The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-03
STOLE A FORTUNE IN GEMS.
One of the Cleverest Robberies in Lon.
don's History.


dons History.
An interesting man in London jour
nalism is Charles Windust, generally
known as the special crime investiga-
tor" of the Weekly Dispatch, penny
paper He has done some very clever
things in the way of the amateur de-
tective work that is frequently accom-
plshed by American newspaper report
ers, and he has the subject of English
criminals and criminal methods at his
finger ends.
Mr.. Windust had just told the story
of one of the most mysterious robberies
ever committed in London, crime
known to the police and to the public
as the Hatton Garden postoffice rob-
berry. Hatton Garden is in that part of
London close to the Holborn viaduct,
and is in the neighborhood where the
wholesale diamond dealers have their
places of business. The robbery cost
those diamond dealers 225,0 900 worth of
gems, money and other valuables and
none of the booty was ever recovered,
nor We're the thieves ever arrested for
the crime. Mr.. Windust in telling the
story says that he believes Scotland
Yard detectives will learn of the facts
for the first time when they read it.
He prefaces his account of the actual
robbery by explaining that young GRIM
inal named Brunt made the acquaint-
ance of young woman outside of Hol-
| loway prison, where both had gone to
visit prisoners arrested for pocket pick
ing, the prisoner in the girls case be-
| in her father. The acquaintance result
ed in their getting married.
"Brunt's business" said Mr.. Win
! dust, took him frequently to the con-
tinent, he being a member of a gang
of international crooks who disposed
n q nf col in
Hamburg, Antwerp, Amsterdam or
Paris, and it was while he was on
| journey abroad that Mrs. Brunt took
lodgings in Castle street, Holborn-
| There she received a postoff1ce order
payable at the postoffice in Hatton Gar
| den, and she went to cash it. The lady
| clerks were not very polite to her, and
Mrs. Brunt spoke rather sharply to
them, with the result. that there was
| wordy battle.
While this was in progress Mrs.
Brunt noticed number of young fell
| lows enter the Office and register pack
ages, letters, small parcels etc, every
one of which was placed in a sack that
hung by an iron ring on hook just be-
| hind the counter, and which could be
| easily reached.
| Smarting under the rudeness of the
| clerks she determined to have what is
| known among criminals asa "bit of her
| containing the registered letters would
| enable her not only to have her revenge
| but also fine haul That night she
| addressed letter to her husband. tell
ing him that she had got good thing"
for him and to hurry home.
A few days later Brunt returned and
| when she had told her story. he rose
and paced up and down the room for
| few seconds.
| It's as good as done, girl. I'll see the
| old 'un this afternoon and arrange The
| details" he observed as he put on his
hat and left the room.
| The old 'un was an expe.- cont'tnetal
| thief, known as Captain Preston" and
| when Brunt put the scheme before him
he remarked: "A pretty little job and
no risk"
The mother of one of the telegraph
messenger boys employed at the Hat
ton Garden postoffice was a widow who
let lodgings and a few days later a
young woman took a furnished room
that was to let. The new ledger pre-
tended that she worked in city, and as
her landlay'S son and she went the
same way to work each morning they
soon got on good terms. After work was
| over she would call at the postoffice
and they would go home together. II
the lad was downstairs in a kind of
kitchen where the boys had thier meals
the ledger would walk down and wait
for him.
After about three weeks the boy was
entitled to a days holiday the follow
ing day, and he impaired to the ledger
that he was going to a friends TO tea
and then to the Princess Theater. Later
in the evening the yound lady lodger
went into her landlady's kitchen.
Here's a funny thing" she re-
marked. You know Johnny is going
to the Princess Theater Tomorrow"
Yes said the mother.
well someone has sent me a ticket,
also but l can't go. l have to go to see
my sister. so 1 thought you would Ike
to go; it's pity to waste the ticket,
isn't it?'
well, this is kind of you. I'll get my
work done and be ready as soon as
Johnny comes home. He's only on a
couple of hours tomorrow and then I
can go with him to his aunt's to tea and
to the theater afterward. ! don't think