The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-10-22

He Carries . Fortune in Stones and
ls Closely Watched.

He Carries . Fortune in Stones ans
ls Closely Watched.
diamond salesman when he starts
out on the road may carry with him q
quarter OF million dollars worth o
precious stones tucked away I'm some
inside pocket--a small or large fortune
OCCUPYING no more space than that OF
an ordinary wallet. No bodyguard OF
detectives accompanies him, and HI
must sleep in strange, hotels and on the
railroad trains with his precious bur-
den always With him. II a thief coulo
knock him on the head some night
and steal the diamonds the booty could
quickly be converted into hard cash.
| IL is this daily risk of carrying
around such portable valuables that
makes the detectives employed by the
Jewelers. association SC anxious to
keep personal record of the drum
mers as well as OF the notorious sharps
and diamond thieves. A. -oiamond-
! house must trust coed deal to the
honesty of its drummers and usually
the men have been long in the employ
Of the firms. but human nature cannot
be overlooked i'm business Matters Nc
one is subjected TO temptation more
than the average diamond drummer
not even bank clerks and officials. With
several hundred thousand dollars
worth of diamonds i'm his possession he
could easily get twenty-four hours
start Of his pursuers if he chose TO go
wrong.
Very few diamond drummers have
ever rim away, and none who belong to
the firstclass trade within the recollec-
ton of men in he business. This rec
ord for honesty may be due 10 the
watehfulress OF the houses and de-
tectives of the jewelers. association or
to the qualifications demanded Of
good diamond salesman. But nearly
all OF them have been followed by
ihives and a few Of them have been
robbed. Today, IL diamond drummer
has reason TO believe that he is being
Swallowed by q. thief. he generally stepc
into the nearest, telegraph office and
wires description OF the suspect to-
the home house. which in turn mme-
diately consults the officials of tho
Jewellers association. Within half
an hour, If the description fits some
notorious diamond thief, detective is
on his track.
A diamond drummer knows that
every possible safeguard is thrown
about him. He never knows when de-
tectives are watching him. The sha-
dow he may have mistaken for a thief
on his track may be a detective. Every
night he must. telegraph or write to
his employers, reporting where he is
staying ard where he expects to be the
day. The diamond house
thus knows pretty accurately the To-
cation of its high priced men AT all
times. If salesman did not report
each night steps would be taken i'm
to find him. This is done as
much to protect the drummer as for
any other reason. s9,s
The detective knwsi ell the diamond |
1rummers az we'll az all the thieves
and suspects This information is an
nvaluabl aid in times of emergencies.
{ helps them To- hunt down their man
quickly. whether he be a. thief or a
drummer. There is another sort Of
hadowing ard espionage carried on asj
| direct result ofHhis work. If a da
nond drummer becomes an habitue of
houses and racetraeks or ap-
'ears TO be living a fast life for be-
'ond the means his salary affords, his
Employers soon learn Of the matter
through the detectives. 4es
The Jewellers association hes detec-
ives in nearly all large cities. ard it is
ept pretty well informed Of the move
nents Of diamond orummers who car
y unusually valuable samples Of prec-
Gus stones. a Maiden lane diamond
will sometimes start oct with
alf a million dollars worth of stones
lis movements are important to 9TH
rs than the house which employees
i'm. Many diamond thieves will dos,
he footsteps Of such a drummer for
'ecks, waiting for the favorable OPP
ortunity to relieve him of his treas
res. Some night in the sleeping car
r on a dark road OF, in q, narrow al
y. the chance may come for knock
ut blow and aquick getaway.
er's. Weekly. Co.,. 80,