The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-03-29
THE OLD DETECTIVE WANTS
YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHAT
THE SHoPLIFTER DID WITH
BY Albert n. Modricker.

hoC Oh PoooSooNu Va
rare ingenuity and talent - dapts
some of them, in their particular
line-is self-evident; indeed, clever
criminals are men of brains. With
organized detectives constantly Oh
their shadow, they must have a SUI
perior intelligence to that ascribed
to them by the unthinking.
One of the many incidents of the
criminals ingenuity that came I'M
der my notice occurred while l was
after a trio of Canadian crooks.
A jeweler had on exhibition in his
window a diamond necklace valued
at $4,000. One day fashionably
dressed young man desired to ex-
anime the necklace. 1t was taken
from the window by the proprietor
himself. The jeweler understood
his business, and although his GUS
toner might be millionaire, he
kept a sharp watch upon the pre-
cious jewels.
Presently, with the diamonds
still in his hand, the young man
| asked to see a beautiful bracelet
close at hand and the jeweler half
turned to get it. 1t took him but
a second, yet, when he again faced
his customer, the necklace was no.
where to be seen.
Quick as flash the jeweler grab
bed the young man by the collar
and called to his clerks for assist
ance. Protesting his innocence and
apparently indignant at such a sus-
picion, the young man turned out
all his pockets and invited a thor
ough search.
There was nothing to do but to
call the police. and accordingly the
lyoung man was led forth and the
jeweler trudged on behind. 1t was
not long before the usual mob of
| gamins and loungers were tagging
after, and the poor jeweler was jos.
tied by the crowd and questioned
until he was well nigh crazy.
At the lookup the young man was
again examined, but 1t was to no
purpose-the jewels could not be
found. Had it been a single stone
it might have been conjectured that
he had swallowed it, but with a
necklace such a feat was an utter
impossibility.
The shop was again thoroughly
| gone through, but the mystery re-
| manned. What had become of the
necklace?
Absurdly simple, yet l think
should be safe in giving most any
one a dozen guesses on it; yes, 20.
A week or so later the young
| man-for, of course, he was releas-
ed, as nothing could be proved
against him-and his gang were ar
rested for another crime, and the
4 whole story came out.
When the jeweler reached for the
bracelet the pretended customer
simply dropped the necklace into
the jewelers. own coat pocket. On
the way to the lookup an accom-
plice among the gamins easily pick
ed his pocket of the prize he did not
know he was carrying, and when
the young man was liberated they
divided the swag. Pretty neat trick,
wasn't it? 1t certainly revealed the
ingenuity of one criminal, at least
But for downright cleverness:
One Of the large restaurants in
New York had been losing its silver
| in the most unaccountable manner.
| A number of walters were discharg-
ed and detectives worked on the
case without avail. Finally the
trick was discovered.
1t was found that in each case a
respectable-looking person entered
| the restaurant and gave his order
for dinner. During the meal he con-
veyed one or more articles to the
under side of the table, fixing them
there by means Of wax. Should the
waiter miss any of his spoons or
other articles, the rogue was still in
no danger and offered himself to
be searched with an air Of feigned