The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-24
ART OF THIEF TAKING

From Tit Bits.
 Sherlock Holmes would have had word of praise for the Surbiton policeman who shining his lamp upon backyard been wiped from the top part of it. Fol lowing this slight elew, he speedily found a burglar, erouching in the neighborhood of one of the windows of the house, awaiting a favorable opportunity for making an entry. Prevention here was better than cure, for the burglar, being smartly captured. was as promptly locked up.
 There is a touch of melodrama about the idea of being tracked by blood, but this Is actually what happened at South portaa short time ago. At o'clock In the morning policeman observed that the windows of a jewellers shop in that garden city had been broken and the contents cleared Looking about for some possible clew to the perpetrators of this daring burglary, he noticed drops of blood upon the pavement. Searching fur ther, he found that these drops continued for some distance, and It was evident that one of the burglars, in smashing the glass of the window, had cut himself and had bled pretty freely. By means of this trail of blood he discovered the direc- ton which the marauders had taken, and, mounting a bicycle, he rode out of South port toward the town of Ormskirk, over took two men and promptly arrested them. They had in their possession 2s silver watches and much other jewelry, to the value of R200.
 Every one remembers the loss of the Nelson relics from the Painted hall of the Royal Naval college at Greenwich, and the consternation caused by their mysterious disappearance. This happened in 1900, and 1t was not until four years afterward that a famous Scotland Yard detective came across the first clew to their whereabouts. It Is 2 common method among a certain class of thieves to attempt to quash any possible sus- picion which may happen to turn in their direction by making serious inquiries at headquarters with respect to the very articles which they have purloined
 This happened in the present case. man actually called at Scotland Yard to make inquiries regarding the Nelson rel ics, and, much to his surprise, was quick ly arrested on suspicion. Exhaustive in- quiries were instituted, and 1t was found that he had landed from Australia only the day before! Ills luggage was, of course overhauled and among it he had a concertina. There seemed nothing wrong with this instrument, and although afflicted with a little wheeziness, it played tunes admirably. Nevertheless, the detective took 1t to pieces and ctually found Nelson's watch concealed inside. This discovery led to a confession on thd part of the culprit, and the relics were all restored to their original resting place, where they may be seen today by The visitor.
 The police of Chicago were lately look ing for three burglars whose teeth im- prints would fit three wads of chewing gum which were discovered on the din- ing room table of a house which had been broken into by thieves. They not only looked for these burglars, but actu- ally found them, and the imprints of the teeth were as unmistakable as the im- other very similar case happened at Stockport some time ago, for the chief evidence in a charge of burglary against a soldier on furlough was the mark of his teeth in A pat of butteri