS gate. Young IL
wards and Beckman were close at thei
heels, however, and Blood fired his pist,
at Beckman. Beckman lodged the she
and Immediately grappled with his opp
nent, from under whose cloak he wreste
the crown. Edwards tackled Parrot an
took the globe from him. Hunt and I'll
other conspirator, however, had stood n,
upon tho order of their going, and ha
reached the horses, upon which they ga
Hoped away A cart, however, turned al
ruptly into the street ahead Of them, an
into this they ran, Hunt being struck
the head by pole and dismounted. Bot
were captured.
The ending Of the story is as interestin
As the beginning. The king, Charles
heard the case himself, and affected to |
much impressed by the gallantry of BloC
and his fellow conspirators. He WAS
clined to be clement with them, but VIII,