The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1910-03-31
GAVE GLASS FOR DIAMONDS.
Trick Worked on Express Agents In
This State.


This State.
Diamond rings valued at more than
$1,000 have been stolen from the ex-
press Offices in several sections of the
State within the past week by a
clever trick Of substituting paste
stones. 1t is believed to be the work
Of two men giving their names as J.
H. Paris and James Carrill. who are
believed to be J. w. Napier. of Lang
ley. In this State and w. P. Duke, OF
New York city.
The superintendent Of the Southern
Express company has issued a circu-
lar letter to all the agents in the State
calling their attention to the thefts
and asking that all suspicious charac-
ters be watched closely and officers
called II necessary.
The express agent at Westville.
reading the State Of Saturday which
contained an account Of the operations
OF Duke and Napier, remembered
that q man giving his name a. James
Paris had called at his once last
Tuesday to inspect q package which
contained two diamond rings valued
at $425 and $325 respectively. The
agent found that the ring valued at
$425 had been taken from the box
and a bogus ring substituted. He
notified the oficials of the express
company at once and q search was
commenced for the two men.
Last Tuesday two men, supposed
to be Ns5ler and Duke, called on the
Westville agent and asked II there
was q letter for James Paris. He
was given q letter from Daniel Low
& Co., q well known New England
jewelry firm. Paris then asked II
there was package Of diamonds
valued at $725 which had been sent
by express subject to cash on deliv-
cry, and with the right to inspect
them before acceptance.
Paris was asked by the agent a.
70 his Identification. He immedi-
stely produced number Of letters
addressed to James Paris" and
also the letter from the jewelry firm
In which It was stated that the two
diamond rings had been shipped c.
o. D. Paris Dtated to the agent that
he wished to examine the rings before
approval % they were for man at
Leslie, town about 40 miles away.
He complained that the rings
should have been sent to Rock Hill.
It was explained that he would have
to bring the purchaser from Leslie
to westville before the money would
be paid. This satisfied the agent, who
thought him . travelling saleman.
Paris was permitted to open the
box: He carefully examined both
rings. In fitting the $425 ring on
his finger he managed to tear the
price tag OF. This fell to the floor
and was picked up BY Paris and
placed In the ring box. he explaining
thst 1t would b we'll to leave It
there. A magnifying glass was then
produced and Z close scrutiny was
made Of the ring. Paris had the
bogus ring palmsd while inspecting
the ring and It was then that the
substitution was executed. Before
the eyes Of the agent Paris closed
the boz and handed him the two
rings. Paris stated that the rings
were satisfactory and that he would
bring the purchaser to Westville
the next day and pay for the dia-
monds. He left the once and the
theft was not discovered until the
agent read in The State Of 4 similar
swindle.
Advices received BY the express
omcials indicate that Duke and Ma
pier have been operating in several
sections Of the State for some time.
Duke u about i've feet eight inches In
height and weighs about $50 pounds
and 10 possibly Is years Of age. His
face is Of . red color, he u clean
shaven and he wore . derby.
The fact that Paris used the mails
fradulently will probably get Inspec-
tor Gregory on his track.
Little Liquor Sold In Oraneeburg.
Orangeburg, March 2S.-James
Macon. . negro, was arrested Satur-
day for selling whiskey. The police
report that there was some drunken
ness observed Saturday, and it II at
tributed to that fact.
AZ . matter Of fact the enforce