The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-02
THIS THIEF HAD
A CLEVER SYSTEM
How Crooked SaIeSwomen Stole
Valuable JeweIry
CAME BACK LIKE MAGIC
Some Shrewd Detective Work on the
Part of a FeIIow-clerk, Whom
the Manager Had
Suspected.
CAME BACK LIKE MAGIC

trust of Alfred Chonley. In the first
place, Chonley had contemptuously
called Tom "cheap skate" and Tin
horn" gentleman because he saved his
money. Friends of Diggs had reported
these sayings of Chonley to Tom. Digs,
on the other hand, never could figure
out how Chonley, on a salary of $50
per month, could pay rs cents to 81 Tor
his midday lunch eqn. He was certain
that Alfred had no resources other
than his salary, although Chonley
swore that his people assisted him ito
live"
Diggs knew Alfred had told DELHI
crate lie about some stock which had
been damaged. 1t was a particularly
ugly lie, as it injured the reputation
of an innocent young clerk-new to the
house and unable to defend himself.
However, 1t was not until months aft
erWard that proof of Chonley's coward
ly falsehood was in Toms possession.
Accordingly, when Diggs was asked
by the manager of the company whom
he suspected of stealing in the store,
Tom could think of casting suspicion
on no other clerk but Chonley. He had
to be pressed to mention Chonley's
name. but when he did so and named
the others extrava gance and mentioned
how he had acted toward the young
clerk, the manager seemed to agree
that Diggs' suspicious might be we'll
founded. Tom was told to go to the
managers private office the next
morning and then the matter would be
further Investigated.
At $50 next morning Dggs was pre-
pairing his report showing the exact num-
Der of the ring, it's location in the show
afn xuha q planPPd fixed
ly at the spot where the ring should be.
Then he almost fell down with amaze
ment for there in its customary place
reposed the splendid diamond ring which
he had sworn had disappeared.
He went and reported his discovery
Thereupon he received such calling
down" from the manager for casting
suspicion on an entirely innocent man
and not taking better care of the stock
that the loyal heart of Diggs was nearly
broken.
He brooded over the verbal castigation
he had received at the managers hands
for four weeks and then he rendered his
resignation. He explained that he had
been offered a much better position at the
Blank company's establishment. and that
he would like to leave within 10 days.
The manager listened, expostulated' en-
treated, but said nothing about being
sorry 1Or MS severe iecluTo VI loui "OOho
before, so Diggs prepared to go.
Before leaving 1t was necessary to
prove that every article Of jewelry for
which he was responsible was In the
store. This made him take stock three
weeks earlier than usual.
After working hard for two days, rub
bling his eyes to see that he was awake
at times and getting another clerk to
check his efforts, he was compelled to
report to the manager, just before clos
ing time, that diamond bracelet was
missing. As he went to the private Of
flee of the manager. with race laden
with concern, he noticed Chonley hover
ing in his tracks. And when he pulled
the managers door after him he could
have sworn Chonley was nearby. listen
ing for some purpose.
The manager was dumfounded. He
looked at Tom suspiciously, but SAID
nothing for a time. Then he remarked
the same as on the previous occasion:
"Well take the matter up for further
investigation tomorrow morning..
1t was evident that Diggs' previous re-
ported theft made him inclined to be-
lieve Tom might be at fault again.
In the morning Diggs was drawn to
the place where the bracelet should re-
pose as If his body had been a piece
of steel filing and the spot where the
piece of jewelry should be a magnet.
He blinked his eyes several times when
he looked He called another clerk to
make certain that there was no mistake.
For there. In its rightful resting place,
lay the missing bracelet-valued, as he
we'll knew at many hundreds of dollars.
What the manager had said before was
mild to his present language. Diggs liter
ally quailed before the others loud voiced
Indignation. But now, instead of Diggs
being glad to leave he begged to be al
lowed to withdraw his resignation. He
said he owed it to himself to remain in
place where he had been so well treated,
protested that he was sorry he had made
the error of proposing to leave. However,
it was not so easy to gain his end. There
was now, to say the least, big doubt as
to his ability to keep proper track of the
stock
But finally the manager. In consdera-
ton of Digs long and faithful service
with the firm, agreed to his request How
ever there was one condition attached TO
Diggs remaining with the house. he
must take weeks vacation In, order to
pull himself together and recruit his OBJ
viously poor state of health.
Diggs gladly agreed to do so. But in
stead of going into the country. as the
manager had suggested, he stayed in
town. He went to his bank and drew out
a sum of money. Then he went to de-
tectiye named Noonan, explained what he
wanted, and together the two went out
one night.
A careful scrutiny of Chonleys private
life proved that he certainly managed to
make his salary of $23 week go an eX-
ceedingly long way But there was one
thing to his credit, whatever else he
might do or be, he usually took liquor
sparingly.
However, one night in a saloon In dis
reputable part of the city the detective
managed to get him to drink several
glasses of whisky and Chonley became
communicative with his new found friend.
He limited of ways and means to raise
the wind" and be able to keep on doing
1t for ''yeeahs and yeeahs' without being
discovered The detective protested SYM
pathy and then, winkng at the other.
drew forth a ring out of his pocket and
asked where he could safely pawn 1t.
After ten minutes further conversation
the two separated. The detective had the
name of the pawnshop and this was the
main thing he had wanted.
The next night, after the other en-