Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-09-26
This includes the restitution of the

or two to think things over. In regard
to the restitution of the property, there
are certain matters which / want to dis
cuss with you later. In the meantime
will you see Mrs. Ramsdell and find
out exactly what was taken? l don't
want to be held for stuff that didn't
get"
There was something peculiar in his
manner which excited my curiosity.
After l had left him I gave hard
thought to the circumstances Of the
robbery. The Ramsdell residence had
been entered in a bold and ingenious
manner from an adjoining mansion
which happened to be deserted. Mr..
and Mrs. Ramsdell were dining out
that evening. The robber was discov-
cred by a maid who had gone up to her
mistress room just before the latter re-
turned home. 1t was not long after 10
o'clock, and there was plenty Of time
for the news to get into the next morn
ing's papers. A list Of the stolen arti-
cles was published, and the value was
set as $4,000. Meanwhile had heard
the story from Warren Ramsdell,
whom had met in club shortly after
midnight. He had told me that the val
ue Of the Jewels was about $55, 600 and
had neglected to mention a diamond
necklace when was the highest priced
article in the published list.
Montagu haG been arrested next day
upon a description furnished by the
Ramsdells Of mysterious and suspi-
cious looking character whom they had
seen lurking about the house.
Now, so far as l knew, the original
published estimate Of the value of the
property, including the necklace which
l have mentioned, had never been con-
tradicted. Doubtless Montagu had seen
this list, and beyond question he was
in a position to know whether it had
been accurate. Surprising that the dia-
mond necklace had not been in the
strong box, naturally Montagu would
be unable to return it, and he would
insist upon a definite statement about
it before opening serious negotiations.
Society women sometimes get into
debt and pawn their jewels without the
knowledge of their husbands. l have
faith to believe that the indiscretion is
rare, but am told that it does occur.
If such had been the fact in this in
stance it was conceivable that Mrs.
Ramsdell might have told the reporters
a fib. 1t would be necessary to settle
this point before anything could be
done for my client, and with this in
mind tried to find Warren Ramsdeil,
since there seemed reason to believe
that he was in his sister-in-law's con-
fidence. But as the young mau had
gone to Chicago on business was un-
der the necessity of calling at the Rams
dell house upon this very delicate bust
ness.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ramsdell were at home,
and, to use figure Of speech, they fell
upon my neck when l limited at pos
sibility Of securing restitution of the
property. They were perfectly willing
that should compound felony by de-
feating justice in the case of Stanley
Montagu and even urged me to corrupt
the district attorney, the grand jury,
the police and the court in the interests
of my client if he would only give up
the jewels.
Still, upon the personal side I was
much moved by the lady's great grief
| at her loss. She seemed to be woman
of very strongly sentimental nature.
There were some of those jewels, gifts
from her husband in the early days Of
their love, that she could not speak OF
without bursting into tesrS
When I left the Ramsdell house /
was fierce partisan Of the fair victim
Of this robbery and yet we had decid-
ed to do our best to save Montagu from
the consequences of his crime. l went
to my client and told him that restitu-
ton would probably result in his re-
lease, but l was forced to add the in
formation which l had received from
Mrs ~Ramsdell in the most positive
manner that the published list Of the
stolen jewels was correct. His only re-
ply was this:
"They amt doing right by me-
I could not get him to explain that
statement nor to say anything upon the
subject except that he wanted day or
two for consideration. Surely If it had
not been for pretty Mrs. Ramsdell's in
fiuence upon me and the memory Of
her great JOY at the prospect Of receiv-
ing her own again should have had
nothing further to do with the affairs
of Stanley Montagu.
To make a long story short, 1 spent
more than Ave weeks in negotiating for
the return of those diamonds, would
bring Montagu almost to the point, and
then he would slip back again. He
would declare that he was being trick
ed or would insist that one or another
Of the articles mentioned in the print
ed list had not been in the robbed safe.
Finally the man coolly told me that
he was dissatisfied with my conduct as
his counsel and had decided to get an
other lawyer. 1 was discharged from
the case, and shrewd little rat of the
law whose reputation is not Of the best
was engaged in my place. The inter-