Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-02-19
SENSATIONAL
DIAMOND STEAL
Travelling Salesman Tells Of Sue
cessfuI Robbery Pulled OFF
At Houston, Tex.
WORKED WITH DUMMY TRAY
Smooth Individual Makes Away With
Se0,O00 in Stones and Drops
ont OF Sight.

Randolph Swarskopf representative
of an eastern jewelry FIRM. brings from
Huston with him the details of what is
probably the largest and most sensa-
tlonal diamond robbery OF recent years
Mr.. Swarzkopf told tho story last night
10 a group OF friends In the Cullen ho-
toll lobby. In return for the details OF
the local hank robbery.
sam Park can give you from his cat
alogue the name Of the house where
the robbery occurred said Mr.. Swarz-
kopf but that isn't important. compared
TO the clever way In which the thief
worked. The robbery happened only a
few weeks ago.
'.The thief was a handsome man. we'll
dressed and debonaire, and he preceded
his theft Of the Jewels with little
work that got him completely in the
confidence Of the store.
PAID FOR THE STONE
He appeared one day, and asked to
see diamond explaining that his
wife's birthday was coming and he
wanted to do something real hand
some for her. They picked out a tray
OF the 500 class, and he looked them
over and thought he preferred some
thing more fancy. This led TO the
bringing out of other trays. Finally
he bought q beautiful stone for 5000
and paid the money over In good gold
coin, not asking the store to take a
check or wait day, or lay aside the
stone. or anw of those delusiyo ways
that one has of getting away from a
clerk after trying to look at the goods.
"Wcll, maybe you think the gold
wasn't welcome to store with big
bills due and nothing coming in. That
mn IVA q n
eral days
WELCOMED BACK.
'Then suddenly he came back. Was
there rush 10 welcome him? Well
guess. They gathered him into their
arms this time, and when he asked to
see the diamond trays again they were
pulled out with readiness that must
have been much to his Hiking.
My Wife, he explained, likes this
diamond so well. she has decided to
have ear rings, and l want another to
fna,ch it--have you got it?'
This was what was necessary to
bring out the largest tray in the coll
lection. containing the most precious
and expensive diamonds. There was n
little talk, the man was not pleased,
and went away.
DUMMY TRAY.
line diamond trays, IN each one OF
which the stones are wrapped and
placed IN envelopes were duly returned
TO the safe, and four hours later when
another diamond customer came to the
store. they We're brought out again.
Then TO the horror of the clerks 1t was
discovered that the largest tray was
not there at all, but an exact dupli-
cate. filed with empty envelopes.
The police, Pinkertons. detectives and
all were called In at Once. There was
a perfect description of their man CIV
en- them. He had only start OF four
hours. but they never gained the slight
est clue. and although several weeks
have gone past by now his disappear
ance Is sim mystery.
GOT AWAY WITH 5000.
THE firm members who told me the
story brought forth theory that the
thief had made his initial visit to size
up the trays. and then had gone out
and made a duplicate of the one that
took his fancy AS being the most worth
while. He had carried this under his
coat on his second visit and while the
clerk was not looking. substituted 1t for
one OF those ON the counter and taking
this tray with It's $4,000 In diamonds In
to his possession.
Mr. SwarzlSopf left last night for
Portland, and Is on his way from New
York TO San Francisco, where he Is
overlooking the jcwelry situation among
stores handling the goods OF his firm.