The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-03


Tucker, Mo. 612 Park street, London"
The detective remarked: MY infor-
mant at the Billoby post-ofiice says that
the envelope you had registered was
bulky"
"Yes," spoke the prisoner without
hesitation. IT sent off with the half
sovereign two letters for Miss Hawkins
to read that l had received from my
cousins In America. One contained an
offer to buy my discharge. l crammed
them in the envelope anyhow. Sir"
4 continued Clements boldly, addressing
the commanding officer, that night,
while on sentry in the library, I saw
all that went on. The matter Of the
disappearance of the ring lies between
two-General Wyll1yns and Sir Harry
Beynell"
The accused man was detained in
custody until the detective made in
quiries in London. He speedily ascer-
tanned that Clements story, in respect
of it main details, was perfectly true
The half-sovereign when 1t arrived had
been at once paid by Miss Hawkins to
her landlady. The girls room was
carefully searched, but nothing incrim-
mating was found. Her former en-
ployers, when applied to, assured the
officer that Miss Hawkins was young
person Of unexceptionable respectable
ity.
There being nothing to Justify the
further detention of Clements, he was
at once released.
A dark rumor was now afoat-how
1t originated no one could tell-that
Sir Harry Beynell was the purloiner Of
| Prince Rupert's emerald ring. An al
fusion made to the affair in a Society"
paper provoked an indignant denial
from the baronet and a threat to horse
whip the editor. The latter applied
for a summons; and Sir Harry in con-
sequence, was bound over to keep the
peace. This episode had the effect Of
making still more public the evil re-
port.
One day Clements applied for a fur
Tough. Many, including myself, were
still Of opinion that he knew something
about the ring, and I took the liberty
of stating my Views to the colonel. The
theory 1 advanced was that the man,
or rather his sweetheart, had the arti-
Gle secreted somewhere, and that Glenn
ents, when he proceeded on leave,
meant to realize what he could on it and
clear out of the country.
Thank you, sergeant-major," an
swered the colonel. your hypothesis
is at least reasonable. I'll write at
once to Sir Pierce Wylkyns, who will
doubtless instruct some of those priv
ate-detectives fellows to keep an eye
on Clements. Therefore, in the hope
that the mystery may be cleared up,
I'll grant the man his furloush."
Clements, after drawing whatever
savings he had deposited in the regi-
mental bank, obtained months leave,
and left for London. Sir Pierce Wyl-
kyns had given instructions to we'll
known private-detective agency in the
metropolis; and from the time the sus-
pected man left the barrack gate, he
was vigilantly Swallowed. Late one at
ternoon a telegram reached the com
handing officer, which contained the
startling news: Clements and girl ar
rested Sergeant-Major wanted at Bow
Street tomorrow morning, ten"
Therefore, acting upon orders, I caught
the evening train to town, and reaching
Victoria, put up at an adjacent coffee
house.
On my arrival next morning at Bow
Street, 1 heard particulars of the ar
rest from a police sergeant ON duty.
ClemRrts. accompanied by his sweet |
heart, had been seen to enter the shop |
of a dealer in jewelry near Holborn who |
for some time had been suspected by |
the police Of trafficking In stolen prop |
serty. The detective, looking through |
the window perceived that the soldier
handed something like a ring to the |
jeweler for inspection, and the latter |
took 1t aside, to submit it. presumably, |
to the usual tests Then the detective |
called to passing policeman and in
formed him of his suspicious. The two |
entered the shop. and the man in blue |
demanded to see the article that Gle |
ments had offered for sale. The shop |
keeper produced cheap nine-carat ar
ticle, set with garnets; and the soldier |
explained that he was exchanging it |
for weddng-ring, and was prepared |
to pay any difference in value From
inquiries made. it appeared that |
Clements was to have been married |
that very morning in St Pancras
church) A police inspector having
been called, and the particulars Of the
case detailed to him, 1t was decided to |
take all tnree into CUSTODY OH SuSpl- |
cion. The shop had been overhauled
and a large antique emerald ring dis
covered in drawer, which was sup
posed to be the stolen valuable. The
jeweler, despite his annoyance, APP
peared to be half amused, and averred
that the emerald was spurious. Gene
raj Wlykyns had been wired respecting
Identification of the missing ring, and
had replied, stating that he had cleft
Billoby for London by the last train,
and would be in court during the ex-
animation Of the prisoners.
1t was near midday when the case
was called, and the suspected trio were
placed in the dock. The court was
crowded, and 1 could perceive Sir Har-
ry Beynell sitting in the counsels seat,
in company with a barrister whom he
had employed to watch the case. Brief
ly, the inspector, the constable, and the
priva te-deteetive gave their evidence.
I had just been called upon, when there
was hustle at the witnesses door, and
In pushed General Wylkyns and Lord
Dashcliffe, the latter having returned
from the continent that very morning
Both appeared to be in condition of
great excitement. The General, adj