Omaha daily bee., 1899-06-21
SLICK THIEF CAUGHT
Nan Who Steals Manielbsrg's Diamonds
Run to Earth at Last,
ALBERT PETERSON The GUILTY PERSON
Trusted Porter Carries on a Systematic
Practice Of Robbery.
THEFTs COVER A PERIOD or TWO YEARS
During that Time Firm Has Been MulOtsd
fol Thousand Dollars
DRINK CAUSES DOWNFALL OF THIEF
when Arrested for wife Beating and
in n MRudlin Condition Peter
son Reveals His Long
Concealed secret.

beater. might have kept long series of
1 successful thetts always a secret had it not
been for love Of strong drink and hAbltual
| ill-trea;ment OF his Vife
For Two years trusted employe of A.
Mandelberg's jewelry establishment, Peter
son is found to have stolen goods since al
most the first day OF his service and con-
iinued until his resignation last May. The
value OF the articles stolen amounted to
about 1900 and not the renOtes, sus-
! picion attached 10 him.
! One day nearly three weeks ago Peterson
was arrested while intoxicated for abusing
his wife and certain remarks he thought
! lessly made in a maudlin condition fur
uished clews that resulted IN solving the
mystery OF missing diamonds over which de-
tectiyes have worked for many months
Cunning Operator.
For shrewdness in his plan % operating
and for cunning in hiding all evidences
that could lead TO detection, Peterson is
without compeer in the annals Of the
police department and the recovery of the
stolen diamonds is due TO the vigilance Of
the detectives.
Last March diamond earrings valued at
$500 disappeared from a tray Of valuable
jewels that had been placed in the display
was committed by customer. The aid OF
the police to recover the jewels was asked
and the case was taken in charge by Police
Captain Donahue-
In the search that followed every possible
precaution was taken. The sweepings from
the floor OF the store and the ashes from
the stove were examined, handful after
handful, by Detectives Jorgeson and Demp-
sey and the clerks were closely watched
r ~ he
was found.
From time 10 time other articles Of
jewelry disappeared, usually watches, rings
and buttons with diamond settings ons
morning the proprietor OF the store re-
marked to the porter, Peterson: IT'S
strange thing that these goods are missed
right along and no one knows where they
20 TO-" Peterson said he considered the
mark reflection upon his character and in
spite Of his emploer's protests that he was
not in the least suspected OF the thefts he
resigned his position that day.
The evening Of June l Gus Peterson, thu
17-year-old son OF the iexelry store porter,
appeared at the police station and demanded
his fathers arrest for cruelty 70 his mother
He said that Peterson was drunk and
abusive. Al the boys request detectives
were sent 70 bring the man 70 the station.
They were the same who had worked or
and Dempsey.
Conscience Works.
when Peterson saw thsm he supposed
that they came to arrest him for robbery.
You won't fnd any diamonds around here
he nuttered. Il never took any Of them
The deniaIs OF the thetts were kept up until
the porter was locked in a cell and the
detectives. convinced that he knew some
thing about the missing stones, began 10
work on The new clew.
The records OF sales TO pavnshop keepers
were unea-thed and carefully examined.
Many entries were found Of transactions
where Albert Peterson bad disposed OF
trinkets and ieweIry and among the articles
listed were several diamonds. visit 10 the
pawrshop OF Harry Gross SIG North Six
teenth street resulted In finding part OF
the stolen property, which was promptly
Identified by its owner.
Peterson. who had been discharged by
the court when his hearing on the charge Of
wife beating took place was again arrested
Saturday, this time on the charge Of grand
larceny.
For several days the porter denied hI
guilt The sales OF the iewelry we're admit
ted. but he asserted persisteu,ly that the
jewelry had been sent TO him from the old
I country. Finally, under az examination BY
Captain Douahue in Mr., Mante!bergt
presence, Peterson broke down and con-
fessed He told where some OF the jewelry
was disposed OF, but professed ignorance al
10 the location Of large part Of H.
Peterson said he stole the goods when
! cleaning the showcase
1T was easy" ne said, Ito pretend 20 bs
cleaning the inside of showcase With
chamois skin and when no one was looking
I 70 pick u and hide something valuable IL
the folds OF the chsmols."
Good watches Recovered.
At the pawnshops Jorgeson and Dempsey
recovered tEo gold watches and chains an:
several diamonds that had been removes
from settings . lessen the risk oi detee-
tion. There we're also several articles which
M Mandeloerg did not know had been
stolen. among them being a diamond star
aud crescent, q set o. diamond Gun buttons,
/, diamond studs and seven rings
The porrers son. Gus, disposed OF some
0, the goods The studs we're traded for
suit Of clothes and most Of the property vas
gotten rid oi .or much less than rs value.
Al Petersous home. 1924 South Twenty
second street th1rough search resulted In
hldiug a varied assortment q triukets and
jewelry. There Eas an almost complete
manicure SCI, ebony mounted in silver and
gold golden hear loekets. chains, pearl
opera glasses. ladies watches ~ith diamond
settings and rings. There Eas also over
coat OF Irish 'risze which had belonged 70
Mr.. Mzndelberg. The various articles we're
found under carpets, sewed up 10 mattresses
ana 10 out--f-the-Bsy hooks o, the cellar
and the gsrret The earrings we're found
a. the house.
Peterson vss formerly a porter In the es-
! lz5lishmeut % Max Meyer Bro. before
he firm sent out o. business There be
did not have access 70 the stock q goods.
Peterson had alWays been considered honest
and Trustworthy until the time his thetts
| Eere dIsc3yeTei.
| Gus Peterson Ess arrested Tuesday.
charged Nth being his fathers Geeonpliss