Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1893-04-28
THE DYMOCK DIAMONDS.
A Good Story of Clever Detective
Work.

"Yes," observed Mr.. IIydenseke, as
he stroked his chin with moralizing
air, ~ have had to look into some
pretty shady transactions in my time,
goodness knows! But for all-around,
wholesale dishonesty, this beats any
thing ever came across"
Mr.. Hydenseke was an inquiry agent,
with largish private connection. And
the case which he had just been inves-
tigating, and which evoked the forego.
ing observation from his lips, was this:
About six months previously GER
tain wealthy widow, by name Dymock,
had died, having bequoathed the larger
part of her fortune to her only child
son. But the bulk of her jewelry,
which was very valuable, she had pur-
poscly LETT away from him. For he
was potorious profigate-a man of
little principle and no good feelings
and his mother was afraid of what base
uses her family jewels might come II
they passed into his hands. She did,
however, leave him few trinlets Of
lesser value as keepsakes, and GER
tain number more, which were to be
sold and the proceeds in cash paid over
to him by her executor. This latter
gentleman Ito Paul Dymock's gre at
annoyance) was the deceased lady's
medical adviser, DIR. Miller, an old and
tried friend of hers, in whom she had
always reposed great confidence.
The persons to whom she left the
rest, and by far the larger portion, Of
her jewels, were Charles Crowdie, a
nephew; Minna James, niece, and
Mrs. Quilter, daughter of an intimate
friend, just now kicking up her heels
in England as grass widow.
The jewels were deposited in the
strong room of Messrs Dibbs, Peddy &
Co., the deceased's solicitors and the
keys of the safe were intrusted to DR..
Miller, who was personally to distribute
the jewelry to the various legatees as
soon as possible after the compile ton OF
the legal formalitcs.
The Jewels had, of course, to be val.
ued for probate. And, while that was
being done by an expert called in fol
the purpose, not only was DR.. Miller
present, but, at his particul ar request
all the four legatees in terested, viz
Paul Dymock, Mrs. Quilter, Charlie:
Crowdie and Minna James.
On that occasion the jewels were GER
tainly all there. And on the next oc
casion when DR. Miller opened the safe
Ito give Minna James her JEWELS
this time nobody else being present
he did not notice anything missing
But about a week later, when Mrs
Quilter called to receive her Jewels
and went around with the doctor t.
the solicitors office, the case whicl
should have contained large diamond
star worth one thousand pounds ster
ling (the most valuable article be
queathed to her was found TO b.
empty,
Naturally both were very mucl
startled and upset by this discovery
and Dr. Miller consulted with the lad,
rs to what steps had better be taken
He (Dr. Miller) was quite convince,
that the star had not been abstracte,
by Minna James week before, for IN
was there alone with her, and mus
have noticed it had she done So Bu
he was in hurry that day and did no
look into all the jewel cases, so that
might we'll have been missing thel
without his detecting it.
The theory that some clerk at tn
Office had tempered with the safe coul
hardly be entertained, for the lock wa
afirst-rate one: end both the keys wer
Kept by DR.. Miller himself; therefore
laying the above two possibilitie
aside, the theft of the jewels was mai
rowed down to the first occasion whe
the safe was opened-viz., when tn
jewels were valued for probate.
As they arrived at this conclusion
DIR. Miller looked at Mrs. Quilter, an
Mrs. Quilter looked at DR.. Miller.
was quite evident that they both had
definite suspicion. And, us it tranl
PRED, their suspicious fell on the sam
person. Paul Dymocl, the profigat
son, had not disguised his anger at tn
way in which the jewels were left. II
had even referred particularly to tn
diamond star, which was the most va
liable of all his mothers Jewels, II
was vicious, crafty and unprinciple,
What moro likely, then, that he ha
taken It?
Mrs. Quilter, with woman's impu
siveness, expressed her settled convit
tion that he had stolen It. DIR. Mile
who was more guarded, did not us
such positive language us that; thong
he confessed TO strong suspicious, An
they both agreed that though Paul d,
mock himself deserved no mercy If /
were the thief, yet, for the sake of h
mothers memory, they would not ca
In the police and thus make a crimini
prosecution the inevitable consequence
of his being found out As an altern,
tive, therefore, they fell back upon
private inquiry agent And that
how the case came in the hands of OF
friend, Mr.. Hydenseke.
This gentleman, with his usul
promptitude, started Investigations
once by paying a visit to the stron
room at the office, and inspecting II
safe aud lock. Being satisfied frol
this inspection that it had not bee
tempered with, aud so dismissing frol
his mind the idea of an outside THE