The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-01-17
CLARK JEWELS F0UNE
vaIuabIes Stolen Last July From
CooperstowD, M X, Recovered.
"Bin" Coleman, Ex-COnvict, the Keputed
Thief-stOry OF How Pinkerton De-
tectives Traced the Crime.


New York City. Hidden under nine
inches of dirt beside the Creighton
Iron Foundry, near 155th street and
Eighth avenue, $4,000 worth Of jew
els, most Of them the property of Mrs
F. Ambrose Clark, daughter-in-law Of
Mrs. Henry G. Potter. have been lying
for weeks, perhaps since last summer
They were stolen from building on
| the Clark estate, Cooperstown, N. X,
on July z Of last year William Cole
man, arrested after the robbery and
/ afterWard released for lack of evil.
| dence, was again arrested at the re-
quest of Pinkerton agents, who have
been on C0Ieman's trail.
Every body who remembered the
robbery at all had given up hope ofsre-
covering the jewels, but the Pinkerton
agency has been at work. and the dia-
monds, pearls and other precious
stones were placed in the detective
firms safe at 81 Broadway
The detectives suspected old grizzied
Bill Coleman, the light fingered, neat
stepping, sleek little man. who has
turned sensational bank tricks all over
the country. They Were not surprised
then when from 500 photographs Of
professional thieves sent up to Coop
erst0Wn on a rush order that Of Will
lam ColemRn was picked by the clerks
as resembling l0afer who had been
seen hanging around the estate.
They found Bill in this city and
Swallowed him for a while to see If
they could find the jewels. There was
nothing about his actions to warrant
any suspicion, but on July &c they ar
rested him in 124th street.
He was identified, all right. as the
loafer who had been seen about Coop
erstOwn. There was no other evidence.
however. and the Grand Jury refused
to indict. He was released on Novem-
Der H.
Still, there was no reasonable doubt
in the minds of the Pinkerton men
that Bill Coleman turned the trick.
1t was one of his characteristic Jobs.
Early in December he moved to 271
West 154th street A new set of de-
tectives followed him. For purposes
of observation the Pinkertons hired a
room at 153d street and Eighth avenue.
Al few nights ago the sleuths de-
tailed on the case noticed Coleman dig
ging in the neighbOrhood of the Creigh-
ton Iron Foundry After he had gone
they found beneath a stone slab near
the fourth abutment of the Central
Bridge, measuring from Eighth ave-
nue.. fruit jar containing paper-cOv-
cred parcels of jewelry. Three articles
reported missing from the Clark estate
were not in the jar--a gold watch,
gold pencil and a small diamond ring.
The missing articles that We're in the
jar were as follows:
Heavy link chain bracelet, old-fash-
Toned gold bracelet, gold lorgnette, an
enameled watch marked Florence L.
Stokes" gold pin in the form Of a
daisy. ruby ring, mans ring, pearl coll
lar, diamond b0Wknot ruby ring, with
diamond setting missing, ring marked
Harry to Sophia" diamond bracelet,
pearl bracelet, mans ring with green
stone, horseshoe lace pin and a ruby
with a claw-set diamond missing
The PinkertOn men think the missing
settings were what Coleman took when
he visited the treasure so often. The
suspicion is that he needed cash and
got 1t that way Besides the Clark
jewelry there We're several other arti-
cles in the jar. including gold heart
shaped lOcket, d diamond and pearl
pendant a chain bracelet, neck
chain, three lace pins, scarfpin, lady's
ring, pearl lace pin, a woman's ring
set with three opals, and small pearl
pin.
Coleman was arrested at the corner
of Eighth avenue and 104th street.
Deputy Sheriff Orlo Brown of Coop
erstown, came down to accompany
Coleman back to the scene of the rob
berry.