The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-19
A BRILLIANT PLUNGER.
Philadelphia Swindles a N. Y.
Jewelry Firm Out of Sz2soo.

NEW YORK, July 1S.-WilIiam A
Bellwood, a well-known dealer in an
tlque books and rare jewelrv. at No
1852 Walnut street, Philadelphia. who
rents an expensive suite of rooms at
the Plaza hotel here, is under arrest
at police headquarters, charged with
having sWindled Marcus & Co. Jewel.
ers, OF this city, out Of iewelrv valued
at many thousands of dollars. Tho
arrest was made on Saturday. and. i'm
ponce court today, the prisoner was
remanded to the custody of the centra /,
office detectives.
"A small portion of the jewelry has
peen recovered, and pawn tickets for q
large part of the remainder have been
found. The detectives saw Re11wood
has confessed to his dealings with
marcus & Co., but denies that he ba
sWlndled other firms.
Bellwood is a Frenchman oe o,,
ADDRESS and refined manners. He be-
gan his dealings with Marcus e. 90
about year ago. He frequently bo,oh+
goods from the firm on mernorand,1,,
ana, SO far as the police know b,s
dealings were for a long time laeiti.
mate. BellWood spent much of his fine
IN inns city and first lived with HIS
"lIe at the Imperial hotel, until thew
moved IN the Plaza some weeks 90
Recently, Marcus & Co. learned that
BellWood was seen frequently at tba
race tracks, where he was reported to
nave peen heavy loser The firm then
determined to keep a close watch in
the event of the purchase of mora
goods by their Philadelphia customer
LAST FRIDAY. Bellwood appeared at
the store of Marcus & Co. and ca1Ied
for a diamond necklace, which, he
SAID, he wanted for lady customer
lie selected one, valued at 81 400 ana
left the store. He was followed nv
an employe Of the firm and was seen
70 go into Bowery pawn shop, where
ne pledged piece of jewelry. believed
70 nave peen the necklace which he
mad just received on memorandum
The firm was informed Of the transact
ton, and Mr.. Marcus then consulted
With the headquarters authorities. n
was decided to arrest Bellwood. and
on Saturday he was taken into custody
on Broadway.
On his person was found the costly
necklace, together with a bundle ne
pawn tickets. on which he had received
$1S,96O Of this amount $74O0 had been
obtained on jewelry received from Mar
Gus & Co., and $3.50 on jeweIry which
he claimed to own himself. The total
number of pawn tickets recovered was
forty-two and twelve of them renrn-
scented the Marcus goods.
Bellwood admitted his guilt as far as
the jewelry which he had received frop,
Marcus & Co. was concerned, and said
that his downfall was due to ga.mhIiner
on the race tracks. He stoutly main
tanned THAT he had swindled no other
Individual or firm.
Today the prisoners wife surrendered
a beautiful necklace composed of
pearls amethysts and crystals valued
at $1,000, a double finger ring and an
antique brooch set with a topaz in the
center and pear-shaped gems of every
description in three rows with three
pendant pearls. Mrs. Bellwood. who
speaks no English, claimed that the
jewelry is her own private property.
Bellwood has secured property val
ued at $4,000 from the firm of Marcus
& Co., which he has paid only $1,000.