Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-05-17
ROGUES IN UNIFORMS
Donned Official Clothes to Work
Their Victims.
CLEVER RUSSIAN sWlNDLERs.
The Plausible Old Military Man Who
Made ST. Petersburg Jeweier Whom
He Robbed Act as His Accomplish.
The Energetic Police Agents.

Made ST. Petersburg Jeweier Whom
He Robbed Act as His Accomplish.
The Energetic Police Agents.
Nowhere is uniform more potent
than in Russia, and that fact has more
than once been utilized by swindlers
in their daring operations.
Some years ago a jeweler on the
Neysky Prospekt of st. Petersburg re-
ceived a visit one sunny afternoon
from On old and decrepit officer in the
uniform of general The old gentle
man was assisted from his carriage TO
the counter by an attentive footnan in
livery. The smiling jeweler received
him with the Difference due TO his rank
and accommodated him with chair.
The gentleman had come TO choose
birthday present for his wife.
The tradesman displayed bis most
valuable collars AID tiaras. The vet
eran fingered over them lovingly. AT
last he made choice of costly suit
aud intimated that 1t would meet his
purpose.
Tremblngly the old soldier soaah in
his breast for bis pocketbook. lie had
sailed forth without IT, The disap.
pointment of both shopman and Gus
toner was acute The general, how
ever, was not strategist without re-
source. With apologies he asked for
writing materials and essayed to pen
a letter to his home. The excitement
acting upon his palsied hands made his
writing Hlegible. The jeweler was In
despair. The old man sighed and re-
marked upon the sad consequences of
campaigns. The jeweler was touched.
He had an inspiration.
"Will your excellency permit me to
write the instruction to your dicta-
tion?"
The general was delighted and most
gratefully accepted the offer.
On the business paper of his firm the
jeweler wrote the stumbling words of
The veteran:
Dear Anna - have neod of money,
Please take 5000 rubles from my safe and
return by bearer. Lovingly yours.
IVAN
The generals own footman was dis
patched with the note. TheNold man
sat admiring the jewels until in due
course the servant returned with the
5000 rubles The tiara was bought
and paid for The jeweler escorted his
distinguished client to the carriage and
stood bowling as he drove away.
That evening when the jeweler re-
turned TO his home his wife asked why
he had withdrawn SO large a sum from
the family safe.
What sum- asked the shopkeeper
in surprise.
why, the 5000 rubles you sent for
this afternoon"
Five thousand rubes, ! don't IN
derstand."
Heavens, here's your letter.
The wife produced the letter in the
jewelers. own handwriting upon the
jewelers. own business note paper, and
he for the first time realized that the
common name of Anna and the COM
mon name of Ivan were respectively
those OF himself and his wife as well
as of the palsied officer and his vision
airy spouse
The jeweer had paid for the officers
| tiara.
| OF the same genre, though differing
| in detail, was another swindle perpe-
trated upon a jeweIer in st. Peters
burg. The mystery surrounding the
composition of the secret service force
| is the most effective. too. in the hands
of the intelligent Russian criminal.
On the Grande Morskala is one OF the
most magnificent jewelry stores in
| Europe, the house of Fauberge. TO 1t
one day drove up splendidly APP
pointed equipage. In which were seat
ed two ladies. The ladies descended
| at Fauberges and were received as
| customers of distinction. The older
lady introduced herself as the wife OF
a well known statesman recently re-
/ turned from abroad. She explained
that she had been authorized by her
husband to choose collar Of dia-
monds The jeweer spread before her
the gems of his collection.
After much hesitation the lady pick
ed one of the most expensive. but to
her dismay the price exceeded that
suggested by her husband. The sales
man dreaded to lose so profitable a
| customer. Could not madam obtain
the consent of her exceilency's hus-
band to the purchase? The lady medi
tated and at length begged permission
to drive to the Office of her husbands
ministry-the distance was not great
to show him the collar and gain bis
permission TO buy 1t. Her companion
would remain in the shop during hel
absence as hostage. The jeweler wal
delighted with the suggestion.
/. The lady departed In her carriage
; Time passed-quarter of an hour. hal
an hour. three-quarters Of an hour.
Suddenly there rushed into the shoI
two police agents, who announced
their authority and showed their ON
claI badges. They assured the aston
ished Fauberge that he had beef
swindled. The jeweler trembled. HI
produced his hostage. The detective
seized upon her. Protesting, she wa
hustled into a hack and driven ava,
30 the police Office.
1t was the last the jeweler saw 0
the woman, the police agents or tn
diamonds. The detectives were th
coachman and the footman Of tn
brilliant equipage, who had change
their clothes and returned to rescu