The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-08-18
RETURNED THROuGH A PRIEST.
4 Cousciencc-strickrn Robber Restores
Diamonds. and Other Jewels.

Through tn. influences ~ the Roman
Catholic confessional a Chicago man Who
robbed an Anderson. Ind Jewelry frm n
sS.c 600 worth Of diamonds and jewels c"n-
fesscd 60 his crime and returned his booty to
its owner Father D. A Murphy. pastor OF
- Nary's Church NJ .52 Wabash avenue,
received the confession and the jewels from
the penitcnt man They have been retursed
go the Indiana firm and their owner has de
cIAred he will not prosecute the thief II he
should meet him face Ia face
one month ago to-day the Nashburn
J.welry Company of Anderson. Ind was
robbed Of a tray Of diamonds and jewels
The local polio. were notified and began "A
careful investigation Not a clue Mas dis
covered Then the police Of Chicago and
the other larg &c cities were notified Nearly
a month went by and nothing Vas accom-
plished by the police toward catching the
thief The members Of the Indiana nrm
finally CAV" ~ all hope or ever recovering
their property
To tho surpris. Of william Washhurn.
President Of the Jevelry company. a recul-
iAIly worded message reached him last
week from Father Murphy Tn" message
asked Mir Washhurn tn come To 'hicagc ~
onc- and he would learn something to his
advantage The jeWeller At first thought
the request 10 he a hoax and was not inclined
10 nay any attention 10 n lie told on" Of
his friends that some crank In Chicago had
seen tho orer ~ a reward for the return Of
IA. diamonds and wa trying TO work some
game on him On" Of tn" other partners
i'm the nrm disa greed with Mr. WAshhurn
and urged that he come Ia chicago and in
vestigat. the summons With his mind
All-d with doubt. Mr. Washburn started for
Chicago ny the way Of ~ Joseph. Mich
when the jewe Her arrived Ia chicago he
went direct 10 Father Murphy'- church. not
e~,pectihs to End a place Of worship at the
number given on Wabash avenue, Discoy-
ing hi- error. he entered the reotory
4 believe these things belong to YOU. said
Father Murphy. when his visitor made known
his name and n" object OF hts call With
these words he handed him the diamonds
Wa-hburn u not n Catholic and Vas at a
The Jewel. lie stood d]pmfoandea icoiins
Then he began 10 ply Father Murphy With
questions he could not rraliS- that Father
Murphy had accomplished what the police
III is simple. explained the priest The
thief confessed 20. NE and begged me 20 mud
would return N. goods. y" Is rerentant
rhen the priest wen, on 70 say that on
aturday afternoon among IN" persons ho
called on him To- confess their sins and ASK
nnJn.y y -sycrs mental strain "'HiihoH, he's
tation the fellow told ~ how b" had robbed
the store IN Anderson and Of hon he had
Fiji God Will forgive me this time, hence
forth shall live an honest lie and try To
make amends for my mi=deeds. ~obhed tho
man pray for me. father. pray for me
Then the thief confessed all the details ~
IN. crime and bess cd Father Murphy Ia re-
turn the Jewels "a their owner Tho man
handed over the Jewels and de TaTtrd. after
beiug assured that forgiveness would event
ually be h- Father Murphy AT down Ia biz
rectory aud wrote the not" 20 the Anderson
firm
The story l. entirely true. sltd Father
Murphy last night The parcel. contain. |
ing four rings and diamond. vas
turned over to me With the request ~ return
n to the rightful owner The person who |
had taken the jewels from Ia" store ~ the
Nashburn company repent-d the crime and |
desired 70 make restitution !
In compliance With 10" request ~ the pen |
iient sinner. I notified Nr Msshburn. and |
when h" visited the 81 Wednesday ! turned |
tho property over to him do not know |
whether all ~" ring and Jewels stolen were |
contained IN the package Mr. Nashhuru |
expressed tho opinion that three ~ the stones |
were missing. tut am not In n position to |
know whether Ne wHs mistaken or not /
~ To- the dstails ~ the case. | do not I
wish "a make any statement they do not
concern any one N Mr. Na.hhurn said that
he would not prosecute the man Who returned I
the plumber he spoke advis~dly. A. he docs I
rot know the nam" ~ the man or where be /
i've u would b. impossible for him to
prus~cytfa the man 1