Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-07-05
A Diamond Robbery In Cairo.

The principal street oil Cairo is the
Musk, on the left side OF which, as you
90 from the Ezbekia Square, there used
to be several very handsome jewellers
stores. The second of these belonged 10
Rochmaan Brothers, who dealt specially
ia diamonds.
One winter pasha, one of the richest
in the country, sent word 10 Rochmaan
Brothers that he wished to select some
diamonds for present 10 his sons bride.
To allow the pasha 10 make a good Sc
lection these jewellers had in readiness a
supply of precious stones worth several
hundred thousand dollars. Before max
ing his purchase, however. the pasha was
obliged to 90 TO Suez, ard arranged to
have the jewels kept ready for his return.
The store consisted OF single apart
ment surrounded by massive walls. II
had only one door, which opened on the
street. Door and windows were we'll
guarded by descending shutters OF iron
plates, and when the store was closed,
a watchman lay outside the door in the
open air. This took place not only at
night but also for an hour al noon, when
the proprietors went 10 their midday
meals.
One day the elder brother returned
from his reakfast earlier than usual, and
when the Nubian watchman had drawn
up the iron shutters, entered the store.
AT first he noticed nothing unusual, but
as he seated himself at his desk he sud-
denly saw that the door OF the jewel case
had been violently opened. He rushed
10 il, and one glance convinced him that
a small casket containg the diamonds for
the paSha, with some other packages OF
Jewels and some OF the most valuable or
naments in the window, had disappeared.
The walls OF the shop were uniniured.
The Nubian, an old, trustworthy ser
want OF the house, had neither heard nor
seen anything. Suddenly, however, the
jeweler discovered that two of the stone
flags under his feet were loose He had
them raised hurriedly and found a great,
dark hole in the ground. BY this time
the police had arrived and surrounded the
house, and now they proceeded TO inves-
tigate.
AT first no one would venture into the
subterranean passage, but at last an Arab
was found who for thirty dollars under
took 10 make the search.
Provided with light and weapons he
went down, and the people waited anxi-
ously for his return. Time passed and
he did not come. They were indulging in
all sorts of suppositions as TO what had
become OF him, when suddenly lie made
his appearance at the street door. He
had followed the passage through many
windings until he came out above ground
in shed.
The police now remembered that three
months before some Greeks and Italians
had hired this shed and kept coffee
house there. Although there were few
customers, the establishment received
large number OF casks. which were soon
sent away again to other places.
The coffee-house was, OF course, only
a pretense. The rogues had worked all
night at their subtenanean passage, and
sent away The earth they dug out in the
casks. Engineers who examined The mine
were astonished at the straightness and
accuracy with which il was made.
The elder of the Rochmaan Brothers
that few days before the
robbery well-dressed gentleman had
come in 10 buy watch, and had let his
cane fall two or three times on the floor
doubtless a signal TO the workmen be-
low 10 indicate which OF the stone flags
TO undermine.
On reckoning up their losses, The Roch-
mann Brothers found that they amounted
TO nearly one hundred and forty thousand
dollars. The sought an audience with
the khedive, and received at least the
comfort OF promise that every effort
should be made to find the thieves.
Two months passed, and everyone sup
posed that the robbers were now safely
enjoying the rich booty they had secured;
but police agents were on the lookout in
all the principal cities, and at last news
came Jom Trieste, first that one robber
had been arrested, then that five had been
captured.
In January three Greeks had arrived in
Trieste and taken lodgings at an Italian
lailor's in the neighborhood OF the fish
market. This tailor, who had heard Of the
robbery in Cairo, happened TO see one Of
them enter jewelers. store. His sus-
picions were reused, and he gave infor-
nation to the police. That led 10 the
arrest OF the Greeks, and in leathem
girdle worn by one OF them the police
found numbers of large and small dia-
monds, nearly a fourth OF the stolen
treasure.
An Italian was also arrested in Alex
andria, and when confronted with the
Greeks confessed his guilt. The filth
man was taken in Suez, on steamer
about 10 start for Bombay. He also had
diamonds about him TO The value Of many
thousand dollars. Thus the police sue
ceeded in recovering three quarters ofthe
booty.