The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-18
DIAMONDS
DEALERS MUST CONSTANTLY BE ON
GUARD AGAINST THIEVES.
Ingenious Tricks by Which Profess
sionaI Seek to Secure
Possession of the Gems.
Minneapolis Journal

Minneapolis Journal.
The man who handles diamonds must be
wary, for the kleptomaniac will get him if
he don't watch out. Diamonds seem to
have a peculiar and irresistible fascination
for many women and for some men who
never think Of breaking the commandment
against stealing until confronted with an
opportunity to slip one of the precious
stones into a convenient pocket, with a fair
chance of escaping detection.
Moreover, professional diamond thieves
are most expert and are constantly devils
ing new schemes TO defraud the diamond
merchant. Minneapolis jewellers have
suffered occasionally both through pro-
fessional thieves and their unprofessional
associates, but in most instances the at
tempts to defraud local concerns lave been
nipped i'm the bud.
One of the "smoothest" diamond swim
dies ever attempted in Minneapolis was a
trick played upon the pioneer firm of A.
Sanborn & Co. One afternoon two women
entered the store and Mr.. Sanborn himself
stepped forward to wait upon them. The
women were we'll dressed and appeared
to be ladies. They asked to see some unset
gems, and Mr.. Sanborn brought out a num-
per, WHICH ne SpItdQ upOu lit SLOW CdSS
in front of them.
The diamonds were examined. but no pur-
chase was made, and the women finally
said they would call again. Then the jew
eler noticed that two of the stones had dis
appeared. He detained his light-ingered
customers and accused them of theft.
Both women became very indignant and
both denied that they had taken the gems.
Threats of arrest proved of no avail, and
finally the police matron was sent for.
She took the suspects into a back room and
searched them, but the missing diamonds
could not be found. Mr.. Sanborn was posi-
tive that two stones had been stolen, and
he knew that one or both of his customers
had taken them. However. no proof of
their guilt could be discovered and the
women were released.
The next day the ~janitor. who had been
instructed to make a search for the miss
ing gems. found them concealed in two
wads of chewing gum, which had been
stuck on the bottom of the showcase, care
fully hidden from sight. The women had
evidently intended to return later and carry
the diamonds away with them. but they
were frightened by the rigorous methods
adopted and never afterward entered the
store.
The Minneapolis Jewelry Company was
once made the victim of the old time sub
stitution game, and the perpetrators of the
swindIe were never brought to justice.
Two men called at the establishment one
day TO select a diamond ring. Several rings
were shown them but none seemed to suit,
although each was closely examined. Final
ly the prospective purchasers left without
buying anything.
A few days later they returned and again
asked to be shown the rings. This exam
nation resulted in no sale, just as the first
one had. but some time later it was discov-
cred that two paste rings had been ex-
changed for the genuine article.
In the interim between their visits the
swindlers had made duplicates Of two rings
shown to them, and on their second inspec-
ton had deity made the exchange under
the very eyes OF the salesman.
Sometimes a strong bluff saves the jew
eler from loss, when he has no proof that
could avail him in a law court. a. Z.
Paegel once had an experience of this SORT,
and considers himself very lucky To have
escaped from his predicament scot free.
A woman who was a frequent customer
at his store entered his establishment one
day and asked 10 see some rings. They
were shown TO her. but she decided not 10
buy and left.
After her departure a ring was found to
be missing and il was thought that the
woman had taken 1t, although there was
no proof that such was the case. Two
weeks later Mr.. Paegel met his klepto-
maniac customer on the street. He stopped