The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-02-23

from port in the Transvaal for South
ampton, England, on the passenger
list was the name OF Barton Dexter
and wife. Two days after the vessel
sailed man stepped into the Office
Of the agent of the diamond company
and said that he knew where the man
they wanted was. After securing pa
pers that would give him the $1,000
offered for my capture in case 1t came
through his information. he told the
agent that Barton Dexter was none
other than Edward Michler-in other
wo IDS. myself.
The case was at once put into the
hands of a prominent detective agen-
cy, with instructions to see that the
so called Dexter be arrested on arriv'
al and held till an identifier arrived.
The next morning an enterprising re-
porter sent a message to a New York
paper giving the whole story.
And so the attention of the world
was concentrated on q man and wO-
man in midocean on the British ship
Unicorn, who had robbed the KIM
berley mines of an immense diamond,
but whose game was to be spoiled on
his arrival at Southampton by a gen.
tleman from Scotland Yard.
A hundred or more American news
papers wired passengers on board the
Unicorn to send them news Of Mich
ler 1 can't give all the items that
were sent. but I will give few from
a single paper:
"Michler is a small, delicate man,
with a feminine voice; his wife iS
rather masculine. It has got out on
board that they are under suspicion,
and they seem very much troubled
At first they were on deck the same
as other passengers. Now they keep
to their stateroom nearly all day."
ut is now pretty well determined
that Michler in addition to being q
diamond thief is clipping with another
mans wife. or, rather, another mans
wife is clipping with Michler, for no
one would accuse SO gentle a man Of
leading such a woman"
while Michler and his wife were
sitting on deck last night in secluded
corner suddenly passenger flashed a
match to light cigar. Mrs. Michler
was seen to thrust, something under
the folds of her dress. The case is
being discussed in the smoking room,
and some say that the diamond thieves
will throw the stone overheard If ar
rested on the ship. All are interested
to know how the officials will man
age to take the diamond as well as
the thieves"
'The Michlers today had terrible
quarrel. Passengers in staterooms
near theirs heard Mrs. Michler say to
her husband that If he did not settle
a large sum Of money on her after
their arrival in New York she would
inform on him to the police. where
upon he asked her if she wished the
whole ship to know that they were
diamond thieves"
"As we near port Michler and his
wife are becoming more and more
agitated. Mrs. Michler was yesterday
found weeping by the room steward
ess, who went into her stateroom for
the purpose Of making up the berths.
It is not known whether the diamond
thieves are aware that they are to be
arrested on their arrival at South
ampton or not Every passenger on
board is in the secret, but since it is a
delicate matter to speak Of to the par.
ties concerned they are doubtless I'M
informed"
"The sea was very rough today, and
Mrs. Michler, who is inclined to be
seasick, kept her room all day. Mich
Ter was also affected, but he kept the
deck. He was observed to go to the
side Of the ship for the purpose Of re-
lieving himself Of his dinner. A pas
senger who was watching him says
that lump the size Of a walnut was
cast into the sea. In the smoking room
they are now betting-odds to THAT
this lump is the diamond. 1t indicates
that the thieves have given up all hope
of saving it and part with it to avoid
its discriminating them"
"By Cable Off the Lizards.
can inspector from Scotland Yard
came aboard for the purpose OF ar
resting the Michlers. To avoid being
known as a detective he was dressed
in the uniform of a British admiral.
When the Michlers saw him Michler
tainted. His wife ground her teeth
and stood firm as British tar on the
deck of a battleship. The dramatic
climax of an inspector dressed as an
admiral putting his hand on mans
shoulder and saying 4 want you!
was spoiled by Michler's lying like a
wet rag on the deck. The supposed
admiral was obliged to lift his pris-
oner up by the collar"
"By Cable From Southampton.
"The Michler affair has collapsed.
When taken ashore and examined Mrs.
Michler was found to be the husband
and Mr.. Michler the wife. They prov
ed their identity as a respectable mar
ried couple from Capetown. Scotland
- u