The Springfield herald., 1912-07-19
THE HOLLISTER
JEWEL ROBBERY
Tho Story Of a Mysterious Theft

The Story Of Mysterious Theft
One Monday morning in August
1910, the Independent Burglary Insur
ence Company called up the office o.
the Burns Detective Agency and re
quested that an operative be sent to
their offices at once.
Cornell" said the manager to me
you haven't had any experience In
the burglary insurance line, but
guess you can handle the work. &c
over and see what's up. And. say
Cornell, remember this: this agency
is retained by the year by this insu-
ance company. One of our big Gus
toners. Treat their work accord
fngly."
found the Offices OF the Indepen-
dent Company in Forty-sscond
street building not lar from Fifth ave
nue.. On presenting my card was
ushered at oncs into the private of
fee of the vice president. Mr.. Blaney.
"Ah! The man from the Burns
Agency" said Mr.. Blaney. Cornell
is the name? All. yes; glad they sent
you, Mr.. Cornell. We've heard some
thing. of your work. You've never
handled an yof our cases. have you?"
Not any," said.
"Well, fortunately this Isn't COM
plicated case. or at least we don't
think 1t is. It's merely a case of in
vestigaticn to assure ourselves of the
propriety Of policy holder's claim.
A mere matter of form, almost. We
always Investigate all claims for pay
ments, you know. Sometimes we are
convinced that something Is wrong;
then we instruct your agency to f1nd
something for US to start fight on.
In this case, 1t isn't anything like that
In brief, Col. Malcolm p. HOLSTERS
home up on Long Island sound was
entered by burglars Saturday night
and Mrs. HOLSTERS diamonds and
pearls, valued $4,000. and insured
with us for $4,000, were stolen. There
is scarcely the slightest possibility
that there is anything wrong in the
case. Col. Holllster is fine. high
minded man. gentleman of the old
school. He has paid this company
thousands of dollars in premiums for
the last ten years and never presented
a claim before this. We are all OF
the opinion that we will pay his claim
in full. in due time. But-as matter
OF form, you understand-we're send
ing you down to look the thing over.
Be careful. Mr.. Cornell. but be care
full of our interests as well as the
feelings of Col. Hollister and his fam
lily. Assure yourself that the burglary
was committed, that Mrs, HOLSTERS
Jewels were stolen. and report. Tha,
Is the case"
That was enough, for before I had
got through with it the Hollister case
had developed into a case so sensa'
the Independent Burglary Insurance
Company never dreamed Of that even
today it is spoken of in the office o!
the agency as 1.-THE Holiister Job"
Being new to the work of investi
eating burglaries for the insurance
company l went about the task in a
way considerably different from that
employed by the experienced investi
gator. / did not go to the scene oi
the robbery. The Hollister home lay
up among the hills of Long Island on
the sound I had heard of it as a
sood example of what taste and mod
crate wealth-moderate for Now York
could do in making complete q
home had heard of Col. Hollister
too, in the same Indirect way He
was a retired bond broker approx
mately 65 years old. His first wife
had died many years before. Five
years ago he had married again, this
time taking for his bride Margare
Wynderling. the Margaret Wandering
who for a brief space had won suof
distinction in Bernard Shaw's plays
There had been some opposition tc
Mr.. HOLSTERS two grown sons by hi,
first marriage. After the wedding tsii
opposition was said to have simmeret
down until now report had it that Col
onel and Mrs. Holl.ster were happil.
at peace with all the world especial,
including HOLSTERS two grown sons
/ had seen pictures of both the Col
onel and his young wife in the SO
ciety sections of the papers. Th'
Colonel was an ardent member of thu
Nassau Hunt Club. and Mrs. Holliste
WAS credited with having developed
a great interest in aviation. Thi
served to keep them both in prin
often enough to make them compaI
atively well known.
Instead of repairing at once to thi
reputed ideal home of wealth and cul
ture, l went down town. At the en-
of three hours work 1 entered the oi
fees of the broker with whom Col
Hollister had been associated in busi
ness, and who now handled the oil
gentiemans investments. wa
equipped with letters of introduction
The news of the burglary had no
been made public so, after introducing
myself as a real est1te man whom
Col. Hollister had approached with
view OF I,aking extensive investments
I found no trouble in furthering m
avUwed mission-that of obtaining
confidential opinion on the state o
Col HOLSTERS finances. "he broker
Claws by name, pulled his mustach
and smiled easily.
20, the Colonel'r all right" said h