The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1908-08-01

Cohn Sweeney. for many years an IN
protective at Scotland Yard. long
ago won a reputation on both sides of the
Atlantic He became connected with the
English police when quite young and
soon earned a transfer to the Bureau of
Criminal Investigation which Is better
known to the American public as Scot
land Yard" The case of the Hart gems
to which he assigned is given here
with more as an example of the methods
pursued by English detectives than a
specimen OF Inspector Sweeneys indi-
vdual skill. The name OF the nobiema II
has been disguised and some permissible
license taken with the construction OF the
story. but the main facts. though pre-
scented In composite form. are true. and
demonstrate that Sherlock Holmes has
his prototypes in real life among the pro-
fessional police of Great Britain)
Sir William and Lady Hart had the
reputation of being the most hospit,
able pair in all of Great Britain-and
that is saying good deal They had
beautiful country seat just outside
OF London where they entertained on
q palatial scale.
On the occasion to which the pres
ent story refers Sir William and Lady
Hart gave a particularly elaborate at
concluding with a brilliant ball. There
were some 40 guests in ALL and four
OF them at least were related to the
royal family.
On the evening Of the final day-it
must have been a Friday-there was
q great ado over the preparations for
the ball. No one was more excited
than Lady Hart herself And well
might she be- for on that occasion she
was to wear for the first time mag,
nificent creation from Paris Be
sides. she was to deck herself out in
the Hart gems. Anyone who has ever
had the pleasure OF seeing these rare
old family heirlooms need not be told
that they are both unique and costly.
My lady had been busily engaged in
her boudoir with her maid for over
an hour. She was all ready for the
ball Everything was in place ex-
cept the gems-they lay on the dress
ing tGble ready to be fastened in
Lady Harris corsage. The clock on
the mantel pealed out seven silvery
strokes. Lady Hart looked at her
maid. She was a compassionate WON
an. She said:
MY child. you look thoroughly ex-
hausted. I'm through with you for
the present. | can attach the jewels
to my dress without your aid. Go to
your room and rest and report to me
again at midnight"
The girl thanked her mistress and
left the room. Lady Hart gave Il
final survey of herself in the long
pier mirror. 1t was satisfactory. But
the feminine desire to get the judg-
ment of some one else took posses
sion OF her mind. She picked up the
Jewels and was about to put them on.
The large one was magnificently beau
tiful. 1t was great ruby sur
mounted with glittering framework
OF the purest diamonds. Two others,
in the forms of crescents, were pure
pearls. Altogether they represented
n modest fortune. Lady Hart hest
tated for moment She wanted to
know what another woman would
think of her Partisan gown by Itself
minus the prestige which would be
given it by the famous gems. Lady
Sutherland, her special friend, was
near by in a room on the other side
OF the corridor. She laid the jewels
on the dressing table and tripped out
Of the room. She was gone less than
five minutes.
The Hart gems were gone.
AS the result of that, John Sweeney,
Neutrality-suspicious. of Scotland Yard
appeared on the scene.
Sir William joined him in the
library and the two men went over
all Of the facts in the case. The
first order of the detective was that
no one should leave the house that
night was then about ten O'Clock
without the permission Of the host.
Detective Sweeney then inquired
about Lacy Harris maid. She seemed
a natural object of suspicion. But it
soon appeared that the young woman
had a complete alibi 1t was proven
that she hrd gone to her room imme-
diately after being dismissed by her
mistress and being very tired had
thrown herself on her couch and had
slept soundly amid all the excitement
over the stolen Jewels.
Finally .Ae servants were brought
In and cross-questioned. They ex-