The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1912-05-15
Well Known Yakima Woman Is
Robbed of Watch and Other
Adornments at Wallace
DIAMOND-SET PIECES TAKEN
FROM HER SUITE IN HOTEL
Vanity of the Thief Leads to Re-
covery of Many of the Articles
and the Owner Is Again in
Possession

Mrs Bertha b. johnson of this city
and Wallace, Ida, has fallen a vic
tim to thieves and several hundred
dollars worth of her jewelry has beer
taken from her. This all took place
at Wallace and has attracted a great
deal of interest. because of theii
knowledge of her and some of the
troubles that have beset her path.
Wallace dispatch. detailing the affair
which says:
Accused of the theft of jewelry
valued at more than $500, belonging
to Mrs. Bertha johnson, proprietress
of the Samuels hotel, William Bailey
a pressman. who recently came tc
Wallace, has leen arrested here and
is being held on a charge of grand
larceny In Jail with him is pa
in whose possession portions of the
stolen property was found.
1t was while Mrs. Johnson was al
dinner on the first floor of the hote
building Saturday evening that the
jewelry consisting of three valuable
pieces set with diamonds, and mum
Der of smaller articles of less value
were taken. She had left her suite
unlocked and her jewelry lying or
the dresser. When she returned tC
her rooms she did not at once notice
the loss, but feels certain now as to
the time the theft must have beer
committed.
The police We're notified of the rob
berry Sunday morning, hut We're giver
no clue other than a description o.
the property, as neither Mrs. John.
son nor her employees We're able t
throw material light on the theft
Vanity Mans Downfall
1t was Wednesday when Chief O.
Police A. Mckinley got his first sub
stantial clue. 1t came to him through
a woman living n Sweets hotel anc
was furnished by the mans vanity,
While speaking to this woman. ;
casual acquaintance, he admired ;
small watch which she was wearin.
attached to her waist and then in
| thoughtless manner lifted diamond
set watch from his pocket with tn,
words, I've got a mighty pretty lit
| tie watch, too" His better judgmen
apparently told him that the actor
was a foolish one. for he immediatel.
returned the timepiece to his poke
without allowing the woman a chanc
to even inspect it and turned the sub
ject.
| Gives Up the Watch
| This conversation and the othe
portions of the incident were taken t.
the police and Chief Mckinley imme
! diately began his search for the maj
now under arrest. When he foun,
Bailey he demanded to see the watcl
which Bailey had been displaying an,
was told that he had the wrong man
taking Bailey to Sweets hotel h
proved his identity Bailey thel
changed his story and stated that tn
watch was "phony' one which h
had afterward thrown away. Thi
did not answer and the man wa
placed in Jail where after sever
cross questioning he confessed to TIL
possession of the watch and directe,
Chief Mckinley to a house in the re
stricted district where the piece o
jewelry had been pawned.
| Change His Story
/ It the time Bailey denied al
| knowledge of the other pieces, blu
he has since given information tina
has led to the location of others Il
other portions of the restricted dis
trict. In his conversation he also i'm
| plicated his pal in his trouble. Thi
pal who is being held pending furthe
investigation, was found in bed in
downtown lodging house. A searcl
of his room disclosed a pair of dia
mond-set cuff buttons listed amon
the hotel losses.
| Bailey denies stoutly that he is tn
thief that entered the hotel, but h
has not yet been able to give a sat
isfactory explanation for the posses
sion of the watch, and his knowledg
as to the whereabouts of other por
tions of the booty.
| The pieces of jewelry so far foun,
total in value about $3.50. There
yet missing a diamond stick pin. val
ued at $50, a gold seal ring, novelt
pin of solid gold. a small breast pil
set with garnets and a heart set will
an amethyst.