The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-14
JEWELRYIS RECOVERED
THIEF RELEASED AFTER HIS
 CONFESSION.
Travelling Watch Repairer by the Name of Abercrombie Took Box of Jewelry from Residence
 of Robert McMillan.
Advertiser Bureau,


 Selma, Nov. 13.
 News of a bold robbery at Orrville, the metropolis of West Dallas, has just reached the city. A travelling jeweler by the name of Abercrombie has been Tn that neighbor hood for several weeks over hauling watches. clocks and jewelry. He went to Mir Robert McMillan's house a few days ago and was shown oox con taining a fine gold watch. a diamond ring and other jewelry, worth about $500. The jewelry was kept in Q box in a trunk in Mrs McMillan's room, and Abercrombie saw where it was placed, after he got through examining it and telling the own CTS how much it would cost to put in 1t repair. ~
 A day or so after he had inspected the jewelry, he went back to the McMillan residence and knocked on the door. He waited few minutes and knocked again. and as nobody came to the door he turned the knob and went in. As he did not see anybody he went straight to the bedroom where the trunk containing the box Of jewelry was located, opened the trunk, tucked the box of jewelry under his coat and got out without being detected, Mrs. McMillan being engaged at the rear of the house at the time.
 The jewelry was not missed for several days but when it was found that the box containing the valuables was gone. MT. McMillan immediately suspected Aber- crombie and had him arrested. He was held all day and until late in the after noon and as there was not a particle Of evidence against him. and as the missing jewelry could not be found among his effects, he was released. Finally, how ever. some little school children informed MT. McMillan that they had seen Aber- crombie coming out of his residence on a certain date. and with this information Mir McMillan went to a constable ana had Abercrombie rearrested.
 He protested his innocence, but the evil dence of the children was taken In pref erence to Abercrombie's protestations, and he was held under arrest for trial the next day, before local Justice of the Peace About o'clock in the morning Abercrombie weakened and made bar gain with his captors that he would tell them where the jewelry was if he was guaranteed his liberty. This they finally consented to. and he told them where the empty box could be found, and also told where the jeweiry was hidden.
 They kept the thief under arrest until daylight and sure enough found the jew elry where he said it was, and, true to their promise they turned the prisoner loose. He was asked what he would have done If he had met Mrs. McMillan as he was coming out of the room, and he re- piled: 70, we'll. we have to take those risks in our business"
 Abercrombie claims to be related to some of the best people in Alabama, but his story Is not believed. He also said that he was in Selma during the Street Fair, and If so, he may have been one of the men who boarded at Mrs. Eugene Buffers and robbed her of jewelhy and money.
 Abercrombie also stole $l5 from Mrs. McMillan's trunk when he got the jew elry, but $10 of the amount was found in his pockets and was restored to the right full owner.