The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-24
BIG JEWEL RoBBERIEs.

There is a remarkable If somewhat
morbid, fascination attaching to gigantic
Jewel rebberies--like that, for instance,
recently perpetrated sat the expense of
the dowager Duchess of Sutherland. That
"a man should Scoolfy walk into a railway
carriage and In. less than one minute an
nexaa fortune such as not one person in
10000 attains after "a lifetime of toll is
sufficiently startling. But The thing be-
comes amazing when one reflects upon
the~time. patience, thoroughness and re-
asoureefulness expended upon the success
full CARRYING out of these colossal GRIM
1nal coups
Take, for example, the theft of the
Countess of Dudiey,s jewels at Padding
ton station, in December 1874. This case
was almost the same as the Duchess of
Sutherland's; and. although the thieves
were never captured it was proved con-
clusively that the robbery had been plan
ned six months previously, and that dur
ing that entire period the duchess had
been Swallowed night and day, by one or
other of the confederates engaged in tt.
The value of the gems was at first stated
to be $250, eco, but subsequently this was
reduced by about one-half.
Many people will doubtless be able to
recall the daring robbery perpetrated at
Hatton Garden postoffice on Nov. 16, 1881.
Shortly after dusk and while what was
then known as the continental diamond
mall was being made up the gas was
suddenly turned off at the meter, and
the whole place plunged in darkness. At
first 1t was thought to be an accident
but on lights being brought it was seen
that the mail bags, containing cut and
uncut stones to thetvalue of 5000, 000 had
disappeared. The robbery was skillfully
planned and cleverly executed, and all
subsequent efforts to recover the dia-
monds or apprehend the thieves proved
fruitless.
Early in February, 1877, occurred the
great jewel robbery at Battle Abbey,
Sussex, when gems to the value of be-
tween $4,000 and s5e.000 the property of
the Duchess of Cleveland, were carried
away In this case the coup was effected
while his grace and the duchess were
In. the drawing room entertaining few
friends, and the servants were In the
kitchen at supper. The articles stolen
were chiefly presents; one of them, a
magnificent necklace ,of diamonds, rubes
and emerafds, being a gift of the queen to
the duchess who was bridesmaid at
her majesty,s wedding. Curiously enough,
one, case OF. jewelry containing gems of
far greater value than any of those taken
away was overlooked by the robbers In
thei-.e hurry,
On the 18th OF sNevember, 1S77, a pc
culiarly heartless robbery was .perpetrat-
ed at Halstead place near zSavenoaks.
The newly married Earl and Countess of
Aberdeen had gone there On. their honey
moon, taking with them the whole Of
their beautiful bridal presents The pub
iissed descriptions of the,,,cestliness of
these had evidently. attracted the thieves,
for hardly had the young couple reached
Their destination ere the bulk of the Of
ferdngs. valued at about $4,000, were an
neNed by burglars, who forced an en-
trance While the earl and countess were
at dinner. '.1- -z<s I -;t-.'
The biggest jewel robbery of this CEN
tu-y was effected at Brynkinalt, the seat
Of Lord Hill Trevor, near Chirk, North
Wales. The coup was brought off while
the family were at church, and the total
value of the property carried away ex-
ceeded 100000. In this case two servants
were arrested, but they were discharged
almost Immediately, and the mystery re-
mains unelucidated to this day.