Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-20
IT WASCLEVER WORK
Thieves Filed Diamond From Jesse
Hammond s Ring.
AND DID IT WHILE. HE WAS ASLEEP.
Both He and Mrs. Hammond Declare
They Were Not chIoroformed-Th
Job Evidently Done by Professional
Porch cIimbers-Jesse Explains.

j. A. Hammond of Des Moines is in
the city on business. To a reporter
ne told the story of a recent misfor-
tune whic' befell his son Jesse
Thieves entered the Hammond home
IN Des Moines two nights ago and
deity filed from an elegant ring on
Jesse's hand, $1.75 diamond setting
For the reason that Mr.. and Mrs.Jesse
Hammond, as well as j. A. Ham
mond, formerly lived in Ottumwa,
readers of the Courier will be inter-
ested in the following account of the
affair:
Story Of Theft.
Jesse B. Hammond, the cigar dealer
whose store is located at 211 Fifth
street, was robbed of $175 diamond
and $l3 in money last night in man.
ner which seems almost impossible.
While he and Mrs. Hammond slept
thieves entered their home at 932
Fifth street, chiseled or filed the dia-
mond loose from it's heavy fastenings
in ring and accomplished the feat
While the ring remained on Ham
monds finger. The robbery was not
discovered until Mr.. and Mrs. Ham
mond arose in the morning.
The circumstances connected with
the theft point very strongly to case
of porch climbers The first intima-
ton that the stone was missing came
to Mr.. Hammond when the sharp
prongs on the ring caught in the bed
clothing as he jumped out of bed. He
discovered that the stone was missing
and first imagined that it had been
M, 1nd ~ c.
Search on the floor for the diamond
brought about the discovery of four
OF the little prongs which hold the
ring in shape. A glance about re-
vealed the fact that Mr.. Hammond's
trousers were missing and that the
front window was wide open.
Scratches on one of the posts and
tracks on the roof of the porch seem
ed conclusive proof that the burglars
had entered thru the open window.
Downstairs Mr.. Hammond's trousers
were found, and another wide open
window, where the robbers had I'M
doubleday made their escape. There
was $13 in cash on Mr.. Hammond's
clothing when he hung the wearing
apparel on the bedpost.
Filed the Ring.
.
There seems to be but one plausible
theory as to how the diamond disap-
peared. Neither Mr.. Hammond nor
his wife believe that they We're chloro-
formed, and yet they contend that
they heard no unusual noises in the
house last night. The robbers I'm.
doubtedly filed away the prongs of the
ring until the diamond could be re-
moved. 1t seems almost incredible
that the work could have been done
without disturbing either of the
sleeping occupants Of the bed and yet
it is the way it must have been done.
Mr.. Hammond said that he is in the
habit of sleeping with one hand out
of the bed resting on the arm of a
chair. He says that he sleeps very
soundly.
Mrs. Hammond had $500 worth Of
jewelry, including diamonds, on her
person at the time of the robbery,
but the gems were untouched. She
places her jewels in chamois skin
sack and ties the sack about her neck
at night.
Mr.. Hammond values his diamond
at 5000, and was offered SITS for it
few days ago. He has very little hope
of ever recovering the gem.