The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-04
rhine is worth telling in some detail.

crime is worth telling in some detail. A
woman who was once a footllght beauty
at che Gaiety Theater and was ON the
point of marrying a baronet when his
family interviewed, became afterward the
wife of a gentleman of blameless charac.
ter. When the present story begins she
was passing as Mrs. Ronald. This was
in April last, and IL was then she met
the prisoner. His name was variously
Johnson, Jones, James and many others
as prudence required. To the police he
was Harry the Valet" not that he had
ever been In such employment, but In his
younger days when learning thieving from
! an oder hand he showed so fervent and
faithful a desire to serve his master that
the detectives gave him the name. II
was as johnson that he was indicted and
In the present narrative he Will be called
Johnson After meeting Mrs Ronald he
lived with her at her expense at Brighr
ton, London and various places on the
continent till October of last year. He
was during that time absolutely penniless
and of no occupation; she was woman
of means and she supported him and sup
piled him with money. But about the
date of the robbery she separated from
him. owing to their continuous quarrels-
Soon afterwand he saw her driving IN
Paris, followed her home, showed her
great quantity of jewelry and said IL be-
ionged to the Duchess of Sutherland. She
put on the jewelry. Soon afterward he
came over TO London and appeared at the
Sunday morning diamond market In
Houndsdtch, where he rapidly got rid of
many Of the best stones, which he had
taken out of their setting. Then he start
ed to live like a lord He might have
been doing that still, put his weakness Tor
entertaining female society was his I'M
doing. The woman with whom he had
lived in Paris returned to Brighton, where
he met her, but she would have nothing
TO do with him, saying he was thief.
She informed Scotland Yard what she
knew of the robbery He was tracked TO
resort In Fulham. where he was found
drinking champagne in female society.
The man Is an extraordinary cOmbina-
ton of skill In planning and executing the
most difficult railroad jewel robberies and
reckless extravaganza In spending the
booty. Yet until now he has only served
three brief terms OF a few months for
minor crimes In his great crimes ne
came off scot free. Once only in France
he served fifteen months under the name
Of Viliers for robbing a gentleman OF a
large sum at the gaming tables. He IS
a thief with q grand air and ,he has
hardly ever been known to bungle. He
has a frank. engaging look; he dresses
neatly; he has an assured substantial air,
like man in a good way Of business,
and there Is a shrewdness In his smile
which suggests the man with a good story
up his sleeve. IL Is beyond doubt that
he has been concerned in vast number OF
ieWelry robberi1s. He reduced the pro-
fession TO a science. He made IL his busl
ness to know nearly everybody of wealth
and consequence in Europe, and he rarely
made mistake, thanks to his knowledge
of the comlngs and goings of the jewel
case owners.
He robbed Lady Brett. wife Of the Judge, |
who as Lord Esther, was afterward master
of the rolls Of a case containing 5000
worth OF jewelry and escaped to Amster- |
dam. After some months he came back |
and went unprosecuted, for the only porter
at the station who had described his ap- |
pearance had died and there was no fur
Their evidence of Identification. Another
time he got into one of the great London |
hotels Just after Il was opened While |
walking along the corridor he met a maid |
servant A plausible excuse, a look of
transparent honesty, and he persuaded her |
to unlock one Of the bedrooms. He took |
away 5000 worth of jewelry from It. He |
made a good deal of money and spent IL. |
He lost several thousands at "A gambling |
club In oxford street within a few weeks. |
His tastes were loroly. lie was satlsHed |
with nothing short Of the best dishes and |
choice wines, and at a West End hotel |
his bills we're frequently over $50 a week. |
Then, like Samson, he fell through wo-
mans charms The strangest feature in |
the case is his absolute refusal, in spite |
of the prospect of getting a life sentence |
for his obstlnacy, TO divulge the where
abouts Of the missing gems. He had only |
about 1900 worth of stones and 1900 In |
money when he was arrested. 1t Is most |
likely that he could not get the others
back II he would, and he would only be
rounding on some friends who have stood |
him in good stead before when he has been |
In difficulties II he were to state what he |
had done with them.