Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-10
FILCHED THE CROWN.
A RnID ATTEMPT TO STEAL THE
British ROYAL JEWELS.

Carry on the Insignia of British Roy
atty and Very Nearly Succeeded-What
Became of Them Afterward.
Perhaps one of the most daringly con-
ceived and executed robberies in history is
that which occurred in the year 1913, when
the bold attempt was made by Colonel
Blood and his associate to get away with
the crown, orb and scepter of English roy
atty. One is almost tempted to wish that
the scheme carried so far had been a sue
cess-a feeling engendered no doubt by the
instructive sympathy that humanity feels
with any VINO attempt 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 a gallant officer. His confederates
were one Parrott, 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 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 offering rich plumber as well as
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 n faint.
Sympathetic. yet cautious, Edwards sent
his wife for restoratives, but did not leave
the apartment. Mrs. Blood soon recovered
sufficiently to be able to stand, but as she
was still weak she was invited into the
house To rest awhile.
The ''parson" and his lady returned in
three or four days with gift of some
gloves as an evidence of gratitude to their
kindly hosts, and from this sprang a
friendship and intimacy which ultimately
eliminated in the proposition by Blood of
a match between his nephew Greatly 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-
gagemenu 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
rOC was one. 'tDptstTttl tb lHt lower, anu
were met by Edwards with n cordial greet
ing. Edwards was arrayed in purple d
fine linen for the occasion, or, as we should
put it nowadays, he was got up regard
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 wooden gag forced into his mouth,
an iron hook being used to close the nos
trils and prevent him from making the
slightest noise. He was told that to resist
meant death, but nevertheless he kicked,
struggled and tried in every way to give
the alarm. He was then knocked on the
head with n mallet, dagger was plunged
into his breast and the conspirators be-
Geved him dead.
One man put the globe into his brooches
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 i'll 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 Edwards
replied that he belonged to the house. Sup
posing that the young man wished to see
his father, the warden, Edwards went up
stairs and promised to send his father
down. Hunt, the sentinel" Immediately
gave the alarm ailt; the tOoh
flight. The old man Edwards, who had
only been feigning death, Immediately
pulled the gag from his mouth and yelled
s.Murder, Treason!' His dau ghter heard
the cutlery and rushed to his side. Seeing
her father wounded she Immediately ran
out upon Tower hill and cried: 'Treasoni
The crown is stolen!
The alarm being thus given Blood and
his companions found themselves in dan
They pI11apaH each others and
thereby aroused suspicion, whereupon
they quickened their steps. Young Ed
wards and an officer of the Tower named
Captain Beckman were by this time on
the trail of the fugitives, who had got be-
yond the main guard. The alarm was
again given and the sentry at the draw
bridge challenged the men. Blood drew
a pistol and discharged it at the soldier,
who was so terrified that he immediately
dropped At the warehouse, for some
unaccountable reason, no effort was made
to 81 , the thieves, and they gained the
street.
Then they led the mob in an excited chase
after the miscreants, meanwhile making
their way toward their horses, which were
tied at St. GATHERINGS gate. Young Ed
wards and Beckman were close at their
heels however, and Blood fired his pistol
at Beckman. Beckman lodged the shot
and Immediately grappled with his oppo-
nent, from under whose cloak he wrested
the crown. Edwards tackled Parrot and
took the globe from him. Hunt and the
| other conspirator, however, had stood not
| upon the order of their going, and had
| reached the horses, upon which they gal
loped away. y cart, however, turned alb
| ruptly into the street ahead of them, and
| into this they ran, Hunt being struck in
| the head by pole and dismounted. Both
were captured.
The ending of the story is as interesting
as the beginning. The king, Charles II,
heard the case himself, and affected to be
much impressed by the gallantry of Blood