The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-29
WOMAN ROBBED
Of HER DIAMONDS
Mhief Stole Purse Belonging
TO Mrs. Arnold.
VALUE OF DIAMONDS $1,000
Were Taken from Table in
Millinery Store.

While choosing hat at the Hannibal
millinery store at 185 North Main street,
about O'Clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs.
Thos. Arnold Of 496 South Topeka avenue
was robbed by some unknown person of
q purse containing diamonds valued at
over $500. The robbery was reported to
the police department at once and Chief
Burt put two detectives at work on the
case within twenty minutes after it hap
pened
Upon leaving home yesterday afternoon
Mrs. Arnold slowed all her jewels in a
purse and took them with her for safe
keeping. The purse was the ordinary
lady's purse, and she carried it suspend
ed from her wrist by a chain. About 4:39
she went 10 the millinery store. The
store was crowded yesterday afternoon
with women purchasing hats and mil
. linery for fall wear and for carnival
week. and many Of the purchasers were
from out Of the city. Mrs. Arnold was
among the customers and at the time
the robbery took place was standing in
front Of mirror on the south side of the
room trying on hat. At the side of the
mirror is a small square table and in
order to use her hands freely Mrs. Arnold
laid the purse on the table She was
busy talking with the saleslady about the
hat, and when she looked a moment later
for the purse it was gone.
She gave the alarm at once and it was
noticed that a strange woman who had
been looking at a hat near the place
where Mrs. Arnold was standing, had dis
appeared about the same time the purse
cid The ladies in the store were fright
ened and all ran toward the door, think
ing they might be able TO catch a glimpse
OF the woman whom they suspected of
lifting the purse When they reached
the door she was not in sight although
but few moments had passed since the
purse had been laid on the table The
doors Of the store were closed and the
police were notified Chief Burt was at
the station when. the alarm was turned
in and hurried to the place of the rob-
berry at once. going over the ground thor
oughly and questioning all of the ladies
who were there as to~what they knew Of
fhe theft and of the appearance of the
woman whom they suspected.
No one had paid particular attention to
the woman and Mrs. Arnold was the
only one who could give anything like
description of her. She had not noticed
the woman carefully and could give little
that would be of value to the officers.
She said. however that she believed she
would recognize the woman if she saw
her.
My purse was not on the table more
than five minutes said Mrs. Arnold yes
terday evening. when I began locking
a. q new hat 1 placed my purse on the
table under the hat I had been wearing.
Smother woman was trying on a hat
near the same table and shortly after
placed my hat there she took off her
mat and placed it beside mine. l paid
no particular attention TO her. but no
+iced that she went out before picked
up my hat and missed the purse. She
was a fairly well dressed woman and I
Judge her to be about p years of age.
She was a stranger TO me-"
The saleslady who waited upon the wo-
man who is suspected of taking the purse
said The woman looked at several hats
snd while doing so placed the hat she
had been wearing upon the table beside
that of Mre Arnold. She finally said she
could not find a hat to suit her and
started out. did not take special notice
of her and was not looking when she
put on her hat. but If she took the purse
she must have slipped it out from under
Mrs. Arnold's hat at that time"
When seen last night Mrs. Arnold stat
ed that the purse contained ore pair of
s-carat earrings valued at $500: one g.
carat ring valued at $500. one shirt stud
valued at 500. one diamond sunburst val
ued at $500. one cluster ring valued at
500. and $35 in cash. making 8 total of
s.. 9S5
I intended to go hunting yesterday
morning" said Mr.. Arnold. and we de-
cided TO place the diamonds in the bank
during my stay, but forgot it yesterday
morning. When my wife left the house
she was afraid to leave them. fearing
they would he stolen. She did not take
time to put any Of them on when she
started away from home. but placed all
OF them in her purse as she had done
many times before
The diamonds are worth more than
their real value TO Mrs. Arnold. as she I
has had them for several years. Several
y mes attempts have been made by bur
glars TO reach them but never before
were they successful. At one time the
home Of Mr.. and Mrs. Arnold was broken
into in al attempt TO get them. but MS.
Arnold happened to be wearing them.
Chief Burt stated last night that NJ
trace Of the woman had been found. All (
Of the outgoing trains have been watched