The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-13
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GEM THEFT MANIA
RULES !. RICH l|. GIRL.
Newport Society Women Are Vic
-
TINS of Robberies but Loot
-.
Is Returned.
New York Sun Special Service.

> Newport, R. l., Sept. 13-society has
been startled. by the news that the
mysterious thief who has been operat-
ing with great profit among the mil
ionaires has made the young and beau
tiful second Mrs. H. M. Flagler another
victim.
All signs indicate that she was
robbed by the ''Raffles'' who has !.
preyed upon Newport society leaders
all summer, and it is whispered that the
thief is rich young woman who is a
confirmed kleptomaniac. For the sake
of the victims has released her upon the
return of the stolen gems. u
Mrs. Flagler attended lawn -fete,
and while there her gold chain chate-
laine was stolen from her belt The
bag, contained five $1,000 bills, about
York for $4,000 and long neck chain
set with thirty sapphires and diamonds,
valued at $4,000
One Of the most remarkable features
of this Casa feature which has des
veloped in all of the other Newpors
thefts-ls the assurance Mrs. FlagleE
has received that her property would
be returned to her.
Rich Woman Suspected.
It is this peculiar circumstance that i
picion is held to point to a member Of
4 one of the most prominent families as
the kleptomaniac7 The instance Of the
lysterious return of the 100000 col
lection of jewels of Mrs. Ogden Goelet,,s
of the return of the $4,000 jewel lost
by Mrs. Joseph E. Widener and of other
similar instances have been cited to
Mrs. Flagler.
But many of the stolen Jewels have
5 not been returned, and Newport is filed
with private detectives employed to
: and to watch the young woman whose
unfortunate malady causes her to seize
] gems. That her pilferings are the re-
J suit Of diseased mind is not doubted
Her family has immense wealth and she
is supplied with every luxury one could
, desire.
Many women have reported to the
police the loss of Jewels, but when the
jewels are returned the victims have
refused to prosecute. They even deny
that they have been robbed. -
Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, Jr., is said to
have been a victim to the extent of a
$4,000 neck clasp at a supper party.
Mrs. Coils P. Huntington, widow of tbs
, Southern Pacific railroad magnate, lost
: iewelry, worth $500 at a. party she
gave at her Long Island home. The
;. Newport colony attended that party:2
e A detective was put to work and the
:. jewels were soon returned.
J. Mrs. Ogden Goelet lost a chamois
= = bag of rings at party on a yacht. It
e was a week before the Jewels were
n returned to her thru a detective. Mrs;
/ Burke-Roche is said to have left a
a diamond bracelet and ring with a
}. huge pearl on the washstand in one of
/ the villas Of the rich. The Jewels were
!. missing two weeks before they were re-
j. turned by messenger boy.
!. Alice Roosevelt Robbed.
II Miss Alice Roosevelt was robbed of
/ a gem while the guest of society
e leader here a short time ago. The Jewel
l. was never found.
i. The jewel which Mrs. Joseph F.
4 ;Widener lost at Mrs. Oelrich S famous
"a "white ball'' was mysteriously re-
le turned Saturday night. A waiter emf
n ployed by Newport caterer and who
II has seen service in the best families:
:. returned the jewel to Chief Richards,
= SAYING he found it: It was said that
= this waiter had recently been employed
= in the home of the unfortunate young
!. woman whose name is being mentioned
i in whispers only. y
= In some mysterious manner four lew
- els valued at $4,000 are missing from
3 the collection of Mrs. John r. DrexeI
i Mrs. Drexel has nothing to say about
3 the matter. =
a Mrs. William E. Carter attended an
afternoon tea and wore hair ornament
worth several thousand dollars. SI,s
= later reported its loss to the aSiicss rs
has not yet been SSSsrneAe