The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-01
Run Down by a Female
Detective.
SHE sMUGGLED THEM IN
For New York Dealers and Then
Kept Them.
LONG CHASE ACROSS COUNTRY.
Trapped at Santa Rosa After She
Had Disposed of the Stones.
Now Travelling East.

loIul, d guest OIL OUo uay DIT LHo OIdDu III
thia city, was arrested last night upon
charge of diamond smuggling, the arrest
ing officer being female detective all the
way from New York for the purpose. and
the whole affair having all the best ele-
ments of frst-clas sensation.
The Rheinfeldt woman. In the first place,
is an imposing beauty; big woman. of
splendid proportions. abundant. light
hastily worn golden hair. blue eyes and
rare complexion. She carries herself in
stately fashion, and dresses in quiet ele-
ga &c.
She arrived at the hotel alone on Satur-
day and was given sumptuous apartments
to her order.
On later train came another lady, who
also registered at the Grand. She was
altogether different class of woman. She
was dressed in dark clothes, had a quick,
decisive manner. and her ron-gray hair
was worn short. She made some inquiries.
scanned the register, was particular to the
location of her room. and retired to 1t.
In the morning she was up early and
called for buggy. She wanted driver.
and Charley Ayres brought the rig round
and, under her orders. drove out the So.
mona road to Stump's place. There she
alighted and went in and kept Charley
waiting in the rain for nearly an hour.
Whan she took her seat beside him again
and told him to drive back to the hotel
she added that she had discovered woman
who was worth 10 her just $4,000. ''But it
was not a pickup" she said; cit has been
long chase"
She entered the hotel very quietly, and
TO no one at the time gave any further hint
of what was coming. She ate her dinner
in the general diuine-room, went to her
room for a few moments afterward, and
then stepped across the hall, and, without
knocking, opened the door of the Rhein-
feldt woman.
That lady, arrayed still in her elegant
morning dress, was sitting in sociable
game of cards with a gentleman-a chance
acquaintance.
the intruder, and then, seeing at a glance
that it was no mere mistake, for the door
had been allowed to spring to and the new
conner was slowly advancing in the room,
Mrs. Rheinfeldt rose with digniied indig-
nation.
"How dare you enter my room in this
manner?"
For answer the other threw back the
lapel of her astrachan cloak. disclosing
gold shield of the Government detective
service.
Madam" she said. my name is Darragh.
am attached to the United States Inter
nal Revenue Department. have war
rant for your arrest"
"Arrestw exclaimed the Rheinfeldt. SIT
is impossible! l don't understand YOU"
1T is very simple" said Mrs. Darragb,
quite in command of the situation. "You
are charged with having smuggled dia-
monds into the country and the proof Is
conclusive. You are now under arrest"
The man all this time had been quite
speechless. his whist hand being still held
tightly in his fingers. though he had moved
back from the table. and was looking first
at one and then at the other of the women.
Il will have to ask you to get ready at
once TO go with me-" said the detective,
who now turned to the man saying, I'VE
can excuse YOU"
He pulled himself together, rose and
turning to the Rheinfeldt woman asked il
he could do anything for her.
Leave us alone for little." she said
''there is some ridiculous mistake"
Evidently be was not a party to the
trouble, for he was allowed to stink away.
This was the finish of long chase. as
stated. The story in brief is his: Bertha
Rheinfeldt had by arrangement with GER
tain New York diamond-dealers purchased
at Bremen, Germany. stones to the value
Of $40. 600, with the understanding that she
was 20 get them into the United States
duty free.
She did SO in August last, but upon land
ing neglected to report to her employers,
taking the train at once for tbs West. She
calculated that the nature of the business
would cause them to hesitate about arrest
ing her. She reasoned too confidently,
however. The men have not directly pro-
ceeded against her. but set the machinery
of the Governments at work with this
result.
Mrs. Darragh, who was put upon the
WORK, is what is known as custom-house
searcher. She followed the smuggler to
Chicago, where some Of the stones were
sold: thence to Denver, where some others
were disposed of. and then to San Fran
cisco, where Mrs. Rheinfeldt is reported
to have sold all that remained.
From San Francisco she was traced to
San Jose, to San Rafael and finally to
Santa Rosa.
Mrs. Darragh at once enlisted the aid of
the local authorities in keeping her pris-
oner under surveillance. and starts East
with her to-day