The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-13
QUEEN OF DIAMONDS
SHE TOUCHED TWO SAVANNAH
JEWELLERS FOR s1,s1s.oo.
PRESENTED FORGED NOTES.
THEUs BROS. AND DEsBOUILLONs
THE VICTIMS.

Like Air, Presented Herself al
Theus Bros.-Said She Was Miss
Julia Williams, a Niece of Mrs. j
p. williams, Had an Alleged Note
From Mrs. williams and Got Dia-
Tnond Brooch, Earrings and Rings,
Then Went to DesbouiIIOns,
Where She Presented Note Pur-
porting to Be From Mrs. Henry
Blum, which said the Bearers
Name Was Katie BIun-GOt S369.00
Worth of JeweIry at DesbOuiIIons'.
Police Hard at Work, but without
Clues.
All the police and detectives of Sa-
vannah and the proprietors and en-
pIoyes of two leading jewelry stores
have been looking for a woman since
yesterday afternoon at O'Clock. She
is thus earnestly sought because she
worked two very simple tricks and re-
lieved the jewellers of diamonds that
aggregate s1.S19.50 in value.
Into the store of Theus Bros. about
APO o'clock walked a neatly dressed
woman of apparently thirty, years.
She was a pronounced brunette, whose
dark hair framed a face that showed
no color, hut was yet not without its
attraction. Well-rounded in figure, of
about average hight and clad in
white shirtwaist, black skirt and black
hat, she was by no means uncomely,
and looked the role she had selected
that OF a lady.
II want to see Mr.. Theus, please"
she said, as one of the clerks of the
store advanced to ascertain her wish
es Mr. T. n. Theus, the senior mem
Der of the firm, stepped forward.
Had "A Pretty Order for Jewels.
II am the niece of Mrs. j. P. Will
liams Mr. Theus, and l have a note
for you from her" Then she produced
the note, which was sealed. necessitat-
ing It's opening with penknife. That
task accomplished. Mr.. Theus read
few penciled lines, addressed to
Messrs. Theus Bros, which set forth
that the bearer was Miss Julia Will
Jams, a niece of Mrs. J. P. Williams.
and that this niece was to have birth
day to-day. BY a singular coincidence,
the note ran, Mrs. Williams birthday
also would be to-day. This combina-
ton meant that there would be need
for much costly jewelry in so wealthy
a family as that of Mr.. Williams.
The note indicated that Mr.. Williams
desired to present his favorite niece"
with a handsome diamond brooch and
his wife with a handsome ring. Mrs.
Williams also wanted to remember her
niece on the latter's birthday, and
she desired this remembrance to be a
pair of diamond earrings. The sigma
ture was the name of Mrs. j. P. Will
Jams.
Handed Out TrayfuIs.
Congratulating himself upon an OPP
portunity for such a sale, Mr.. Theus
monds from the cases, subjecting them
to the examination of his supposed
customer, She was as cool and collect
ed, as self possessed and matter-of-
fact as if she bought and paid for
such gems every day she lived. With
out tremor of speech, without a
word or a look to induce the jeweler,
whose business is such as to leave
him always on the watch. to suspect
that she was not what she seemed,
the woman continued her examina-
ton.
Finally she made a selection. She
took magnificent pair of earrings, a
handsome brooch and three rings, say
ing that ehe would carry them home
for the inspection and approval of
Mrs. Williams.
Certainly" said the obliging Mr..
Theus. rs there anything else?"
Thanked Him SyveetIy.
She believed that was all, and thank
ed MIR. Theus very prettily. lie placed
the gems in neat boxes, wrapped them
and handed them over. She received
them, still showing not the slightest
tremor. turned and left the store
A Morning News representative was
passing on Broughton street just at
that moment. The woman looked so
neat and so prosperous, with a hand
full of small parcels that smacked of
the costly contents of a jewelry store,
that the newspaper man looked twice,
though never imagining that the prize
crook of those Savannah has known in
recent years was even then doing
Theus Bros. for $1,450.
Called on Mr.. DesbouiIlOns.
Across Broughton street she tripped,
making no mean figure in her jaunty
attire. She was bound for pastures
new. Close by was the store of A. L.
Desbouillons, on Bull street. She en-
tered with an air, and went imme-
diately to Mr.. Desbouillons.
rs this Mr.. Desbouillons?' she ask
ed briskly. Yes" well. l am Miss
Katie Blum. niece of MIR. Henry Blum
/ have a note for you from her, and
1 should like to look at some of your
diamonds"
Out came a note. as in the other
case, tightly sealed When it had
been opened, Mr.. Desbouillons found
just such a story as had rejoiced Mr.
Theus, only there was a substitution
of the name blum" for Williams
throughout
With great affability, Mr.. Desbou-
illons submitted his gems for inspect
ion. She showed a fine discrimina-
ton, selecting Just those pieces that
she fancied. For some singular rea-
son, however, she let Mr. Desbouillons
off light, taking an aggregate of but
$369.50 worth of jewelry. This too.
despite the fact that he insisted that
she ma Lp more extensive