Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-01-19

ed near the front of the store, on the
north side. While there one Of the
three men came toward him, and said
he would like to examine some pocket
books, and the younger Mr. Wrestling
went with him to show case, also
near the rear of the store, to show the
goods. This left the front of the store
without the presence of clerk, and 1t
is supposed it was then that the fourth
member OF the gang committed the
robbery He must have entered the
store, and proceeded at once to the
door Of the diamond examination
apartment, which is Immediately in the
rear of the south show window, and
which is enclosed by partition OF ma
hogany and plate glass, the latter
screened by silk curtains. Opening the
door of this little apartment the thief
closed it behind him, and the curtains
on the door and windows of the COM
partment thus very effectively screened
him from the observation of those in
the store. He must have at once gone
To the show window, raised the sliding
plate glass window, and taken the
goods This would require but mo-
ment. at the outside, and he then re-
tracted his steps, passing into the store
and out of the front door without being
seen by the two clerks, who were still
busy with the three men above referred
to- In few minutes these three men
left the store without making a pur-
chase, and still the fact of the robbery
was unknown. Ten or fifteen minutes
after the three men left, however, Mr..
J. Nj. Wrestling had occasion to go into
the diamond compartment, and there
noticed that the sliding plate glass win
dow opening into the show window,
was raised and that as a result of the
entrance Of cold air into the window
the glass OF the window was clouded.
He remarked upon the fact that the
window had been left open, and mo-
ment later discovered that a tray Of
diamond rings which he had personally
placed ID the window, was missing. A
little further examination revealed til
fact that two pairs of diamond ear
rings were not where they should be
and then q more careful examination
OF the contents of the window revealed
the absence of other articles Of Jew
elry.
Mr. Wrestling at once became
alarmed and held consdTta9i6n with
his brother and later with other
members of the firm, as they arrived,
but, unfortunately, all of this took
time, and it was about ten or fifteen
minutes past seven before the fact
that a most clever robbery had been
committed became clear, and the police
were notified. Chief Bennett, Lieuten-
ant Ingram and other officers were
soon at the store, and a very careful
investigation of the facts were made,
and descriptions of the three men
seen in the store were secured. Tele-
crane and telephone messages were at
once sent to all the neighboring cities
ana towns, while the entire police force
was put on the alert, and every avenue
&c escape from the city, as far as
possible. was guarded and watched,
while q careful examination of the
town itself was set on foot. Chief
BENNETT personally took charge OF the
case. and was up all night. seeing that
nd stone was left unturned in his eff
forts TO obtain some trace either of
the thieves or the stolen goods. By
AIMS morning a description of the
thieves. SO far as they are known, and
of the articles taken will be in the
hands of the police OF surrounding
cities.
AS far as could be ascertained last
night the stolen property embraced
two pairs of solitaire diamond ear
rings Of considerable value, two dia-
mond pendants, from thirteen to six
teen diamond rings, number of them
clusters. and some smaller articles
of lev elry. How many individual
stones are missing could not be ascer-
tanned, but probably from one hundred
to one hundred and fifty, most OF
them, of course, small size.
The robbery was very neat piece
OF work, and the evidently carefully
laid plans OF the thieves worked TO q
hair. The three men not actually
concerned in the theft were seen to
leave the store but OF course nothing
was thought Of the circumstance at
the time The descriptions Of these
men, however, are very accurate, and
their apprehension within short time
is to be hoped for.
Very few people knew Of the fact Of