Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-07

UMU ~ 1 was reported fully in the papers. There
$3.50 were rumors circulated for a long time
EfRMN6E to the effect that Mrs. Higgins, a leader
G0He&l of north side society. had lost her dia-
monds through a mysterious theft but
the stories squelched The police and detectives
working the earnestly denied that such
theft had occurred. Mr.. Higgins at his downtown
ONCE snorted the idea when reporters to inter-
view him. and Mrs Higgins went south for the rest of
the winter of reach of public observation and did
until the Biltse wedding in June. And then
she wearing her diamonds as prominently as ever
II seemed certain that the stories of the theft were
met with complete refutation.
Mrs Higgins did lose her diamonds. They
were lost for the whole winter. They stolen from
her a manner that fairly dehed explanation and de-
tectives police and others who tried trace their
theft the persons who committed 1t were face to
face with the most battling mystery that ever con-
fronted the sleuths of Chicago The solution of the
mystery and the subsequent recovery of the jewels
the meres good fortune and taken all in all the
story of the theft the efforts at catching the thieves
the end OF the affair constitutes one of the most
interesting tales in police annals.
The theft committed while Mrs. Higgins was
giving lawn fete the grounds of her summer home
in of the north shore suburbs IL was the end OF
and the leader of society was cee-
bratng leaving of the summer home for the house
in the city with a fete which for elaborateness and
originality the talk for weeks. Ever ambitious
and original entertainer, Mrs. Higgins quite outdd
b.rself on this occasion Other women might salts
fed to wind up their summer social campaign in
ordinary Mrs. Higgins had other views of
the matter The hackneyed lawn fee of conventional
society appealed at all to her. She wanted and
would have something new SO she turned the lawn
grounds, house where she held sway into a coun
Y different
instead spieers to attract the attention of people
to the price of lemonade, shooting galleries side
shows other attractions that make the county
famous there were spelers to attract the atten
ton ALL passing laborer or invited society
man. to the fact that everything on the grounds was
as free the air above.
There was no lack Of entertainment Jugglers.
burnt cork comedians snake charmers, and bankers
Wed with each other for the attention of the throng
that crowded the spacious grounds. Among the chief
attractions that entertained the crowd was troupe of
contortionists whose apparently impossible feats of
twisting their bodies into knots amazed old and young
innocent blase. On the whole the affair was a
magnificent success the crowds filed out OF the
grounds the outside lights were extingushed and in
great low house the lights blazed forth and the
selected guests prepared for the dancing which was
the end of the evenings entertainment
1t was then while the women of the party were
Fastening to complete their evening costumes and the
men were loungng the smoking room, that the rob-
berry was committed. Mrs. Higgins was in her room
on the second floor attended by her maid Miss Jones'
The room opened the hall This door was the only
door in it and stood little anteroom to one
side led from the boudoir but had no entrance. The
room was lighted electricity, and in the soft glow
of a dozen shaded lamps Mrs. Higgins stood before
large while the maid put the finishing touches
to her toilet
This was the situation when the diamonds
stolen Mrs Higgins called: Jones. now bring my
The girl stepped to the jewel case on the
table nearby drew from the necklace of diamonds
which had helped make Mrs Higgins famous, and held
it up a moment Then. without moments warn
ing the lights in the room were shut on
For an instant the two women stood in dumb sur
prise Then came a shrek from the maid and the
90 ma'am! Some one grabbed the diamonds from met
Some took the diamonds right out OF my hand"
Deprived of her self-possession by the double
shock being thrown into darkness and being told
that her diamonds were stolen under her eyes, Mrs
Higgins stood silence for full minute while the
maid she had been robbed and called for
some one to turn on light. The moon which had
up to this been hidden behind cloud shone sud
denly in fullness its harvest brightness
and partly illumined the room. As Mrs Higgins saw
then Miss Jones standing leaning against the
table weeping Historically and apparently beref of
her power of thought or action by fright She was