Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-08-10
DIAMOND MYSTERY
Peoria Authorities Puzzled Over The
Disappearance OF a Package
ofVaIuable Jewels.
HOTEL PORTER is ARRESTED
But CLAIMS to Have Found the Spark.
Iers in an Ash Barrel at the Rear
of the Hosiery.

Members of the Peoria police de-
partment, criminal lawyers, and all
others who have made a study of the
investigation OF crime are unanimous
in declaring that the National Hotel
diamond case, which has been occupy
ing the attention of the police for
three months, is the greatest mystery
in the history of local crimes in that
city.
About May %. two days after the
robbery, Detectives Kerr and Kierans
while working on another case, discOv-
cred that two different colored men
had bought a pair of valuable dia-
monds.
The investigation in this case, how
ever. had not gone far before the de-
tectives dropped on the trail of two
more valuable diamonds. This was an
unheard of thing and the detectives
were surprised, but they were astOund-
ed when, during the next two or three
days, diamonds began to turn up right
and left. 1t was only a short time be-
fore they had traced the majority of
the stones directly to George Walker,
the porter of the National hotel, of
which MontrOse d MucHugh are prop
TietOrs, but they did not arrest him
at the time because they did not want
to- spoil the chances of discovering
whom he had stolen them from.
Diamond Salesman 81 Guest.
The inquired at the hotel and learn
cd that diamond salesman had been
there a couple of weeks before. They
also learned that a young fellow who
l..
deal Of money. had stopped at the
hotel at the same time. The young
fellow had been drinking hard. and the
supposition was that he was another
diamond salesman, and that he had
lost the diamonds while intoxicated
The detectives figured that. being
man with a good position, he would
prefer to make good the diamonds he
had lost rather than report the robbery
and run the danger of having his en-
plOyers learn of his escapade.
The two men were finally traced
down. and the theories exploded. The
diamohd merchant had lost nothing
and the other fellow was not dia-
mond salesman at all. 1t was learned
that about two weeks before the rob
berry Walker had carried q suit case to
the depot for a travelling salesman.
The salesman was followed all over
the country by kilograms until he was
fi"allv located and wired the police
that he had lost nothing.
Walker IL Arrested.
At length. all claws being exhauste ed.
the two detectives held consultation
with Chief Rhoades. and as a result
the chief sent out and had Walker ar
rested The four other negroes who
have figured in the case were arrested
IL few hours later. Walker swore that
he had not stolen the diamonds. but
had found them in an ash barrel in
the alley back of the hotel. The pc.
lice did not believe the story and be-
gan search for the owner of the dia-
monds. 1t was at this point that the
big mystery began to develop.
Manager James Glodrey of the hotel
was called to the city hall and QUes-
toned. He denied that there had been
any diamond salesman in the hotel OK
CCpt the man from whom the detcC |
tives had heard. and he was positive |
that there had been no jcwelry stolen |
GIOdrey's story threw the police com |
pletcly OF tine track. and. although not |
less than n hundred different clews |
were run down there was no trace of |
an owner for the diamonds. Mean |
while Judge Worthington had held |
that the negroes must be released |
from custody. because there being no |
owner. it was obviously impossible |
that a robbery could have been com |
mittCd.
There were NO further developments |
i'm the case for nearly month. and |
then Chief RhoadeS received letter |
from EiSler 4 Laudhein. a firm of dia |
mond merchants at - Maiden Lane. |
New York, i'll which they asserted that |
they believed the diamonds which he |
had found belonged to them. They |
said that they had expressed a pack |
age containing 10000 worth of gems |
to their travelling salesman. !. !. TiEhe |
at Peoria. and that the diamonds |
should have arrived here about May |
70. Tighe had never received the |
vs.. From the Adams Express |
Cumpany's books the police learned |