Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-03-25
NUMBER II.
JEWELRY SALESM EN-.
To Prevent Theft Keep Their Busi-
ness a Secret,


carry around the country constantly,
cases of diamonds and jewelry some
times aggregating $4,000 in value?
How do they guard against robbery on
railroad trains and in hotels in the
small cities and towns they are obliged
to make" while on their trips?
| These are questions which the mana
gers of the diamond firms and which
the Pinkerton detective agency refuse
to answer. They assert briefly that an
exposition OF the safeguards thrown
around diamond statesmen and of the
system employed to prevent robbery
and to capture thieves when the pre-
vention proves inadequate would open
the door TO holdups and robberies of
statesmen all over the country and set
at naught the system which has been
perfected by years of work and trouble.
The men who represent the big jew
elry firms Of the country carry with
them on their trips valuable gems which
are the especial prey of thieves, since
they can be easily converted into cash.
l
Diamonds, watches and rings aggre-
eating $4,000 to $4,000 in value are
being constantly transported around
the country in sample cases, shown TO
customers in country towns, kept in ho-
tells over night, and it would seem ex-
posed all the time to the hands of the
despoiler. Yet reports of robberies of
statesmen are seldom heard. 1t is not
often that one of the men intrustCd
with these valuables is waylaid and as
sauted or that sample case is lifted
with its store of jewelry.
All of the principal jewelers. of the
country belong to one or two associa-
tions, the wholesalers being allied in
the jewelers. Protective union, and the
retailers forming the jewelers. Security
alliance, both of which have headquar-
tiers in New York. For mutual protec.
ton, and that the ferreting out of crime
may be made eosier, they are thus or
ganized, and the Pinkerton agency does
their detective work. What that sys.
tenn is the jewelers. forming the union
do not know. 1t is known alone to the
management of the William Pinkerton
agency.
When n salesman is robbed anywhere
in the country his firm at once notifies
the headquarters of the protective
union, and the machinery of the agency
is set to work to recover the property
md onpt ura tho fhiavoc Vivian tb;r ;e
accomplished, as it is in majority Of
cases, the firm is notified of the result
through the union headquarters, bu,
no detailed report Of how it was done
is made to the firm most interested.
That is one Of the secrets of the detec.
tive agency.
All the statesmen on the road for The
big diamond houses are known TO the
agency. and a watch is kept on their
movements around the country, but
what methods are taken to prevent The
assault and robbery of the trusted
drummers is one of the things no man
can find out. Robberies Of this la.
ture, as a matter of fact, are very rare.
Sometimes one occurs almost accident.
ally, as when drummer careiessly
leaves his sample case for moment in
depot or hotel, and il is picked up by
sneak thief who has no idea of the
value OF the booty he is securing. Oc-
casionally, of course, salesman is
watched and followed from one town TO
another when he has been seen display.
ing diamonds to n customer, and his
wares are taken from him by force.
But Superintendent Murray, of the
Pinkerton agency, had to think long
while before he could recall case OF
recent occurrence. That was an acct.
dent in Iowa when thieves assaulted
and robbed a drummer and got away
with his samples, but they were cap
tured and all the goods were recovered
A robbery Of like nature occurred at
! the Palmer house in this city few
years ago, in which the thief got $685.
900 worth of jewelry, but he too was cap
tured.
Expert diamond thieves as rule
are known TO the detectives. A rob
berry of this nature would not be I'M
, dertaken by novice, and it requires a
smart man to entice the salesman to a
J place where he can be slugged and
robbed under pretense Of introducing
customer or something Of the sort
7 Therefore, when a diamond robbery is
reported. the detective agency, having
: knowledge Of the whereabouts of the
men most liable to suspicion, whether
in Jail or cut of It, have "line"on whom
TO go after, and they usually land their
men. All the work, so far as the firm
sustaining the loss is concerned, is con-
Quoted through the union headquarters
In New York, every ieweler in the as
ISOLATION standing his pro rata Of the
cost, since an injury to one is the con
Germ OF ali.
A diamond salesman, Of course, is
: obliged TO exercise considerable eau
ton in the display Of his goods, and
does not go out of his way TO explain &c
hotel loungers that he has $50, 900 worth
of goods in his possession. But the artl
; fees resorted to by the employees Of
various houses to conceal the identity
of their samples are matters which The
jewelers. consider the general public
has no right to know. and especially
, that portion Of the public which looks
lightly upon the commandments: "Tho'
. shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods
Chicago Chronicle.
His Idea of MennDess.
"Nan Sandy" said Perthshire farm