Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-27
MISS SHAY'S RING.
Daring Effort Made to Rob the
Prinna Donna En- Route
to Richmond.

a daring effort was made to rob Miss
Rose Cecilia Shay, the prima donna Of
the Gordon-shay Grand Opera Company,
on the cannon ball express yesterday
morning The train was speeding between
Waverly and Wakefield, when hand
somely dressed stranger approached Man
aser J. Saunders Gordon and asked to be
introduced to Miss Shay. The man men
toned the fact that he was an old friend
of Judge Shay, the famous criminal law
yer. of Cincinnati, who is the father Of
the singer. He said he had not seen Miss
SHAY since she was little child, at which
time he was intimately associated with
her father.
There was absolutely nothing in the
mans appearance to arouse suspicion, ana
Manager Gordon said it would be a
pleasure to him to introduce him to his
prima donna. Mr.. Gordon took the man
back in the parlor car and introduced him
to Miss Shay
They chatted pleasantly for a few mo-
ments, the stranger recited many anec-
dotes and experiences which Judge Shay
had had in his practice, some of which
Miss Shay recalled, and some with which
she was not familiar.
During the conversation tHe SlldHSel
said that he had read with great interest
of a diamond ring which Miss Shay wore
at the time. He declared that he had the
articles published in the newspapers in
relation to the stone which Judge Shay
had given his daughter on the occasion
of her most successful debut in New York.
Just as the train approached Wakefield
the stranger asked Miss Shay to let him
see the ring.
Never dreaming that the man was a
thief, Miss Shay took the ring from her
finger and handed it to him. The man
took it and walked over to the car win
dow as if to examine it. Just then the
train began to slow up for one of the
small towns, where the ordinance requires
a rate of speed not greater than twelve
miles an hour.
The stranger glanced out of the win
dow, and with a quick motion made an
effort to open the vestibule door.
Miss Shay was too quick for him, how
ever, and gave an alarm. Mr.. Gordon
and Mons. Alberti, of the company, were
seated in the farther end of the car they
rushed to Miss Shay's assistance, and,
grabbing the man, took the ring from
him. Miss Shay. in the meantime, faint,
ed, and the man jumped off the train,
running at a rapid rate.
The passengers informed the trains
crew, but nothing could be done to effect
the mans capture until the train arrived
at Richmond, when the railroad authori-
ties were communicated with.
The following dispatch was sent F.. M.
Barron, chief Of detectives of the Norfolk
and Western Railroad Company:
Desperate effort made to rob Miss Shay
on cannon ball express yesterday morning,
Description: Dark man. nearly six feet
in height, wore a Prince Albert coat, fancy
vest. dark striped trousers. silk hat. pat
ent leather shoes. Left small satchel on
train with some toilet articles in it, but
nothing that would suggest identifica-
,lon.''
Late last night telegram was received
from Detective Barron, which stated that
he thought the man was a thief named
Lloyd, who, in company with a woman.
has robbed several passengers on South
arn railroads in the last year.