The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-29
A FORTUNE IN HIS POCKET.
CARRIES DIAMONDS ON HIS PERSON
WORTH S65,OOO.

Afraid of Robbers or .CrOOISs-Car-
ries 100000 More in Watches and
Set stones In His Trunk-Many OF
Them in the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Know an Attack Upon One of Them
VIII Guarantee a Term in the PEN
ftentiary and They Avoid Them-A
Morning News Reporter Catches a
Glimpse of the Fortune.
1t is not often that man travels around
the country with a fortune amounting to
sos 900 or $4,000 on his person and about
half as much more in his grip and trunks,
and perhaps there are very few people
who are aware that it is done at all as a
regular business.
a well-known travelling representative OF
one of the largest importers and cutters
OF diamonds in New York city, and In the
country as well, was at the De Soto hotel
yesterday, having been here for a day or
two on business. A representative of the
Morning News opened his eyes rather wide
when told that the gentleman in question
had $4,000 worth of property in his inside
pocket, but inquiry proved that this was
correct, while in his trunk he carried at
least $4,000 more in gold watches set with
diamonds, and other set stones.
He talked very readily about the matter
when Intercepted, and showed how the
business was done. In his pocket ne car
riej q little leather portfolio, in which
there was what appeared to be lot of lit
tie white papers similar to druggists
powder papers, but what they contained
was more valuable than any powder that
could possibly be put in them no matter
what it might be.
There are in these papers," he said,
opening a number of them to show how
they were carried. "about $4,000 worth of
unset diamonds. This is the way we have
TO carry our stock, so that we can ex-
hibit it to our customers wherever we
go. These I almost always keep. in my
pocket, while the heavier stuff I carry
in my trunk"
but are you not afraid of an attack
by robbers or thieves travelling about the
country with so much property in your
pocket?" was asked.
mot at ALL" he replied. You see, in
the first place it Is a matter of habit
with us, and then we are insured against
fire, accident, and robbery We have
what is known as the jewelers. Security
Alliance, an insurance society formed by
the leading firms in that line of business
all over the country. Still even with that
we have to run a great amount of risks
ourselves, as the highest amount Of in
surance that can be secured is $4,000,
and this amount Is allowed only to the
representatives of the best and most re-
liable concerns. So you see we are to a
very large extent co-insurers. In order
TO get that amount of insurance the rep
resentatiVe of the firm himself must bear
a character above reproach.
Into this company each Of the firms
which is a member is assessed for so
much for losses at the beginning of every
year. and with all the risk that is taken
by many representatives, who carry
thousands upon thousands of dollars
worth of stuff, you would be surprised
TO learn how small the losses actually
are. Say, for instance, the company as
sesses each firm with a view to securing
100000 for expenses for the year. From
that amount whatever losses occur are
paid, and the balance is returned pro
rata to the firms who paid it in. My
firm paid into the insurance company
81, 200 Jan. l, 1896, and Jan. /, 1897, out of
that amount more than 81, 200 was return
ed to it, The losses for the year were UNI
usually small being less than one-thirti-
eth Of one per cent. This gave my firm
insurance on $125O00 to $4,000 worth Of
stuff. The loss has never yet amounted
to as much as one-fourth Of one per
cent"
But do not some of these travelling
men lose by robberies or through conf
dence men at times?" was asked.
Very seldom" he replied. I'm former
years drummers in my line were picked
out by confidence men, and sometimes the
thieves got the best of them But 1t is
not so any more. The thieves now rather
avoid them altogether than look for them.
The jewelers. Security Alliance viii spend
100000 to find and prosecute a man who
might steal no more than $500 or $1,000
worth of goods from one of these drum
mers, or they would do the same thing If
he was attacked, and no goods were taken.
Every time one of them is caught il
menas that he will be prosecuted to the
full extent of the law, and the return OF
the stolen goods or any other considera-
ton will not save the guilty party. No,
the crooks have stopped hothering the jew
elry drummers.
do you know of many cases where this
has been done?" was asked.
mo, as l tell you there are very few
he said. 1.-THE crooks are afraid to touch
us. Some years ago a crook got the bet
ter of one Of the men in this line out in
Omand, NeD.s ana TOOK ABOUT Slo,Uo worth
of diamonds and other property from him
II took the alliance four years to catch
him, but he was easily convicted and was
sent TO the penitentlary for seventeen
years. The goods could have been secur-
ed easily If the prosecution mad beer
dropped, but that proposition was reject
ed, and the goods have not been recovered
If he has those goods hidden away any.
where, when he leaves the penitentiary hi
will be closely watched so that It will be-
impossible for him to dispose Of any OF
them The drummer in question was twice
shot by this crook and his life was saved
only by the fact that one of the balls was
turned off by pair Of diamond tweezers
which he had in his vest pocket This /.
the only robbery of this kind that has
amounted to anything within years"
mo, do not have any fears of being at
tackled. We are compelled to carry large
stock with us because our customers al
ways want to see just what they are buy
ing so II is entirely different from othel
lines of business. because we cannot sci
by sample / carry the unset diamonds IN
my pocket, and the watches and set stone,
IN my trunk. thus dividing the risk. The
diamonds l always keep with me on IA,