The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-13
REWARD FOR DIAMOND THIEF
Police of Denver say They Know Him and
He'll Soon be Arrested.

Denver, Colo, March 12.-The police
OF this city believe they know the thief
who so daringly robbed the Gottesleber
! jeweIry store on Monday afternoon and
/ they expect to effect his arrest at any
( moment. Their sleuthing has gone SC
far that they claim TO have the thief s
name and picture.
Through the friends, the thief, it was
given out, has offered to return the
tray of diamonds, which he stole, but
! howsOever much Mr. Gottesleben may
! desire ii, the police do not want the
! diamonds; they want the thief and will
not lec up until they have him. The
! offer was declined peremptorily.
| To this end that he may be captured
! eXpeditiously a reward of 1000 was
! proclaimed yesterday for his capture.
| The offer was made by the jewelers.
| Alliance which is especially anxious TO
have the thief apprehended. 1t is a
| rule of the Alliance not to compromise
with thieves. Yesterday all the towns
in the state which could be reached by
telephone or telegraph were notified by
Chief Russell of the reward offered and
a description given of the man; his
name was also given. For the benefit
Of cities outside of the state a circular
was prepared headed in large letters,
81. 600 Reward" The theft was de-
scribed and nothing left undone to eff
feet a recognition, saving the sending
along OF his picture, which could not
be prepared in time The circulars
were sent out last evening in unsealed
envelopes If the thief is not appre-
hended soon his picture will be sent
broadcast throughout the country.
The police wished TO have it under
stood yesterday that they practically
had the rogue" in their possession.
The offer of reward of 81, 900 and the
sending out of the circulars last even
ing cOntradicts, however, the assertion
Much secrecy is observed by Chief
Russell and his officers about who is
suspected. They feared that an an
nOuncement of his name would prevent
his arrest. The thief might learn the
name of the suspect, however, by get
ting hold of one of the unsealed enve-
Hopes that were sent out.
The offer of the friends" of Mr.. Got
tesleben's Monday visitor to return the
tray and its contents was received with
great surprise. 1t is an unusual pro-
ceeding. Some surprise also was ex-
pressed that these mediatOrs were not
arrested as accessories to the thief
They knew it would seem. the where
ahouts of not only the property. but of
the thief and by failing to help the ends
of justice they place themselves under
its ban and legally can be arrested and
tried as being accessories to the crime
committed.
Mr.. Gottesleben began yesterday an
inventory of his diamond stock, but he
does not expect to complete it before
Thursday or Friday. Each diamond
is registered with a mum Der in the book
Of the store and therefore each piece
possessed has to be tailed The num-
bers without an answering piece OF
jewelry will tell the character and price
of the piece missing. The theft is now
thought TO be less extensive than first
reported.
IN the tray taken were from fifteen to
twenty-four rings, varying i'm value
The total value is probably less than
s., 600.
If the jeweler does not recover his
property the loss will be wholly his as
there was no insurance Jewellers only
combine to recover stolen goods and to
detect the thieves. In this respect they
leave no stone unturned. The alliance
as shown, has offered a reward of 81. 900
for the apprehension of the thief and il
has placed the matter of the recovery
of the jewels and the arrest of the thief
in the hands of the Pinkerton agency,
with which it has a contract for such
work.
As a guard against future Jiepreda-
lions of this kind in jewelry store, an
electrical apparatus which will close
the street doors at the touch of but
tons scattered plentifully about has
been suggested and if something feas-
ihle can be invented 1t viii be tried
Such device would enable a clerk 10
Immediately close and lock the door in
cases of loss or robbery.