The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-03
S1OO,O 900 IN JEWELS
HOW A wELL-KNOwN SHARPER
FLEECED A RUBY MERCHANT.
Thrilling incidents in the Life Of
s.BilIy' Woodward, the CIeverest
~vfndI Yet UnhunG.
New York Herald.

That the "~chevalier d'industrie' fav-
ors no land nor cline, and can ply his
game as successfully where the suns
rays are hottest as though in the chill
Ter countries, is proven by a letter which
has been received in this city from Co
lombo. Ceylon, under date of Dec. Is.
BILLY" G. Woodward, as ~well-known in
this country as an all-around card
sharp and general swindler as he is in
England, where his recent operations
were so high-handed that he was forced
to flee from the country. Is undoubtedly
the man referred to, who has been
showing the dusky people of Ceylon
some of the latest tricks in fin de steele
rascality.
With a little wicker box he employed
the game which the green goods men
usually play with a black satchel, and
walked away with a collection of rub
les and %sapphires valued at f20, 900. AL
though the deception was discovered
within an hour. Woodward and his fell
low sharpers had made good their es-
1t is the belief in Colombo that the
gang had q yacht moored in one of the
many indentations of the coast north of
Ceylon, and that they boarded it at once
and put off to sea. Immediately after
their escape a heavy monsoon struck
Ceylon, and created havoc with the
shipping. and the general opinion is that
If Woodward and his gang made off in
a yacht they will be exceedingly lucky If
they do not go to the bottom with their
$500, 900 worth Of jewels.
When Woodward and his merry men
first arrived in Colombo, the letter
states, they let it become known that
they were Americans of wealth, and
that this visit was for the purpose of
shooting elephants and other large
game. 1t has now become known that
a commercial traveller from this city
met and recognized Woodward shortly
after his arrival in Colombo, but for
some reason said nothing about his
identity until the news of the swindle
had become general property.
Stopping at the Grand Oriental Hotel,
Woodward, under the name of Hawley,
made 1t q point to secure introductions
to many of the largest dealers in prec-
tous stones. They are all of the Moham-
pleased with Woodward's intelligence
and Conversations powers, especially
when, after a long discussion of that
faith, he declared himself as ready to
become a convert. and. as an evidence
of his good intentions, subscribed ESQ to
a fund for the relief of the Moham-
medan poor of Colombo.
So pleased were the merchants with
Woodward's suavity and ostentatious
display of wealth that they became very
friendly toward him, and one day, when
he was a guest at the house of one of
the largest dealers In stones, the discus
sion was mainly on the ~advisability of
buying jewels from first hands. Wood
ward was told he could easily make a
fortune by purchasing a large quantity,
as he could dispose of the stones in this
country at an enormous advance. Play
ing his cards as he only knows how,
woodward seemed somewhat Indifferent
as to making any purchases simply out
OF a desire to increase his bank account,
but said that, as he had long wished to
possess a collection of valuable stones.
he might buy some If he could find any
OF an exceptionally superior quality.
This was just the opportunity which
M. lbrams, one of the leading native
jewelers., was waiting to embrace. He
is a Cinga1ese, owns extensive ruby and
sapphire pits in Rhatnapur, and is
famed for the high excellence Of his
wares. AS willing to make a large sale
as he was ready to please his supposed
wealthy American friend, he went to his
vaults one day and took out his best
Jewels.
FORTUNE IN A WICKER BOX.
Placing The i in a nice little wicker
box, which are very common in the
streets of Colombo, he tucked it under
him arm, and by appointment presented
himself at Woodward's apartments in
the hotel some hours later. On the
table he exhibited his Jewels. which
were indeed beauties. Woodward
seemed to be much pleased with them.
asked what the collection was valued
at. and then. saying he would not like
to pay out such a large sum as f20, 900
without some thought. thanked jeweller
Ibrams and said he would call on him
later and tell him of his decision.
Well satisfied, the merchant replaced
the stones in the box, closed it, and taxi
Ing 1t up was about to depart when
Woodward, drawing a little package
from his vest pocket, remarked
by the way, Mr.. Ibrams. here is a
ruby I purchased this morning, believ-
Ing II to be a very fine stone. What is
your opinion Of 1t, as an axpert? But
the light is bad here; just step over to
the window"
And the foolish fly walked right up to
the window of the spiders parlor, with
out noticing that Woodward remained
at the table where the box of Jewels
had been replaced. The jeweller exam
ined the ruby carefully. ave Woodward
the wicker box and departed for his
store. But unwittingly he was carrying
with him a black satchel filed with a
long line OF green goods.
w WhC d. iiS StOTe he opened the
. to replace his precious Jewels in the
vaults he received such a shock that for
some minutes he was speechless with
surprise and modification. Their his
howls brought his clerks to his side in a
hurry. In the box, instead of the
matchless rubies and sapphires, wasea
choice collection of pebbles, worth no
more than the trouble OF picking them
!. up at the shore. His valuable box mad
been deftly replaced by one exactly SIM
liar. filled with the trash.
Little time was lost in notifying the
authorities. and soon a mob OF excited
Mohammedans, led by jeweller Ibrams,
was clamoring at the door of Wood
wards apartments in the hotel. The
door was broken open, only to find the
room empty. just as the clerk rushed
up stairs to learn the occasion of the
rumpus.
He at once said that the much-sought
for Woodward had left the hotel shortly
before. carrying with him a small pack
age, neatly wrapped UP in paper. He
had stopped at the desk, and as he
lighted a iga he had told the clerk
that any person who called for him
should be told not to wait for him. as ii
was very uncertain when he would re.
&,,.x,