The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-09-08
EXPERT THIEVING.
How Private Houses are Worked by In
genious Crooks.

During the cold weather of the early
part OF the year an eastern lady visiting
at well known house in the heat of
the city ordered from a prominent fur
rler costly wrap of Russian sable.
Alterations in the garment were neces.
sary, and as they would require time
and the lady was about returning east
she requested her hostess TO receive
the wrap and forward it to her. The
long box was delivered on the promised
day, and the sable wrap was just being
packed for expressage when the front
door bell again pealed sharply, and a
message, purporting to come from the
furrier, was brought.
It was to the effect that an alteration
particularly directed, had been over
looked. The turrier requested the
return of the garment and the mistake
would be rectified that same afternoon.
The huge box was about 10 be intrusted
to the messenger when fortuitous
impulse came to its guardian. She
returned word to the messenger that
she declined to take the responsibility
of permitting anything so valuable to
be taken away without written order,
but would herself call at the furrier's
the following morning. That call con-
frmed suspicious. The furrier had
authorized no one to recover the wrap.
1t was easy to draw conclusions.
Again, and yet more recently, lady
resident of West Walnut street found
on her return home one mild afternoon
that valuable jeweled watch had fallen
from its chatelaine and left no traces
behind.
That evening her husband fastened to
have the loss advertised in the morning
papers. At breakfast the "Lost and
Found" columns were carefully read.
The valuable chatelaine watch was
described in the "Lost" lines, and to
the JOY of husband and wife another
cad" was found detailing the dis
covery of a lady's jeweled watch on
the street in the same vicinity. Mr..
and Mrs. Smith, as they may be called,
were still discussing breakfast and the
lost watch whsn a man was announced.
"About a lost watch" so ran his
message, ''plcked up the previous
evening on the pavement below.
My watch, I'm confident, she ex-
claimed, springing from her chair.
SO ycu said few moments ago,
when you read the "ssornd" advertise
ment, demonstrated her husband. But
she hurried through the doorway, with
the caution. Be careful what you say,
ringing in her ears.
You lost watch; found one, Sc
began the man. Describe yours,
please. Mrs. Smith did so, while the
stranger kept his left hand closed,
seemingly. over the lost trinket.
Your watch number-that / must
have, continued the man as she finished
brief but clear description. Quite
impressed by his concise buslnessllke
manner, she consulted a card on which
she had methodically jotted down her
treasures number. The man repeated
the figures slowly after her.
After all, this doesn't appear to be
your watch, he said coolly, exhibiting
cheap timepiece of rolled gold.
Grumbling over the wasted moments,
she quickly donned her street suit and
fastened 10 the neighborlng house
from where the "found'' notice had
issued. She was met on the threshold
by the neighbor herself, whose excited
greeting was:
So glad we were the fortunate finders
of your beautiful watch. Bridget saw
it shining on the pavement as she was
lighting the vestibule lamp. When
your brother called 20 minutes or SC
ago, we were as pleased TO give him
the watch as he was to get it. o.
course we were careful to have it de,
scribed, which he did accurately, Civ.
ing the exact number, etc.
Mrs. Smith IS still minus her pretty
jewel, but she has learned costly les
| son.
The audacity of these house thieye:
is often really amusing. They will &C
TO any extent and take the Creates
risk to accomplish their ends. One
more example like the aforementioned
a true one: In a commodious dowr
| town residence valuable ornament II
the library is bust of Andrew Jack
son. cut IN solid marble by master
hand. The houses head, now in the
"great majority" ranks, was mar
noted for his wide sympathies anC
generous views. 1t did not excite
much comment at his house when, one
day, a couple of men called and stated
that the Colonel had directed them tc
carry the Jackson bust to his office
not far distant, where it was to figure
in an early political demonstration.
The ladies of the family were not a
home, but an old Irish woman, whc
had for years been fixture in the
kitchen, caught sight OF the bust as i
was being carried out OF the door. Shs
was attached to the family she hac
served so long, their interests wer
hers, and she managed to gam upol
the two men, who were hurrying dow
the street, burdened with the heav
marble.
You take that fgger right back II
the house, commanded the apronet
captain. Take it back, or I'll call
perleeceman. Ef the colonel wanted
that fgger, he'd written fur it. Yo
kerry it back.