The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-10
HOWLETT And GEMS
BROUGHT TO CITY
Indicted FOOtman Repents
Theft of Diamonds.
BUGHER JEWELS IN SAFE
Detectives HandcuRed 10 Prisoner,
Who Had Expressed Purpose to
NiEht-Admits Guilt and Tells Po-
lice of His Travels.

Clarence Hewlett. former footman at
the residence of Mrs. NicoH Ludlow,
was brought to Washington last night
by Detectives Weldon and Burlingame
and locked up at the Third precinct sta
ton
The detectives brought with them a
small package. which they believe con-
tains all OF the missing jewelry which
the owner. Mrs. Henrietta Bugher, wife
OF the First Deputy Police Commissioner
of New York city. viii be asked 20 iden-
tify and check this morning.
Many OF the large pieces are broken
and otherwise damaged and practically
all of the diamonds have been removed
from their settings. but so far as the
detectives are able TO determine all Of
the component parts are there. The pack
age was locked in the big safe at head
quarters last night, where Il win be kept
until il is sent 20 court.
Prisoner showed Emotion,
The journey from New York was one
OF conflicting emotions with the prisoner,
who gave every evidence Of a purpose to
escape if the opportunity should present
itself. He confessed as much to the de-
tectives when charged with it, and there
after asked them to keep handouts on
him 10 render impossible any rash act.
Previous to that he told the officers
that his reason in burying the five large
diamonds. valued at $500, in the rocks
OF the palisades of the Hudson, was that
he anticipated the probability Of arrest
and because OF his fleetness of foot and
knowledge Of the locality he believed that
IL he should be taken there to find the
missing gems he would be able to evade
hts captOrs and once loose he did not be-
lieve any one would be able to follow him
He is Of small stature, but not unpleas-
ing counteGance, and discussed his case
with the utmost freedom, denying, how
ever, that he knew, other than In a gen
eral way. the location OF the jewel case
when he determined to possess himself
of its contents. After leaving the Ludlow
mansion, he says, he went direct to the
Quincy place house. where he promised
the flfteen-year-old boy, Hall Bragg, to
get him a position in a show If he would
accompany him
As a precautionary measure. he told
the boy not to tell his people that he was
going. as they might object, and together
they took the trolley for Baltimore.
In Baltimore they stopped only long
enough to change his clothing and then
took a train for New York. It was not
until they had been In that city several
days that he told the boy he had taken
the jewels. and although the child did
not appreciate the enOTmity OF the Of
Tense, he became so nervous that Hewlett
deemed it wise to send him back home.
and taking him to Newark on the trolley.
he placed him aboard a train with his
fare paid.
Purchased False Mustache.
Hewlett denies that he purchased the
red wig for the purpose of Disgusting
himself, but intended TO use it in a the
atrical show which he contemplated or
ganizing, as he considered the Bragg boy
exceptionally talented, and has ALWAYS
had desire for a stage career himself.
He did provide a false mustache. how
ever, which he used on several occasions.
but only at night. and further experi-
mented with the use Of grease paints
with results that were gratifying to him.
Shortly after Bragg's return TO Wash
ington, Hewlett became startled by the
many publications in the papers about
the case, and finally wrote a letter 20
Police Commissioner Bugher telling him
he would return all the property If the
police were called off, and asking him to
publish his reply in the personal columns
of a designated New York paper.
As an evidence that he was the pos
SCISSOR Of the property, he enclosed one
of the small diamonds, which he thought
the owner would be able to identify.
Before a reply was received. Hewlett.
who was running short of cash. left the
city and went as far as Baltimore, where
he hoped to replenish his money supply
and thence proceed to Pittsburg, where
he hoped to obtain the assurance of
protection in the event of the return of
the property.
It was his belief. he confessed. that
while the pawnbrokers and large jewelers.
would have a description of the property
and a picture of himself. the smaller
shops would konw nothing of it. and
with a limited knowledge OF Baltimore,
entered the shop where he was appre-
hended
Previously he had purchased a pin for
a quarter with.the purpose of convincing
the proprietor that he was unacquainted