Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-11-18
They Chased $4,000.

MIS-. IOttef IaImerS S4O,OOO pearl
necklace was watched bya big squad of
detectives at the dedication ball in the
Auditorium in Chicago last month.
Three European sharpers, headed by
the notorious Lord Clendennin, crossed
the ocean with the expectation of reap
ing harvest at the Columbian celebra-
ton in New York. Failing in this they
concocted scheme to swoop down
upon Chicago. attend the Auditorium
ball and capture the fortune in gems af-
ter true London swell-mob fashion.
Every one who has seen Mrs. Porter
PALMER, The president of the lady man
ayers of the Worlds Fair, knows of
that wonderful necklace. For that
matter every one who has ever seen
picture of this lady remembers the low
cut corsage and the familiar rows Of
pearls which adorn her. When Mrs.
Palmer made her recent tour Of Europe
she wore the necklace at almost every
court and its fame was not long in
reaching the ears of the noble scape-
graces of the foreign capitals.
Some three days before the date Of
the great dedication ball at the Audi
torium. Chief Inspector Ross, OF the
Police Department, received cipher
dispatch from New York informing
him that three of the most famous con-
fdence men in Europe had left for Chi
cago with the object Of attending the
ball and of capturing the magnificent
pearl necklace
The gentlemen who embarked in the
enterprise were the following: Lord
Clendennin, the noble scapegrace VINO
has forsaken the great world of London
society to follow the career Of a swell
mobsman; his halfbrother, ''Flash
joe and Billy Noyin, an eX-English
army officer, who possesses a neat set
Of side whiskers, q marvellous command
of language and mellow baritone
voice as parts Of his stock-in-trade.
The police were informed that DR..
Sequar, person with a record as
genteel fence, had supplied the party
with funds and Il sharp watch should
be kept on the gang.
A party of police detectives in the
slim disguise Of hired dress suits and
brogans attended the ball, and gather
ed in 4 lot Of common people, such as
ordinary pichpockets and sneak thieves.
The task Of locating the swell foreign
mobsman, however, was left 10 de-
tective who knows by sight pretty
nearly every crook in London, Paris,
Vienna and st. Petersburg.
Lord Clendcnnin was espicd shortly
after midnight not five feet from Mrs.
Palmer's box He was attired in the
gorgeous uniform OF an Austrian cav
ally officer Che served in the Austrian
army at one timc) 2nd he knew the de-
tcctivc knew him.
Not by the quiver Of an eyclash did
he betray his emotion. He moved
nonchalantly Off, and was soon lost in
the crowd and the mans ineflable ef-
frontery was evidenced by his reappear-
ance on the ballroom floor less than an
hour after in the ordinary evening dress
of a civilian.
1t is said that Lord Clendennin who
headed the crew, weakened ut the last
moment and refused to carry out the
/ plan Of robbery. whatever its details
might have becu. His weakness is at
tributed to his chance meeting with an
old flame who was passing through
Chicago on her way to California. This
lady, Mile. Dubois, is niece of the
late Duchess Dues, over whose grave
General Boulanger committed suicide.
All the men named are known to the
police of all the European capitals.
They came over to New York for the
Columbian celebration there. The in
vasion of Chicago was an afterthought,
inspired possibly by DIR. Sequar.