Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-25
$4,000 DIAMOND
NECKLACE STOLEN
AT SOCIETY BALL
MISS JENNIE CROKER ROBBED
BY "RAFFLES"
MYSTERIOUS CRIME OCCURS AT
SAN FRANCISCO
Only Leaders of Fashionable Set Are
lnVited-PoIice Completely BaffIed.
Many Theories offered-No
Arrests Made
Especial to The HeraId.l

NAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24.-WhiIe
~ 4O2 persons, representing the So
clal elect of this city, were gliding
over the floor OF the beautiful colonial
ballroom of the st. Francis hotel at
one of the most exclusive affairs of the
season diamond necklace valued at
$4,000 was taken unnoticed from the
neck of Mis- Jennie Crocker early This
morning.
1t was not until o'clock. when the
last guests who had attended the Mardi
Gras ball given by Mrs. Charles o.
Alexander We're departing for their
homes, that the discovery of the roh-
berry was made.
All efforts to find the precious Jewels
winch comprise one of the costliest
examples of a gOldsmith's genius in
the United States, have so far been
of no avail.
The Pinkertons were Immediately
called in and everything was done to
keep the robbery a secret. The local
police, however, were informed of the
theft tonight.
Crime Marks Climax
The ball last night came as a. daz-
zIlng climax to a season marked by
brilliant affairs, and nobody but the
AAACHS S<AS4uolNC pCISOllS III San ETdQ-
cisco society were invited. AS every
guest was carefully scrutinized on en-
terlng, as is customary. the police and
private detectives are at loss to know
how the theft could have been com
mltted. That it was done by someone
familiar with every move made by
these leaders Of society and who must
have been a guest or attendant is the
conclusion of the detectives.
The story of the theft SDrea Il "a DidIx,
and tonight practically. every member
of the 400 has heard about it.
Everyone is suggesting theories as to
how the crime was committed. The
existence of a "Raffles'' within their
midst seems probable, although nobody
in attendance at the ball will talk pub
licly about the unfortunate affair from
this standpoint.
Victim Wealthy Heiress
Miss Crocker, who is a daughter of
the late Col. Frederick Crocker, and
who inherited fortune at her fathers
death, ranks with the wealthiest wo-
men of the country.
AS Miss Crocker lives in Burlingame,
fashionable little settlement fifteen
miles south of this city, she took
rooms at the st. Francis hotel for the
night.
Before the ball she was a guest of
Henry I. Scott at a dinner in the ho-
tel and wore her necklace with an
evening gown. Later she donned her
ball costume, a simple gingham dress
representing the character of a little
school girl.
She did not have time to place her
jewels in safe keeping and wore them
under the high collar of her costume,
covered, but not concealed.
Miss CrOcker, with r. l.. Coleman,
Walter Hobart and Mr.. and Mrs. Wal
ter Martin, all of the social elect, sat
down at midnight to a light supper
and the jewels were still about her
neck at that time.
There was a good deal of laughing
and funma&ing during the meal and it
was at first believed the necklace
might have broken and fallen on the
floor.
Learns of Theft
When Miss Crocker became aware Of
the absence of her necklace she in
formed her brother, G. T. Crocker, and
Police Detective Proll later was ndti-
fed. A search of the rooms failed to
locate the pearls, but further action
was postponed until the sweepings
could be examined.
Miss Crocker's maid, who spent the
night at the hotel, returned to Bur
lingame early in the morning, and it
jewels with her, but no report to that
effect has been received since the
Crockers went home this afternoon.
A large reward for the return of the
necklace has been advertised in the
name of the Crocker estate.
The necklace is composed of fifty
three fawless speciments, which were
brought from Europe by their owner
and set by Shreeve & Co. of this city.
The Pinkerton agency has had four of
it's best men at work on the case all
day, but they refuse to discuss any
clews that may have.
The police are awaiting further direc-,
tions from Miss Crocker before begin
ming an active investigation.