The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-14
Strange Hiding Places Where Criminals
Conceal Their Plumber Until They Dare Sell
1t to the Fences and How Thieves Themselves
Are Sometimes the Victims of Robbers
NIr~tfo NV
Written by Sophie Lyons

CTRANGE as it may seem the criminal
often faces the greatest risks and the
49, most perplexing problems after his
plumber is actually in his hands.
Where to hide his booty SO that neither
the police nor some other thief will find it
and SO that he can easily recover 1t as soon
as he dares is the problem every criminal
has to solve II he IS wise he works out
careful solution Of 1t long in advance Of the
robbery itself.
large part OF my fame in the underworld
was due to my resourcesulness In h1olng
stolen money and goods. Time and again
other criminals have entrusted to my coed
Judgment the proceeds % crimes In which
had no active part. "Sophie will find way
when nc one else can" waG On expression you
would often hear when thieves were dis
cussiug their plans.
Yet, with all my clevcrness, / was not
always able to keep our plunder from getting
out OF our hands. Time and again l heya
returned to what thought the safest OF hid
Ing places to fId the police had been there
before me. And occasionally it was some
treacherous and unscrupulcus citizen OF the
underworld who turned the tables on me In
this way.
)One of the most ingenious ways of hiding
plumber from the prying eyes OF the police
was that used by Harry Raymond, once
when he was bringing TO America $4,000
worth OF stolen diamonds. Harry had pur-
chased the stones from several well-known
European thieves and was on his way to New
On the voyage across number of state
rooms were entered and robbed. The vic
tins made loud outcries to the captain who
promised that the police should be notified
as soon as the steamer reached Canada.
Although Raymond had had nothing to do
with the robberies he feared the Montreal
detectives might recognize him and try to
connect him with them. So he left the
steamer before it reached Montreal and set
out by train for that city.
But this ruse produced an effect exactly op.
poste to what he had intended. The cap
tain promptly telegraphed the Montreal
police what he thought of Raymond's sus-
picious action in leaving the steamer at
Rmouski and this resulted in q detective be-
Ing sent to meet his train.
Luckily for Raymond his keen eyes de-
tected the detectives presence in the car be-
fore the latter detected him.
His first thought was for the safety of the
stolen gems which he carried In money
belt around his waist.
Hurriedly taking the gems out he did them
up In small package that looked as If it
contained anything but a small fortune
But where to hide II?
AS Raymond cast eagerly about for some
place where his plumber would be safe until
the police should cease their activities, he
noticed crack along the edge OF the fire.
board behind the stove. which heated the
car.
The board vas loosely prying at It with
his fingers he could pull it out Just far
enough TO admit the package OF diamonds.
Holding a newspaper in front Of him to
conceal his movements he quickly slipped
the precious package through the opening
and snapped the board. Then. having no
longer any TO fear arrest he waited
calmly for the detective TO identify him.
First, however, he noted with pencil on
the edge Of his cuff the number of the car
1903. He was risking his diamonds on his
ability TO locate the bearing that number
later on.
The police found it impossible to charge
Raymond with any crime. for he had nothing
discriminating in his possession and there
no evidence to convict him OF the rob-