Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-28
CALM Thief GETS
$4,000 IN GEMS
Walks Out of Peacock's With
Travelling Mans Two
Sample Gases.

Chicago, Ill, Aug. 2s.-Two jewel
cases filed with 5000 worth OF gold
and platinum "mountings" were stolen
from the buying room in the balcony
Of c. D. Peacock's jewelry store yes
terday.
The theft is credited to one Of the
Clique Of gem thieves who have OBJ
tanned a large fortune by robbing
travelling sa.esmen in Chicago.
The jewelry was the property Of ".
W. Fulmer & Co. Of Philadelphia, and
was under charge OF Charles H. An
derson, who lef. the cases IN the buy
ing room early IN the morning. II Is
a ccmmol practice. it is said, 10 leave
sample cases in this room. There is
no guard stationed there. There Is
not even the Injunction to keep an
eye" on the room.
Anderson arrived at the store about
$3.50 a. N. A man named Courtney,
AN old sample carrier and honest"
carried the Jewel cases. They were
put in the buying room, where Ander-
Son had a conference with the Pea
cock credit man.
Anderson left the store at noon. Re
returned at $3.50 and found-nothing
He made inquiries among various
clerks. and found-still nothing.
He hurried TO the detective bureau
and tod his excited story 70 Capt.
John Halpin. Several detectives were
assigned. and then 1t was learned a
man had been seen leaving the store.
coolly. le!surely. stopping now and
then 10 converse with a clerk-and ne
carried two black jewelry cases.
Two other travelling statesmen had
been in the store during the day, &C.
oompanied by carriers, but they had
taken their samples with them when
they left, according 10 the Peacock Of
fcials.
Police and private detectives who
are working on the robbery say there
Is az present not the slightest clew
l. was done so boldly. so calmly, so
easily, they say. there was no sus-
picion attached 70 the man wh1
ambled out with the mountings. Only
g meager description-and that may
no: be accurate-has been obtained.
He is supposed TO be 30 years old, FIVE
feet six inches tall, and weighs about
1872 pounds. He wore a mixed brown
suit, tan shoes. and a soft black hat
Chicago Is becoming a terror for
jewelry statesmen" Anderson said al
the Palmer house al night. There
seems 20 be a regularly organized band
Of jewel thieves who have learned &c
know the salesmen, trail them, and
sweep down and carry or the prize.
The sample carriers could frame up
{ robbery easily enough. and IL looks
as though they have. / know Cour,-
ney, however-though ! don't know
hts frs. name-and am sure he had
nothing whatever to DO with this case 20
Some Of the recent jewelry robberles
are the following:
Sample case OF jewelry stolen al
Spauiding's from salesman for Sloan
q Co. OF New York, value s37,5OO.
Low, Taussig g. Karpele COMPANY
OF Providence, sample case stolen in
front Of Silversm!;h building, vaut
$4,000.
c. II. Knights-Thearle company
trunk ct Illinois Central depot con
tanning jewelry supplies. value $4,000
Joseph Fahys & Co., trunk stoler
from Pa-melee wagon, contained golC
watches, value $4,000
Joseph Merochnick, diamond i'm
porter Of New York, held up a. Mica
igsn avenue and Peck place by Nv,
negroes and robbed CT diamond
val, ed al s27,54O and $1,000 in money
Fulmer & Co. are members Of tn
jewelers. Protective association.