The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-06-15

was. sun Ine staple subItCt :" ohidSh
gossip, a telegram reached our commanding
officer from the Billoby Police Inspector,
which read as follows Soldier, des-
cription answering to Clements, sent off
registered letter while here Arrest him.
Detective leaves tonight.
Clements, while vigorously protesting
his innocence of the charge against him,
was confined in the guard d-room.
When the Yorkshire detective who had
charge of the case reached barracks, the
prisoner was at once brought before the
commanding officer The man admitted
having sent off registered letter, contain
ing half sovereign. to his sweetheart in
London. whose business was that of
dressmaker. but who was out Of 4 situation
and required assistance. One five shill-
ings he had received from Lord Dasheliffe.
and the other he had saved out of his pay.
The registration receipt, which had been
found in his pocket, was produced by the
Sergeant of the guard |; bore the name
Emily Hawkins. with the address,
Care of Mn. Tucker M. 6l2 Park
Street, London.
The detective remarked My infor-
mant at the Billoby post-otice says that
the envelope YOU had registered was
bulky
Yes, spoke the prisoner without hes
itatiOn. i sent of with the half-soyereign
two letters for Miss Hawkins TO read that
| had received from my cousin in America.
One contained an offer To buy my dis
charge | crammed them in the envelope
anyhow Sir, continued Clements bold
ly. addressing the commanding officer
that night, while on sentry in the Libra
~. | saw all that went on. The matter
of the disappearance of the ring lies between
two-I,en. Wylkyns and Sir Harry Bey
nell
The accused man was detained in custody
until the detective made inquiries in Lon
don He speedily ascertained that Gle
mfnts story, in respect ot it, mann de-
tails, was perfectly true. The half-soyer
eign when it arrived had been at once paid
by Mis- Hawkins to her hndlady The
sirl : room was carefully searched but
nUshing discriminating was found. Her
fosmer employers, when applied to. assured
the officer tha, Miss Hawkins was a young
person Of unexeeptionable respeetability.
There being nothing to justify the furth
er detention of Clements he was At once
released
4 dark rumu was now atioai-how 1t
originated. no nne cyuld tell-ihat Sir
Harry Beynell was the purloiner Of Prince
Rupert emerald ring An allusion made
to the affair in s,ciety paper provoked
an indignant denial from the Barcnet aud
threat to horse whip the editor. The
latter applied for summons; and Sir Har
~. in consequence, was bound over to
keep the peace This episode had the
eiFec, of making still mere public the evil
repnTi,
One day Clements applied for a fur
lJugh Many. including myself were
sill of opinion that he knew something
atout the ring. aud | took the liberty Of
stating my views to the Colonel The
theory advanced was that the man. or
rather hi. sweetheart, had the article
-ecreted somewhere, and that Clements,
when be proceesled on leave, meant to
realire what he eould On it and clear out Of
the country
Thank yoa, Sergeant Major, answered
the Colonel Your hyPoShesis Is at least
reasonable IN write At once TO sir Pierce
Wylkyus, who VIII doabtle=s instruct some
&C those private detective fellows 10 keep
an eve oa Clements Therefore in ;he
hope that the mystery may be cleared up
IN grant the man his furioUgh-
Clements, after drawing whatever say-
iags he had deposited IN the regimental
hank. obtained 4 month leave and left
foE London. Sir Pierce Wylkyns had
given instructions To well known private
detective agency in the metropolis aud
from the tune the suspected man left the
barrack gate, he was vigilantly shadowed.
late ore afternoon telegram reached the
commanding officer. which contained the
startling news Clements and girl
arrested. Sergeant Major wanted At Bow
Street to morrow morning. ten. There
fore. acting upon orders, caught the
evening train TO town, and reaching Vie
toria put mp at an adjacent coffee house.
On my arrival next morning at Bow
Street | heari particulars of the arrest
from police sergeant on duty Clements,
accompanied by BIZ sweetheart, had been
seen to enter the shop Of a dealer in jewelry
near HolbOm who for some time had been
suspected by the pelice OF trafhcking in
stolen property. The detective, looking
through the window, perceived that the
soldier handed something like a ring to the
jeweller for inspection and the latter took
it aside, 20 submit it, presumably. to the
usual tests Then the detective called To
passing policeman and informed him of
his suspicious. The two entered the shop,
aud the man in blue demanded To see the
article that Clements had offered for sale,
The shopkeeper produeed = cheap nine
carat article, set with garnets; and the
soldier explained that he was exchanging
il for a wedding ring, and was prepared to
pay any difference in value. From in
quiries made, it appeared Clements was TO
have been married that very morning in
st. Pancras Church, \ police inspector
having been called, and the particulars of
the case detailed to him, it was decided to
take all three into custody on suspicion.
The shop had been Overhauled, and large
antique emerald ring discovered in a drawer,
which was supposed to be the stolen yalu
able The jeweller despite his annoyance,
appeared TO be half amused, and averred
that the emerald was spurious, Gep.
/ Wylkyns had been wired TO respecting
identification of the missing ring, and had
replied, stating that he had left BillOby
for London. by the last train, and would
be in court during the examination of the
prisoners,
Il was near midday when the case was
called, and the suspected trio were placed
in the dock. The court was crowded, and
| could perceive Sir Harry Beynell sitting
in the counsel seat, in company with
barrister whom he had employed to watch
the case Briefly, the inspector, the con-
stable, and the private detective gave their
evidence had just been called upon,
when there was a hustle at the witnesses
Il. IL a., ,,,shaJ Ean WVlEvnS and