The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-09-06
CLAIRVOYANT AND
FINGER PRINTS
RECOVER THE LOST GEMS OF A
CHICAGO SOCIETY WOMAN.
Another Society Woman of POrkopo-
lis Confessed That She Took
Them at St. Augustine.

Them at st. Augustine.
JACKSONVILLE Fla.-To clair.
voyance is due the recovery in Chi,
cago of $4,000 worth Of gems belong
ing to Mrs. William w. Murphy, a
prominent society leader in the
Windy City. Recovery Of the jewels
was brought about through the eff
forts of a local detective agency, and
according to the story a finger print
played an important part in gaining
a clue to the thief.
Mrs. Murphy lost the jewels while
a guest at hotel in st. Augustine
last April, and the denouement,
which has just come to light, proves
they were taken by another Chicago
society woman she met in the ancient
city. This woman, whose name is
withheld because the gems have been
returned and Mrs. Murphy does not
wish to prosecute her, is referred to
for convenience as Mrs. Scott. She
confessed to the robbery after she
had been trailed by detectives and
frightened into a confession. Be
fore confessing, however, she threat
ened to kill herself.
Although loath at first to suspect
her friend of the theft Mrs. Murphy
consulted a clairvoyant in Chicago,
who related to her the exact cir
cumstances Of the robbery and nam
ed Mrs. Scott as the guilty person.
Mrs. Murphy and her husband had
been spending some time at Florida
resorts prior to April 7, the date of
the robbery. While at Palm Beach
at a hotel they met Mr.. and Mrs.
Scott. The women became great
friends and spent much time togeth-
er. When the Murpheys went to St.
Augustine the Scots decided to join
them there and the pleasant rela-
tiOnship between the women was re-
newed.
Mrs. Scott and her husband left st.
Augustine for Chicago on the morn
ing of April Z and the women agreed
to meet in the Windy City later in
the season. On returning to the
room occupied by herself and hus-
band at the hotel Mrs. Murphy open
ed her bureau drawer and found that
it had been rifed.
Her jewel box had been opened
and thrown carelessly to one side
and all Of her gems were gone. The
missing jewels included three soil
taire diamond rings with Tiffany set
tings, one diamond brooch, one jew
eled scarf ring, a pair of carbuncle
sapphires set with diamonds, one
gold bracelet with two diamonds, and
plain gold wedding ring.
Upon reporting her loss at the Of
fee Mrs. Murphy was told to dis
turb nothing. Her room was guard
ed, and Detective J. E. Burgess of
this city was called into the case.
Examination of the jewel box re-
Vealed the imprint Of a womans fin
ger. He took impressions of Mrs.
Murphy's fingers and all of the maids
at the hotel, but none correspondent
with the one on the jewel case.
After consulting with Mrs. Muir
ply he determined that her new
friend was guilty. He then commu-
nicated with Chicago detectives and
told Mrs. Murphy to meet him in that
city as she had promised him to do.
If she stole your Jewels said he,
your meeting will be a cool one"
Mrs. Murphy returned to Chicago,
and after consulting the clairvoyant
followed the detectives instructions.
In the meantime the Chicago detect
ives were trailing Mrs. Scott, who
finally became suspicious and con-
fessed to her husband, returning the
jewels.
Kleptomania was advanced by Mr..
Scott as the reason for his wife's
theft, and this explanation was ac-
cepted by Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, who
agreed not to prosecute.