The Raymer enterprise., 1912-07-18
THE HOLLISTER
JEWEL ROBBERY
Tho Story Of a Mysterious Theft

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. Go
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
ingly.'
found the Offices OF the Indepen.
dent Company in Forty-second
street building not Iar from Fifth ave
nue.. On presenting my card l was
ushered at once 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
vi Jul tdocot sOu.
Not any" ! said
We'll, fortunately this isn't com.
plicated case, or at least we don't
think 1t Is. It's merely case Of in.
vestigaticn to assure our3elves OF the
propriety OF a policy holders 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 find
something for us to start fight on.
In this case, 1t isn't anything like that
In brief. Col Malcom p. HOLSTERS
home up on Long Island sound was
entered by burglars Saturday night
and Mrs. HOLSTERS diamonds and
pearls. valued n $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. a 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 n matter
OF form. you understand-we're send
ing you down to look the thing over.
Be careful. Mr.. Cornell, but be care.
fui 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. That
In the case"
That was enough, for before ! had
got through with 1t the Hollister case
had developed into case so sensa.
tional, so full Of strange features that
the Independent Burglary Insurance
Company never dreamed Of. that even
today II is spoken OF In the office OF
the agency as "The Hollister job"
Being new to the work OF investi.
eating burglaries for the Insurance
company ! went about the task in n
way considerably different from that
employed by the experienced investl.
gator. did not go to the scene OF
the robbery. The Hollster home lay
up among the hills OF Long Island on
the sound. ! had heard OF 1t as 4
good example OF what taste and mod.
crate wealth-mOderate for New York
could do In making complete a
home | had heard OF Col. Holllster.
too. in the same indirect way. He
was u retired bond broker. approx
mately 60 years old. His first wife
had died many years before. Five
years ago he had married again, this
time taking for his bride Margaret
Wynderling. the Margaret Wynderling
who for a brief space had won such
distinction In Bernard Shaw's plays.
There had been some opposition to
the match at the time on the part OF
Mr.. HOLSTERS two grown sons by his
first marriage. After the wedding this
opposition was said to have simmered
down until now report had II that Col.
Onel and Mrs. Holister were happily
ut peace with all the world, especially
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. The
Colonel was an ardent member OF the
N,ggnu Hum. fluh mud Mru ITnlltatar
was credited with having developed
Al great interest In aviation. This
served to keep them both in print
often enough to make them compar-
atiyciy well known.
Instead of repairing at once to this
rcputed ideal home of wealth and cul.
,ure. went down town. At the end
OF three hours work | entered the OF.
fees Of the broker with whom Col.
iIolIlster had been associated In busl.
ness. and who now handled the old
gentlcman's investments. was
equipped with letters of introduction.
Tho news OF the burglary had not
been made public 70. after introducing
myself as n real cst1te man whom
Col. Hollister had approached with a
view OF making extensive investments.
found no trouble In furthering my
ayowed miasioi that of obtaining a
confidential op'nlon on the state OF
Gcl. Hollig,er's finances. "hc broker.
CLAWS by name. pulled his rirStache