The morning times., 1896-01-28

Frank Thomas Evans, general manager
of the National Savings. Loan and Trus:
Company, No. GIT + street, escaped yes
tcrday from the wiles OF an aGventurcss.
who gave her name 10 the detective bureau
as Mrs. A. L. Roberts.
The diamoads were diamonds, though
Mr. Evans came near paying for them
twice as much as they are worth.
One of the daily papers of Il few days
ago, contained an advertisement that a
lady In transient distress would give real
estate security for The loan OF Il sum of
money.
The advertisement seemed to have n
genuine ring, and the eye of Mr.. Evans
fell upon it. He answered il. The next
day a fashioaably dressed woman called
at the office OF Mr.. Evans. She was
clothed in tailor-made gown, corksole
shoes aud seal coat, TWO lustrous dia-
monds twinklcd in her ears and several
burned upon her fingers.
She unfolled a tale of woe to her lis
tener She handed Mr.. Evans her card,
on which was engraved the name, Mrs.
A. f. Roberts, The manner OF the
woman was frank and easy.
TOLD 4 PRETTY STORY.
She seemed used to life of plenty.
She did not look worldly.
She told Mr.. Evans that she hailed from
Buffalo, n. Y. where she owned $4,000
worth of property, from which she rcceire'i
a satisfactory income. But she was in
temporary distress. She was visiting at
Washington, and had run out of money.
She did hot wish to communicate this fact
to her solicitor in Buffalo, because he
would "scOId'' her for her improvidence
and lack of business discretion.
Her son, whom she said was consump-
tive, had been stricken i'll in this city and she
desired to send him to the South. She
would like to have $3.50 on her jewels.
She handed the precious stones to Mr..
Evans and he sent them to a pawnbrOker,
who looked them over and said they We're
worth about $500.
Mr.. Evans did not have the money
then or he probably would have let the
woman have it. 1t was after banking
hours and he tod Mrs. Roberts to call on
the following day.
She left the Jewels with him, requiring
him to place them in an envelope and seal
it with wax. lie complied.
That evening Mr.. Evans turned the trans
action overin his mind. He had read good
deal in the newspapers about gold bricks,
green goods, and other con" games,
but he did not like to cherish the thought
that Mrs. Roberts was untrue.
HE WAS DUBIOUS.
Her sealskin was worth as much as she
wished to borrow and the pawubroker said
the Jewels We're worth $500. Surely the
venture would he safe.
Still Evans continued to think it over.
He concluded to consult Inspector Holm
berger. That official used as he is to
deeds of crime, opined that the matter
was all right. but sent Detectives Horne
and Weldon to take care of The case.
Mrs. Roberts was to call at 2 p. m.
Messrs. Horne and Weldon were on the
ground at 1::iO and took up their position
in the next office.
Mrs. Roberts came. She talked the matter
over and Evans handed her $50 and pre-
sented her a check drawn on the Lincoln
National Bank for $3.50. Just as her gloved
hands folded the check the detectives came
forth.
They were glad to meet her. She was
surprised.
"who are you?" said she, her checks flush
ing and her eyes flashing.
Horne and wcedon," said the detec-
tives, as they pulled their cards.
SHE PROMPTLY GAVE IN.
"Oh, horrors,' said she.
Then the detectives began to sweat her.
She stood the ordeal well. The detectives
suggested that the diamonds be sent TO an
expert.
The expert said the stones were diamonds
but had been treated or 'doctored" so
that their color and brilliancy were in
creased. They were common stones and
not worth more than 500.
Mrs. Roberts returned the check and
money, pleaded for mercy and admitted
that the diamonds had been treated"
She was escorted to the detective bureau
and told her story. 1t was an old game
and she had worked it in many other cities.
She had done nothing wrong in trying to
sell her diamonds for the highest price pos
sible. They were not spurious diamonds
and the man whom Mr.. Evans had Damed
appraised them at $500.
Mrs. Roberts was released.
s