Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-01-26
THE RADCLIFFE
DIAMOND

eases have had, the case Of the Rad
cliffe diamond was, think, on the
whole, the queerest. call 1t the Rad
cliffe to distinguish it. for Mr.. Rad
e'tfe was Its owner. One morning on
at the Office the chief told me
that the gentleman had lost veEy val
liable diamond, not much smaller than
some Of the famous diamonds Of the
world. and wished q detective to Try to
recover 1t. I called on Mr.. Radcliffe.
who took me into his study and said
to me:
"You have nothing to do In finding
out who stole the diamond. l know
that already. What I want 10 Ito NJ
turn. A diamond 10 20 easily put away
where it cannot be found that tie
greatest care must be taken to trap the
perssn who possesses It. The chief
clerk at my once ID the thief. took
the diamond there and put It n ny.
safe The clerk--his name y Cole
man-and myself alone knew The com
blnation. Coleman deliberately took
the diamond. knowing that could not
prove him the thief and II l did I
could not recover the property. ! have
offered him $4,000 to return 1t. but he
will not admit that he stole It till l
otter him the price he has fixed for tn
return, with indemnity against prose
cution. wish you to trap him with
the diamond on his person"
got an assistant to play detective
with Coleman, while I was to b his
real shadower. My object was to
drive him from his room and. indeed,
out Of town. expecting that he would
take the diamond with him. My stool
pigeon found him the same evening In
4 billiard room and made 1t appear
thrt he was watching him. Coleman
went at once. not to his home. but to
the house Of relative. From there he
went to railway station. OF course
was watching him from distance and
made up my mind that he had taken
the diamond from the house he had
visited and was going to try to get out
Of the country with it.
Coleman went to the ticket Office and
bought a ticket to New York. | was
in line behind him and bought ticket
for the same pace. teleph0ned to
the office for assistants to keep him
in view till the train. which was not
due to start for an ho-r. should be of.
keeping out of his way. One OF them
signaled me when he got on the train.
and as 1t pulled out got on myself. |
had refrained from having him arrr-s-
ed While In his ow. tom. fearing Tint
he might have a confederate keen thu
gem till the train started or to llahs'
1t to in case Of arrest. preferred tu
take my chances with him in region
strange to him.
l took along an assistant and Wien
we had been on the road couple OF
hours told him to let Coleman see that
he was watching him. Then went to
another car. My object was to drive
him from the train. I also instructed
the assistant not to get on the train II
Coleman did. wished the fugitive to
think that he had eluded the detective
At every station l looked out for my
man. and 1t was not long before I saw
him. when the train stopped, alight
and stand on &he platform. When the
train went ON, he remained. Having
fancied he would get on before the
train started, remained on the car
Seeing that he would remain, jumped
OF. He cast glance at me that told
me my game of secrecy was up and
henceforth must follow him as sus
pected detective.
But 1t did not matter. The station
was at q small village, which was as
good place as any to try to recover
the diamond. Coleman went to no
tel. He did not enter his name ON the
register, but sat down in the oti.ce
sat down opposite him. He knew. and
was willing that he shoull anoww-
that I was after him.
Presently he got up, walked out and
through the village and beyond. where
the road ran through wood. follow
Cd him. keeping my hand on my re
volver. Coming to place where tht
road turned through q cut. was walk
ing with q bank behind me when Cole
man suddenly turned and 6red at mi
% quickly that I had no time to pro
tect myself from the shot. was no
scratched. and Coleman. instead Of Or
ing again. threw sway his pistol and
called out that he surrendered.
Somewhat pushed. I advanced. hold
ing him covered, searched him for 9th
- weapons and. fnding mona. for tn
diamond.
Il was not On his person.
was satisfied that he had trickes
me. But hows I went Ia the side o
the road and picked up his pistol. /
was IN Old fashioned one barrel pisto
Of very large bore. What had he to d
with such wsapon1 For ! moment
and . moment only, was baked .
70 his reason; thsn suddenly the who'll
scheme noshed upon me.
Marching Coleman back 10 TIE vi
lago, put him In limbo, then returne'
I - - .a~~~ -aH~s~ ~ haA 49, - vsA1