New-York tribune., 1905-01-12
FIND THE CLARK JEWELS
-
RE4RREST SNEAK THIEF.
DetectiUes Unearth Buried Jar Con-
tanning Gems Worth S23 900.

Buried in glass jar. few feet from the sur
face OF the earth. on the north side Of West One
hundred-and-ffty-ffth-s between Eighth and
Central aves, Pinkerton detectives two days ago
found jewels worth more than $4,000, the prop
erty OF Mrs. F. Ambrose Clark, the daughter
in-law OF Mrs. Potter, wife of Bishop Potter.
The jewels had been stolen from Ferneigh. at
Cooperstown, the Clark home. on July 4 In a
oeI at Police Headquarters is William Coleman
one Of the most notorious sneak thieves in
America. Most Of his sixty years have been
spent in prison.
Coleman was arrested in this city on July 26.
The jury failed TO indict him and he was set at
liberty. He was watched constantly, how
ever until his arrest yesterday by Detective
Sergeant Cooney of Inspector McClusky's staff.
He is charged now with grand larceny in TAX
ing the Clark gems.
The Pfnkerton shadows" watched Coleman
night and day. For time the old man lived in
Morningside-ave., near Observation-Disclosures
ty-hfth-st Later he moved to No 271 West
one-hundred-and -ffty-fourth-st.
Last week the shadows" reported Coleman
acting uysterIousIy. going to unfreluented spots
IN the upper end Of Harlem, appearing as though
he was trying to determine whether or not he
v as being watched. On January two Pinker-
ton men saw Coleman go to the place where
the Jewels were found. They saw him digging
in the deep snow. It the morning OF a Sc
we're snowstorm. Coleman did not remain long.
He seemed sure something was buried near the
spot On several occasions after that Coleman
was seen near the place.
Last Monday night Assistant Superintendent
Dougherty of the Pinkertons with detectives.
went to the place. over the spot was a white
stone, nearly a foot square. Removing the stone
end the earth for several inches. they found
glass fruit Jar with a zinc cover. In it were
a number of small parcels, tied up in soiled
white muslin. The largest contained a pearl
and diamond collar, Of fourteen strands of dia-
monds and pearl bars. All the packages were
opened and all the Clark jewels were found ex-
cept gold watch. gold pencil and a small
diamond ring.
Among the articles were the following:
Red enamelled watch. marked in case Flor
ence L. Stokes. July T.; gold pin, representing
daisy small diamond on end of each petal; dla-
mOnd bracelet, composed of small dlamondsi
diamond and pearl pendant, snlall sold chalh'
pearl lace pin Of gold set with small pearls; one
link button, link containing bit and horseshoes.
Coleman began to act suspiciously on Tuesday,
and yesterday the detectives fearing he might
elude them. arrested him. The Pinkertons say
they have ample evidence against him. He was
crestfallen when arrested lie soon recovered
his composure, however
The arrest was made in an unusual way.
Coleman yesterday was seen several tlInes 10
handle the jewelry and then replace the stone,
cover up the hole and go away. This was re-
peated a number of times. They Watched the
place where the box Finally they went 10
the place took out the gems and left note,
which in substance said that the detectives
knew that Coleman was 1T" Finally, on one
of his visits yesterday, Coleman opened the jar
and read the note. Then he was captured
though he struggled.
Cooperstown authorities are expected to reach
here to-day with papers for taking the prisoner
there for retrial.
The Pinkertons give Coleman's record In de-
tail. 1t includes ten prison sentences. Among
the items are these:
1S69-Under the name of Walter Williams,
alias Billy Coleman, he was arrested in Pough-
keepsie. y. Y, and sentenced 10 Sing Sing for
I'VE years on October IA for a sneak job on the
Dutchess County Mutual Guarantee Company.
He escaped in a tugboat on August il, 1871.
1S12-In this year he was arrested in Pitts
burg PENN for 'sneaking'' $4,000 in bonds
from a Pittsburg bank. He sentenced TO
three years in the Western Penitentiary
1S77-In 1877 he was arrested at Lockport. n.
Y for a bank sneak there. having done Job
in a savings bank. He was sentenced to Auburn
state Prison for four years.
ISg4-On May 9. 1894, he was arrested in
Augusta Ca under the name OF George Watson.
charged with stealing S2.T'0 from safe in
express Office, and was sentenced 10 three years
in the state Prison.
le9D-In May 1900, under the alias Of Harry
EJiIl he was nearly successful in an attempt to
,,of1 the safe Of the Internal Revenue Office at
xVa lexington Coleman had secured $4,000 worth
of stamps but did not succeed in getting out OF
the building For this attempt he was SEN
fenced 10 FIVE months in jail.