Milford chronicle., 1910-08-05

He Robbed Act as His Acoomplioe
The Energetic Police Agents.
Nowhere is a 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 tho
Nevsky PrOspekt Of St Petersburg re-
ceived a visit one sunny afternoon
from on old and decrepit officer IN the
uniform Of a general. The old gentle
man was assisted from his carriage to
/ the counter by an attentive footman in
livery The smiling jeweler received
him with the Difference due 10 his rank
and accommodated him with a chair.
The gentleman had come to choose a
! birthday present for his wife
: The tradesmLn displayed his most
valuable collars and tiaras. The vet
eran fingered over them lovingly At
last he made choice Of a costly suit
and intimated that 1t would meet his
purpose
Tremblingly the old soldier sought in
his breast for his pocketbook. He had
sailed forth without it, The disap-
pointment Of both shopman and Gus
toner was acute. The general. how
ever, was not a strategist without re-
source. With apologies he asked for
writing materials aud essayed to pen
a letter to his home. The excitement
acting upon his palsied hands made his
writing illegible. The jeweer 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 10
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 Il have need OF money. |
Please take 600 rubles from my safe and /
return by bearer. Lovingly yours,
IVAN.
The generals own footman was dis
patched with the note. The old 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
client to the carriage and
stood bowing as he drove away.
That evening when the jeweler re-
turned TO his home his wife asked why
be had withdrawn so large a sum from
he family safe
What sum-" asked the shopkeeper
n surprise.
why, the 5000 rubles you sent for
his afternoon"
Five thousand rubles! I don't un-
lerstand.'
Heavens. here's your letter."
The wife produced the letter in the
jewelers. own handwriting upon the
eweler's own business note paper, and
le for the first time realized that the
ommOn name Of Anna and the COM
non name of Ivan were respectively
hose Of himself and his wife as well
s Of the palsied officer and his vision {
ry spouse.
The jeweler had paid for the officers I
lara.
OF the same genre, though differing {
detail, was another swindle perpe-
rated upon jeweler in St Peters /
urg. The mystery surrounding the
imposition Of the secret service force
the most effective, too, in the hands a
the intelligent Russian criminal. r
u the Grande Morskala is one Of the
lost magnificent jewelry stores in {
urope, the house Of Fauberge. To it f
ne day drove up a splendidly ap- b
ointed equipage, in which were seat
two ladies'. The ladies descended Il
Fauberge's and were received as o
lstomers OF distinction The older s.
dy introduced herself as the wife Of "
well known statesman recently re- h
rned from abroad. She explained "
at she had been authorized by her F
lsband to choose a collar Of dia-
onds. The jeweler spread before her N
e gems Of his collection. IL
After much hesitation the lady pick NJ
one Of the most expensive, but to s.
T dismay the price exceeded that ia
ggested by her husband. The sales b,
an dreaded TO lose so profitable a
stomer. Could not madam obtain Jt
e consent of her excellency's hus- hS
nd to the purchase? The lady medi- A
ed and at length begged permission "
drive to the Office of her husbands bs
distance was not great nj
show him the collar and gain his ex
rmission to buy it. Her companion
uld remain in the shop during her
,ence as q hostage The jeweler was
lighted with the suggestion.
he lady departed In her carriage -,
ne passed-quarter Of an hour, half - -
hour. three-quarters Of an hour. ~
there rushed into the shop -
} police agents, who announced
ir authority and showed their Off o.,
badges. They assured the aston AZ,
ed Fauberge that he had been o.
ndled. The jeweler trembled. He ,ns
duced his hostage. The detectives
ed upon her Protesting, she was