Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-06-04

robberies had been committed were
without result, and | was beginning to
fear that 1t was a case that could never
be cleared up when one evening the
telephone bell rang, and l was wanted.
THE person at the other end of the
phone was the owner Of the diamonds,
who wished me to meet him in the
lobby of the Metropolitan opera house
as soon as could get there. l went up
at once, and on entering the LOBBY
the first person l caught sight of was
the owner of the diamonds, walking
nervously up and down and evidently
in an excited condition of mind. He
spied me while l was a dozen PAGES
away, and with smile of recognition
beckoned me to approach him.
1--we found the diamonds and the
thief at the same time he said eXcit-
cdly.
THAT'S good said /; "where are
ihey?'
"'Come with me and I'll show you
"He led the way down the aisle on
one side of the building until he nearly
reached the orchestra. Handing me his
opera glasses. he said:
"In the eighth row, near the CEN
ter. sits a stout, blonde woman wear
ing a pair of large diamond earrings.
| Those are the earrings that formerly
| belonged to my wife, and the man who
is talking with the woman is the Pine
| Europe.
II turned the glasses toward the
couple and gave a careful look at the
people he had pointed out.
"'Pine street broker?' said l, lower
ing the glasses. That's no more the
Pine street broker than I am. That
is
But recognize him positively as the
man who called on me and presented
his card as the broker?'
"'Oh" said I, that's the way you
obtained your introduction to the Pine
street broker, is it-gave you his card,
did he? Well, l am not surprised at
that man there presenting somebody
elses card, II there was anything to be
the sharpest confidence men of Chi
cago and this is the first knew of his
being in New York. And as for the
woman with him, she's notorious
Tenderloin character who has gotten
the better of more than one money bag
in this town. If that man is your Pine
street broker. you can be pretty sure
those earrings she has on are your
property.
Il gave the tip to one Of our men
whom l found in the lobby, and as we
didn't care to make a scene during the
performance, we waited until 1t was
over and then gathered the pair in and
took them down to headquarters.
'It was easy enough to hold the con-
fldence man, but it was hard to get the
woman to give up the diamonds. She
finally consented to surrender them
under protest, but, of course, she never
made any more fuss about it and the
owner kept possession of them.
This confidence man died in prison
about two years ago, and never learn.
ed the solution of the mystery of his
getting both of the diamonds until 6
few months ago, when the story came
out.
THE impersonation Of well-knowr
broker by presenting a card with The
brokers' name on 1t was simple de-
vice to get possession Of one of the dia
monds. The thief had learned of the
brokers' intention to sail for Europe II
few days, and this fact was made use
of to keep that part of the transaction
| tn n hrOGyor'c r.
New York.
when the confidence man called
upon the owner of the diamonds to an
nounce the supposed robbery Of the
day before. he had planned to secure
possession Of the other stone for the al
legged purpose of having a diamond ex
pert make a careful description of it
being almost an exact duplicate in ~olor
weight and shape-and by this means
the missing diamond could be identified
by any pawnbroker or diamond dealer
to whom it might be offered.
"The owner of the diamonds was a
luncheon in the dining room below
when the confidence man called, ant
the servant was directed to show thu
visitor into the library. 1t was in this
room where the owner had met the
supposed broker on his previous visit
and 1t was here that the safe containing
the diamond stood.
1.-THE confidence man had carefully
watched the opening Of the safe The
day before, and he had noted that i
was worked by simple combination.
when the servant disappeared from
the library the thief glanced around
and. seeing that he would be unob
served and could readily hear any ap
preaching footsteps. he set to work t.
find the combination. 1t was only fv'
minutes after he had been left alone be
fore the owner entered the rooom ant
found his visitor apparently highly agi
tated over the mysterious disappear
ance of the diamond he ha'
taken away with him the day be
fore, and leaving the owner in ignor