The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-29
DIAMOND THIEF SAFE.
Chicago Detective Sergeant Landed
John Wilson without Trouble.


John Wilson, alias Watson. the Chi
cago diamond thief arrested several
weeks ago by Detective Frank Wall
and who was taken back to the scene
of his crime by Detective Sergeant
Brown of Chicago. is in the Cook
county prison awaiting trial
Detective Wall has received letter
from the Chicago officer announcing
the safe arrival of his prisoner. Will
son waived a preliminary examination
and will be tried just so soon as he
has been indicted by the grand jury.
Sergt. Brown sent the Savannah Of
ficer an interesting story printed in
! one of the Chicago dailies upon the day
of his arrival with the diamond thief.
| The arrest of Wilson attracted consid-
cradle attention in police circles and
! those who keep up with criminal af-
fairs will be interested in the follow
ing:
How much of a good time can be
had on $3.50 in cash a $3.50 diamond
ring, a 5000 shirt stud. and 5000
watch and chain, when the goods
belong to somebody else and you have
thirty-one days to enjoy yourself in?
This is what John Wilson, alias
Watson, tried to figure out after he
had arrived at the county Jail yester
day from Savannah, Ga. Wilson is
| charged with securing the money and
valuables of Edward Hovey. a Sioux
City Ia, stock raiser from the Great
Northern Hotel cashier on Dec by
means of Hoveys receipt. He return
ed to Chicago yesterday, having spent
the Intervening time since his depart
ure in New York, Providence, Wash
ington, and Savannah.
Wilson is said to be of the type of
young men who sit all day in hotel lob
bies with their legs crossed and make
friends with visitors from small towns
who want to see the sights. He re-
ceived an allowance of $25 a month
from his father, an Indianapolis doc
tor. which. he said, helped some"
When the National Live Stock show
| opened in Chicago last month, Wilson
was sitting in the Palmer House lobby
one evening. Edward Hovey of Sioux
| City came in and took a seat beside
him, Mr.. Hovey wore a $3.50 ring and
| had diamond shirt stud that looked
| to Wilson like an arc light.
Wilson asked Hovey what time it
was and Mr.. Hovey took out a 5000
watch and chain and told him it was
| $3.50. There was a clock opposite Will
son, but Mr.. Hovey did not notice it.
| Then Hovey asked Wilson if he was
| u III CniCdBO. WllSOn Sdlu ne
| was not; that he had lived here for
/ many years. Hovey did not notice. ap-
parently, that Wilson is about 20 years
old.
Wilson frankly told all about his ac-
quaintance with Hovey yesterday
while standing in Lieut.. Rohan's office
at the Central waiting to be taken to
the county Jail. II guess he was stuck
on my shape from the first" he said.
Hovey and Wilson, according to Will
sons story. talked for a few minutes,
and then Hovey asked Wilson if he
would not like a drink. Before they
| left the barroom Wilson had several
more drinks. which Hovey paid for,
although he did not drink himself.
Then Hovey asked Wilson if he
would not like to go over to his room
at the Great Northern Hotel Wilson
had no overcoat, but he went along,
and spent about an hour in Hovey's
| room. Then Wilson asked Hovey If
he would not like to go as his guest
to the Blue Ribbon cafe. Hovey said
he would be delighted to, and they
went there. Hovey insisted on paying
for everything, which Wilson was
| thankful for, as he was dead broke. .
When they came back to the Great
| Northern Hovey said he guessed he
| would go to bed. He and Wilson walked
| TO the Cashier QeSk, anu f1ONey un-
| buckled his 5000 shirt stud, took off his
| $3.50 diamond ring, his 5000 watch and
| chain and handed them to the cashier
with $3.50 roll of bills. According to
| Wilson's story yesterday he himself
| picked up the receipt and put it in his
| pocket. Hovey went to bed and for
got about the receipt till next day.
| After Hovey had gone to bed, Will
son, according to his story, brought
/ Al.o svA - ~ e.I,f a-l- A
| you the man that turned these in ?'
| Wilson says the cashier asked. THAT
was all there was to it, Wilson said
| yesterday. II got the stuff and walked
OUT
Wilson went to cheap hotel in
North Clark street. During the night
| he says, one of his friends found the
| 5000 shirt stud, and fearing he would
get robbed took it away from him
| Wilson told Lieut.. Rohan who he
thought it was, and the police expect
to get back the diamond.
The next day was Wilson's day. Al
| o'clock he drove down to the Lake
| Shore depot in a cab, bought a ticket
| and a stateroom on the Lake Shore
| Limited to New York, and started
| East. The colored porter was shy Of
him at first because he didn't wear ar
| overcoat. Before the train reached
Elkhart, however, Wilson gave out 81
many tips that the porter told the
| other passengers Wilson was a "youne
Southern gen'rman" who had come
North without an overcoat supposins
it was warm up here in December.
| When Wilson reached New York he
went to the Astor House and got s:
room. He took run over to Provi.
dence, staid there one week. and went
back to New York, pawned the ring
and watch and chain for 5000, and
started for Washington to spend
| Christmas.
After spending Christmas at the