New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-10
Servant Confesses Plot
Naming Three Robbers
HeLet Into House.
GOSSIP WHETTED
IOITERERS' CUPIDITY
s,.rmcloye, Poolroom Hanger.
On. Hunted-Thleves' Scared
by Murder, Left Loot.

v~sn,, Orn 4b'As anu INV
~.., v., 10 be arrested. came TO her
"a through her habit Of decorating
,..,.t With Jewels and preenins her
"a A,,er. a mirror in her bOudoir.
Vol her. love Of iewelry was a pas
and an oeoentricity.
u.,, IN the great limestone house
80. her millionaire husband died,
% M children or near relatives TO
..,,,, her attention, che became en-
...,,s in the latest fashions in
,,,.,ou, stones Wearing jewelry was
:, onlv amusement. Sometimes clad
,,,h night attire she would load her
~ With diamonds and pearls and for
,,v, pr.n herself before mirrors
n.,.,.llv these we're her own; often
ia, were goods sent her on memo
and, bv Fifth Avenue jewellers in
v.o. shops she WAS we'll known.
Gem Display Aroused Gossip.
s.e.us. Of her practice Of displaying
,r jsvelry continually, at all times
a, u. day and night, servants sos-
,,.s IN their crude estimation the
h,rbl., she wore represented a fabu-
lon, ,ums-perhaps half a million or
-or-snd as the story was whispered
from ear 10 ear below stairs. the
value increased.
The delivery boy from a Madison
lyenu. florists shop had talked with
,h. h,llboy about the big diamonds
that flashed from Mrs. Nicholas I'm
g,r, when she called to select her
daily flowers. Her diamond rings and
her loud. good-nstured voice as she
joksd with the clerks made her known
wherever she traded. Other persons
tsrid.s the servants observed that her
tastes ran to white stones. She pre-
i,rsa diamonds and pearls above all
other ssm. She did not look natural
rrla she wore them in profusion.
Thus eupidity was aroused below
sain and q plot was Matched 20 rob
Nn Nichols
0uni TslGs. the Finnish stripping
vho admitted the burglars. has con-
issssd to his share IN the crime. With
The understanding that Mrs. Nichols
was no; 10 be harmed. he agreed to let
Ia three masked men for whom the
police Of New York and all surround
Ing cities are searching.
Plot Fostered in Pool Room.
Properly speaking, the plot 70 rob
Mrs Nichols, which resulted in her
murder, was born in the servants hall
and developed In a Harlem pool room,
where buffers. hallsboys and coachmen
gather 10 discuss the foibles of their
employers Through these discussions
Mn. Nichols. widow of the millionaire e
grocer, who started the big AUS
Nichols & Co. firm, became well known
the hangers-on in more than one
harlem haunt, where IL was common
gossip that she wore enough diamonds
70 SINK ship for servants employed
oy other wealthy residents in the ex-
eusiye neighborhood just off Fifth Av-
shus had often seen her sparkling IN
NE sunshine as she stepped into her
limousine
So jewels and Mrs. Nichols became
anonymous in the pool room where
Vahi Islss told stories about his mis-
ue,s walking about the house late at
,ight with tens Of thousands Of dollars
diamonds on her. Then about six
sseks ago, some one suggested 70 Onni
NH those gems would make easy pick
hs some night when the butler and the
'oot were of-when the old lady was
suing alone in front of her mirror
sanirng her rings, bracelets, neck
aces and earrings.
Vnni was not 20 take them himself,
'ns police believe, but he had been
faheo In the halls of the Nichols resi-
oenes by former servant whom the
ponce Of New York and all neighbor-
"s eines are searching for.
Police Seek Former Servant.
his former servant is believed 10
E me leader OF the trio Of burglars
Tao nlled Mrs. Nichols for her ewelry.
tny thought that che would have
eu q million dollars in orilliants in
private safe in her chamber. After
Mey mad attacked her and stripped
sshg' worth perhaps $4,000 from her
myers they discovered hat she was
s.ao Murder had not been part of
s plan Inspector Faurot and his as
Snt believe. The burglars were
frightened that they forgot TO look
we safe. They left the house By
ront door as they had entered.
,ts' who had agreed 70 be partner
robbery, finds himself locked up
"a ehsrgs Of homicide
ne het given information TO the po-
W which IL expected 70 lead 20 the
t" Of man named Arthur Wade
s. sno his aecomplices. All the ser
anw In the Nichols household know
,aI''nur Waldemar well. Previous 10
ksn coming OF 0nni Tslas, Arthur was
81 eoy and buffers assistant for four
V'ohl'ns. Ever since he left Mrs
eHois two months and a half ago he
oeen hanging around the place
,s'owinS money from Ileona Toivon-
NIX ht cook, and keeping in touch
a, NJ t'ss IN Harlem haunt. II was
"Aioemar's Recommendation that
w' w, was hired by Mrs. Nichols
vsIuemar came 20 the murdered
n,S', from an employment agency, the
es say. He left voluntarily three
,,en'ns ,,s ago. after a diamond marquise
hs valued al $4,000 was stolen from
az ~ bureau in Mrs. Niehols's chamber
49, mysteriously returned after she
49,. houhed the police and a descrip
49,. u the ring had been sent 10 all
,.,ashops In New York BY the Pinker-
sohs. The ring was found on the
,ss ssa from which 1t had been taken
Al. "t return remained mystery
the ring came back Waldemai