Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1914-09-25
A LOST
HAT
II Was Knocked Out Of
Car Window
By DWIGHT NORWOOD


When l was attached to detective
bureau In Albany, N Y, there was q
ring at the telephone one morning, and
the chief, being busy. asked me to re.
ply to 1t.
"My name is Ormsby," came over
the wire, 81. l.. Ormsby of No. -
Walnut street. A man called here this
morning ostensibly from the city wa
ter department to examine the plumb
ing for leakage. Last night my wife
was at function and wore n valuable
pearl necklace. She laid 1t on her
dresser when she came in, and 1t had
not been put back into the safe when
the man came. He was In the bath
room adjoining her room, and when he
left the necklace was gone. What can
you do for mel"
repeated what he had said to my
chief, who took up the phone and ask
ed for description of the man. 1t
was given as about Ave feet six inches
high, weight about 40 pounds, hair a
sort of sOrrel, no beard, red mustache,
well dressed In check suit, negligee
shirt with blue stripe, white collar and
derby hat Asked how long the man
had been gone from the house, the re-
ply was about fifteen minutes"
We Immediately sent out word to all
the police stations to watch for man
Of the description given My expert
ence had taught me that thief with
such valuable haul would be likely
to try to get out of the city with 1t,
and was not surprised when a reply
came from the Union station that q
man who tailed with the description
given was there and had bought a
ticket for Utica. asked how long he
fore the next train left. The reply was
that no train would leave for twenty
minutes. jumped into an automobile
and ordered tho chauffeur to take me,
regardless of the speed law, to the sta
ton. We were chased by policeman
on motorcycle, who called to me to
stop. | could not make him hear me
and ordered the chauffeur to slow up
for moment. The cop came up, and
displayed my badge, told him what |
was after and pushed on, reaching the
station just rs the train was pulling
out.
| got OH the rear car, but went
through to the smoker, then turned
and walked back apparently careless,
but really taking In every man pass
ed. I had gone through two cars and
come to the third when l espied
man sitting by himself his head rest
Ing on the back Of the seat and his
derby hat pulled down over his eyes
I couldn't see the color Of his hair, but
his mustache had n reddish hue, and
he wore shirt with n blue stripe and
n white collar. passed on TO see If
there was any one else on the train
that tailed with the description; but,
finding no one, went back and took
vacant seat behind the man / Ind
observed.
OF course ! didn't p0unce upon him.
Why should 1? was not sure he was
my man, and | had ample time to
watch him. II he left the train |
would leave It, waited for the con
ductor to come along In order to dis
cover to what point my quarry held
ticket. The conductor made progress
very slowly, and we were well out Of
the city before he reached our car.
At this time my man was apparent
ly asleep. his head up against the open
window. The conductor occasionally
called "Tlcketsw but the fellow did
not move. When the conductor reach
ed him he gave him one Of those polles
with which conductors arouse sleepers
or pretended sleepers, and the man
started up so suddenly that his hat
struck the window sash and fell out
side. The owner looked up at the CON
ductor dazed, then put his head out
through the window to look for his hat,
then withdrew 1t and said:
"What did you do that forT
"Do whatT'
Wake me UP 80 sudden"
"For your ticket"
TITS gone out the window. II was
In my hat"
"Thnt won't do" said the conductor.
"If II had been in your maitland
would have seen It. I've had that
racket played on me before. I want
your ticket"
81 tell you 1t was In my hat. I've
not only lost the ticket, but three dol
lar hat"
"Pay your fare or I'll put you or"
"Well, you'll have TO put me of, for
! have no money"
BY this time I had seen through the
mans game and had placed an inter
probation on II TO which the conduc-
tor was oblivious. II was shrewd
plan, desperate plan, but confess
admired 1t. An idea flashed through
my brain. / did not wish the conduc-
tor to put the fellow OFF between sta
lions, for / intended TO get Off with |
him, and II did so in open country
he would know / was after him. I |
beckoned TO the conductor, who came
on to where was sitting.
an pay the mans fare TO tho next
station" I whispered. "Go on taking
tickets and when VIC stop put him
en-" gave him look which he UNI
derstood, handing him the fare at the
same time. The man in front did not
look back and was not cognlzant Of
my action.