The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-03-06

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the Northern railway station. The
bag reached the London postoffce at
$50 the next morning, where its seal
was broken and the bags contents
sent out for delivery as addressed.
Subject Of Cabinet Inquiry.
The London episode In the history
of the 100000 registered package of
pearls has been the subject of an In.
quiry by the home secretary of the
British cabinet. Following is the re-
suit:
At $3.50 o'clock the same morning
the postman delivered the package at
Mr.. Mayors Office. It was received
and receipted for by the responsible
caretaker of the premises, who placed
it in safe used by Mr.. Mayer for
registered mail matter. Three clerks
arrived a few minutes later. and, at
$40, Mr.. Mayer himself.
The head clerk went Immediately to
the safe and brought to Mr.. Mayer his
registered mail, among it the pearl
package from Paris, saying:
Here is package from Mr.. Solo
mons, Mr.. Mayer
1T contains the necklace" said Mr.
Mayer. I'VE will take it to the Bank
Of England, and leave it there while
| am on my vacation"
The head clerk opened the package,
and. finding nothing in it but Jumps
of cut-loaf sugar, uttered the exclama-
ton which was the first announce
ment of the greatest pearl robbery On
record
Mr.. Mayer at once telephoned to
Paris for Mr.. Solomons. Then he no.
titled Lloyd's, underwriters Of his in
surance policy-upon whom the loss
would fall In case the pearls should
not be recovered. Lloyd's took charge
of the case. notifying the London and
Paris police departments, and insert
ing in the London Times Of the next
morning personal" describing the
stolen Jewels in detail, and offering a
reward OF $50, 1000 for information lead.
Ing to their recovery.
Unique Sensation.
No jewel robbery had ever created
so great a sensation, owing to the
mystery of how registered mail
package could be rifed while in a
sealed bag in transit from Paris to
London. and it's contents so elaborate
ly replaced with lump sugar Of pre-.
cisely the same weight Yet the clos
est investigation of all the French and
English postoffice employees who could
have come into contact with the rified
package revealed no clew.
There were one or two sensational
false leads" The famous pearl neck
lace was found in Paris cafe, and
Mr.. Mayors Paris agent identified 1t
as genuine. 1t proved to be composed
of false pearls worth $24, ordered
from the same manufacturer by a
Paris theatrical agent named Horn.
hostel, who had. promised certain
actress that he would show her the
stolen necklace. The actress failing
to keep her appointment at the cafe
M Hornbostel sought other consola
ton and forgot all about his precious
pearls, leaving them in the cafe.
In the meantime Mr.. Price, Of Price
& Gibbs. acting for Loyd's. was In
Paris, comforting with the Paris DO
lice. One day, about the middle Of
August, he was visited by two men
who introduced themselves as Brand
slater and Quadranstein, who sale
they believed they could place theil
hands ON the stolen necklace, ant
wanted to know If the $4,000 rewart
still held good. Mr.. Price asked then
to return in three days. Thereupol
he engaged the services Of Paris
gem merchant little known In London
named Spanier, and arranged will
him to accompany the two informer'
, to London and obtain material proc
that the necklace offered was iden.i
, cal with the stolen one.