The Elbert County tribune., 1911-10-13

|
Britt.
The butler eyed him suspiciously.
who wishes to see her7" he asked.
| Lieutenant Britz. Of Headquarters"
After long delay, he was ushered
into the same room in which the incl
dents preceding Miss Holcomb's ar
rest had occurred.
II have come to inquire more NIL
nutely into the disappearance of the
jewels" he explained.
Mrs. Missioner's face showed lines
OF deep suffering. Heavy rings en-
circled her eyes. deep burrows SCARED
her forehead.
Il am moro than anxious to supply
you with all the information In my
possession" she said. TT is meager
enough. and I almost despair Of ever
| seeing my Jewels again"
Madam, no case is hopeless" Britz
| soothed. THE immense value OF the
diamonds will make their recovery all
the easier I feel safe in surmising
that none Of them. or only a very few
of them, have been disposed of as yet.
Now. do you recall the last time you
wore the collarettef"
1T was a week ago. at dinner in
my home" she replied.
And when before thatf"
About two wesks before, at a
dance in the home of friend"
How long have you owned the col
larette?"
about ten years.
''It was gift from your husband, /
believer Britt asked
ut was" the widow answered.
where was It purchased ?"
THE Maharanee was bought in In
dia- The other stones were gathered
from time to time, and were strung
at Tiffany's."
THAT was ten years agof~
'It was"
Since then. has the collarette been
out of your possession at any timer"
''I recall only one instance" she re-
piled.
When was that7" he asked.
about two years ago. sent It to
Tiffany's for resetting."
"The substitution was hardly made
there" he smiled You are abso-
lutely sure the collarette. with that
one exception, has been in no one
| else's possession
Absolutely sure" the widow an
swered.
May examine the safer" he
asked.
Through magnifying glass he
studied the steel door of the compart-
ment. after which the widow set the
combination and swung open the safe.
The interior was as bare of suspicious
marks as the exterior.
'Donnelly and Carson are right to
this extent. 1t Is an inside job" he
pronounced.
We must ascertain the day of the
robbery as closely as possible" he
said. Two years ago is too remote
time on which to begin work. l un-
derstand that you called in Mr. Rams
come the other night? Has any other
expert seen the Jewels In the last two
years7"
No other expert, but Mr. Ranscome
and I looked over the collection be-
fore went abroad eighteen months
ago. He saw the collarette at that
time"
Good" flashed Britz. "Of course,
he said nothing as to the Jewels being
paste?"
Nothing answered Mrs. Mis-
sioner
Then 1t is almost certain that the
real Jewels were in your safe then"
pronounced Britz. Since then, who
has been with you when you wore the
collarette?"
"Mr. Griswold and Mr.. Sands were
my escorts to the dinner two weeks
ago. They and Miss March also were
my guests at the opera"
Now, please tell me exactly. who
was in the room when you put the col
larette on and when you took 1t of
on coming home two weeks ago7"
Britz inquired.
Miss Holcomb was in the room
when opened the combination of the
safe. / believe the collarette lay on
the table until I was fully dressed.
Then Mr.. Sands and Mr.. Griswo,d ar
rived, and were shown into the room
recall that had difficulty in adjust
Ing the clasp. and Mr.. Griswold snap
ped 1t shut"
Were you out OF the room for even
a moment while the collarette lay on
the table?"
NO." Mrs. Missioner answered.
Did you observe anything SUSPECT
GUS in the movements. actions, or con-
duct of Miss Holcomb that EVENING"?
Nothing"
What occurred after you came
home? Who helped you to undress?"
My maids were asleep" said Mrs.
Missioner. ''and l called Miss Hol-
comb, who occupies the room next to
mine. She helped me take of the jew
els and she saw me place them in the