The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-23
TRICK WAS WELL TURNED.
NO ONE OF THE THREE MEN I'M
PLICATED CONVICTED OF THE
THEFT.
PRINCIPAL IN PLOT NOW DEAD.
Ended His Days in Paris Prison
After a Somewhat Remarkable
Career of Crime.

calls a singularly daring deed of a like
nature, the boldest in it's execution of
any similar crime yet perpetrated In
Minneapolis, which happened ten years
ago. Then, as in the other case, a
Nicollet avenue jewelry store was sim
gled out as the object of attack. The
robbery, executed by Chicago crooks.
had been carefully planned for weeks
before it's commission and was attend
ed with success. The three men Sc.
cured the prize for which they had
taken such desperate chances-a large
diamond reputed to be worth $4,000.
All escaped, not one having since been
held to answer for the crime.
The robbery was committed shortly
after o'clock, Jan. 5, 1887. 1t was just
after the holidays; the show windows,
brilliantly lighted, contained the finest
samples of goods to be had within;
and the streets were lined with pedes.
trians and vehicles, making it appa-
rently an impossibility for the robbers
to escape At that time three men in
an open buggy drove quietly up Mic
ollet avenue, then as now the clty's
busiest thoroughfare, from Washing
ton avenue, and stopped in front of
the jewelry store of J. r. Elliot, half
way to Third street.
They coolly too in the situation
along the avenue, and particularly in
the vicinity of the stand which they
had taken. They remained seated in
the carriage until, by chance, there
was a considerable breach in the line
of pedestrians for some distance above
and below the store. This was their
opportunity. Two of them. one a tall,
angular fellow, jumped quickly from
the rig and walked directly to the
show window of the jewelry store,
while the third man held the horse
I They stood for a moment looking in
tently in the window; there on a tray
by itself, sparkling dazzingly, was the
object which they had determined to
possess-the big diamond; and below
it on a card was printed: Worth
IS, co.,"
Time was precious, and they did not
long hesitate. OF a sudden the tai
man Strengthened up, and, lifting an
axe which he had carried from the car
riage, he struck the pane of heavy
glass a blow which caved in a large
section and caused it to fall to the
sidewalk with crash. In an instant
the shorter man ran his arm through
the break grabbed the precious stone
and made a run for the rig, into which
the tall man had already climbed. Tbs
third party struck the horse a heavy
blow with a whip, and they were Off
They started down Nicollet avenue be-
fore any one on the street had begun
to appreciate what had happened.
They suddenly discovered that they
were going the wrong way for escape,
and, wheeling about, horse and car
riage and occupants were soon tearing
up the avenue at a breakneck pace,
lodging in and out among the other
vehicles and narrowly missing collis-
ions on all sides. The alarm was soon
given, and police and pedestrians near
the scene of the robbery made a vain
attempt at pursuit. On up Nicollet
the men Stacked the horses gait, and,
before the report of the robbery had
circulated that far, they were out OF
sight and hearing.
HOUSE OF DAVID"
AS was afterward learned by detec-
tives, they continued out NicoIlet to
Thirteenth street, then turned and
drove north until they were several
i blocks beyond Hennepin avenue, where
they tied the animal to hitching post,
and audaciously returned to the down
town district on foot.
They went at once to the saloon of
Patsy Cardiff, who fought Sullivan,
whose place on Second avenue south
between Washington avenue and Third
street was at that time known as the
House of David 1t was this place
which furnished a retreat for the Grim
inals during their entire stay in the
city. They never left it except when
| they were going to turn trick" and,
when their evil designs were accom-
plished, they Immediately returned
They ate and slept in the same room,
so fearful were they of detection, and
the genial Patsy, who had their meals
served to them, is said to have seen to
it that their fare was of the most
Sumptuous character.
A few days after the diamond rob-
berry, and while the police were trying
in vain to bring the guilty parties to
justice, the three went out and did an
other brilliant stroke of business, if
such it may be called. They broke into
what was then the Big Boston clothing
house, Washington and Second ave-
nues south, adjacent to their hiding
place, and stole $500 worth of furs, Sc
curing also $500 in cash. This robbery
also baff1ed the efforts of the police for
some time, but a woman who fire.
| quented their "hangout'' became sus-
| picious, and finally communicated with
the police. But, when the officers at
tempted to make arrests, the birds had
| flown; they had gone back to Chicago,
| and, though some effort was made to
| get them, all intention of prosecuting
! them was finally abandoned because
| of the absence of sufficient direct evil
dence to convict Part of the stock of
furs was recovered, but the diamond
was never seen more.
In the rogues' gallery at police head
quarters Is the picture of grave
ministerial looking man, wearing side
burns, with hair brushed far back on
his high forehead The word dead" is
stamped across the front of the por-
trait, on it's back is the name Eddie
Guerin," following which are the words
bank sneak.
THAT was the man that planned the
diamond robbery, and to whose re-
markable nerve it's success was DUE"
said one of the secretaries Eddie
Guerin was one of the coolest and
most desperate criminals this country
ever knew He had no fear of death,
and for that reason would take chances
in committing robberies which but few
of his associates dared share with him
After he returned to Chicago he got
into some sort Of a nix-up' and killed
a policeman. 1t was another case of
'get-out-of-town,' and that time Eddie
determined to put wide berth be-
tween himself and the scene of his
crimes. He fled to Europe, where he
continued his career as a bank sneak
and was finally gathered in while try
| ing to get the contents of a strong box
In Paris. He was sent to the Bastile,
and died four years since Of consump-
| ton. I don't know who his pals were.
| or what became of them.
1 hoy i5 H., ILL