The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-09

and o'clock in the afternoon. The actor
or actors in the little play also appear to
have had plenty of time, for they took just
what they wanted and then disappeared,
leaving no clew behind. This all happened
five days ago, and although Chief Crowley
has had four detectives on the trail ever
since no trace of the robbers or the stolen
goods has been found.
On the left-hand side of the main CORR
dor of the Memorial Museum is small
room in which great many valuable col
lections of small articles are kept. In one
case was a very fine assortment of French
coins and medals of the Napoleonic era.
Another case contained excellent imita-
tons of all the famous gems in the world,
besides number of genuine stones, while
a third was filed with valuable old gold
and silver watches. In the collection of
coins there were samples of everything
minted during the existence of the Ma
poleonic dynasty. There were ten 20-franc
gold pieces, the face value of which is $40,
but, taken in connection with the remain
der of the collection, were easily worth
three times that sum. Not many gems
were taken, as the robbers were unable to
tell the real from the genuine. What they
did get away with, however, are of con-
siderable value and will be a vital loss to
the collection. The watches and other
trinkets in the third case were turned over
and the thief only managed to secure one
of the most modern gold samples before
he was frightened away. The loss is esti-
mated at about $500.
E0nr Of tho hnsf 5afao4ivac IN
Lees command are working on the case.
Every pawnshop in the city is being closely
watched and the "book of purchases kept
by each pawnbroker examined daily.
Detective Gibson and S. Peckenham, a
pawnbroker at 10 Third street, had trouble
over this latter proposition. Gibson de-
manded look at the "book of purchases
and Peckenham refused to show it. Glib
son at once returned to headquarters, Sc
cured a warrant and placed the pawn
broker under arrest.
Late in the afternoon of Thursday, the
4th inst, when the robbery was committed,
Patrolmen Louis Headencamp and c. P.
Wilcomb were on their beat, but as there
were few people in the building they were
not very vigilant.
'
and everybody was wishing for the clos
ing-up hour. In making his round Will
comb noticed something wrong with the
cases already referred to and on closer
examination discovered that robbery had
been committed. The alarm was sounded
and Sergeant Thompson of the Park Police
was called in and he soon had his force of
men securing the vicinity for suspicious
looking characters. 1t was too late to lock
the stable-door, however.
Out at the park everybody seems sworn
to secrecy. The employees will admit that
certain articles are missing, but once they
get that far they seem to think they have
said too much and not another word can
be got out. There is one exception TO this
rule. 1t is Sergeant Thompson. He was
as pleasant and chatty as man could be
until missing medals, coins and Jewels was
preached, then he changed in an instant
into the reserved police officer and had no
information to give.
~ don't know that anything was
stolen" said he. "You had better ask
Superintendent McLaren." A few min
utes later, in answer to a question as to
whether his men were at work on the case
or not, he said sharply: 81 told you not to
ask any questions. L will positively give
you no information. Go and ask Nc
Laren, the Park Commissioners, or Chief
Crowley"
Better success was met later on in the
person of one of Sergeant Thompson's
men. During casual conversation the
remark, Il suppose you are all hard at
work on the track of the men who robbed
the museum was dropped. 'Oh, no, !"
was the answer; -four of Chief Crowley's
men are on that"
''How was the thing doneP"
"Im not quite sure. The cases were