The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-06-01

Copyright, 1913, by the Star Company.
~ My one who has been, as l have,
for years behind the scenes at all
sorts of crimes can appreciate how
often every criminal is brought face to
face with the most startling surprises.
No matter how clever a robber is he can
never tell when arrest serious injury or
death will bring his dishonest career to a
sudden end. And. even if he escapes these
fatal disasters, there are always a thou
sand and one chances which may develop
at any moment to spoil his carefully laid
plans and prevent his getting his plumber.
Most OF these are things which it is abso.
lutely impossible to foresee and guard
against. This is why only small per-
centase OF the crimes which are attempted
ever succeed and why their success hangs
trembling in the balance until the very last
minute.
The brains we criminals expended In
saving some robbery from failure or in
escaping the consequences of our deeds
would have won us lasting success and
happiness in any honorable pursuit-used
as they were for crime, they brought us in
the end only disgrace and remorse. That
is the lesson which these experiences have
taught me and which | hope every reader
OF this page will learn.
If there was ever thief who planned
his crimes with greater attention to the
smallest details than Harry Raymond the
man who stole the famous Gainsboroush.
] never knew him.
But even Raymonds painstaking care
was not proof against all the startling sur
prises which confronted him and his plans
were often completely ruined by one of
these unexpected happenings.
Raymond was always a restless man
never content to remain long in one place
When stories of the rich gold and diamond
mines in South Africa reached his ears, he
began to cast longing eyes in that drec-
tion. Where there was SO much treasure
he thought there surely ought to be an OPP
lortunity TO get his hands on share of It.
he tried 10 induce Mark Shinburn to 20
with him, but Shinburn had his eye on sew
eral big robberies nearer home and so RAY
mond set out alone. On the way he met
Charley King, a noted English thief. and
the two Joined forces
Raymond hadn't been in South Africa
twenty-four hours before he learned that
steamer left Cape Town for England
every week with heavy shipment of gold
ana diamonds on board. His next step was
10 nno out just how this treasure was
brought down from the mines.
AS he soon learned it came by stage
each week the day before the steamer
sailed. The bags of gold dust and uncut
diamonds We're locked in a strong box
which was carried under the drivers scat.
mere was only one other man on the coach
pesloes the driver+-a big, powerful Boer,
VINO carried a+brace of revolvers and q
repeating rife and had the reputstion ~
being dead shot
mere was just one difficulty in the way
-haymond really needed third man TO
assist King and him. Among all the Grim
lhais IN Cape Town whom he knew there
S eS none ne could trust and SO he at last
uec!ded 10 ask wholly INEXPERIENCED man
10 JOIN the party. The man he selected
WAS an American sea captain who had haen
ooliged TO fee from his native land after
Setung ire to his ship for the insurance
ne was desperately in need of money and
Vas, therefore. only too glad of the oppor-
proposed to steal. niono
Raymond. with his customary eau.
uon' studied the proposition from
every angle. At last ne was convinc
90 that he had provided for every
contingency which could posslbly
arise 10 prevent his robbery of the
coach 'Ne
This was his plan-to stretch
rope across some lonely spot In the
road and trip The horses. Before the
driver and the guard could recover
from their establishment and eYtrI.
cate themselves from the overturned
coach. Raymond and his companions
would leap from their ambush and
overpower them
Half way Up lone hill down
which the coach would come. the
three men concealed themselves
Raymond and the captain on one side
OF the road, King on the other
around tree on either side of tho
road they fastened the rc.e with
slip moose, letting is length lie loose
on the ground directly in tho nath ~
Of the coach. Carefully loading thelr q
revolvers. they settled down 20 wait >.
for its approach. H=:
AT last their ears caught tho rum.
bic Of its wheels and presently tho e.
four horses which drew tn. beavv q.
vehicle and its precious contents an.
peared above the crest OF the hill
They were making good time on the
last lap Of their long Journey from
the mines.
On they came until the hoofs OF
The leaders we're within a foot Of
the rope Raymond gave shril
whistle and his companions stretched