Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-12-17
DIAMOND ROBBERY
TWO sroNEa VALUED At $500.
STOLEN FROM hoooES sroNl.
Stranger Works Old oam~ slipping
Two Uncut Stones From Paok.
age Of Gems While Propris<ers
Back 10 Turnsd-Attsmpts Game
Game at Joseph Jsssslry stors


than $500. were stolen Tuesday from
the w. NJ. Hodges 3ewelry store. when
a stranger. looking for big stones.
worked the old game Of slipping the
gems into his pocket while the pro.
prietor's back was turned The stones
taken were about ss-1ooths and s7-
looths Of q carat. and vsrs worth
moro than $3.50 each. M. Hodges was
able TO give q good description OF the
thief to the police but . search Of ho-
tells, railroad stations and the streets
Of the business district failed to result
in his apprehension. A. tho theft wa
robber had time to take . train from
the city before the police were notified.
This probably Is what he did - two
passenger trains left here within an
hour after tho theft. The stranger
took time. however. to attempt to In
crease his loot by visiting the Joseph
Jewelry Company store, but failed OF
an opportunity at the latter place.
Both Hodges and employees Of the
Joseph company store believe they
could identity the man and aocoupa-
MED the police on the tour Of the no.
tells and stations but saw no one who
answered the description.
Worked Old Diamond Came
The thief worked . tme.honorsd
diamond game on Hodges. He asked
TO see the best diamonds In stock and
paper Of unset stones was taken
from tho safe for his inspection. The
stones were mot quite big enough"
and Mr.. Hodges returned to the safe
for another selection. leaving the first
assortment on the display case In front
Of the prospective customer.
While Hodges was at the safe the
thief slipped two Of the stones from
the paper. which was pushed to one
side when Hodges returned with the
larger stones.
Customer Has Teothaehs.
When the teweler laid the second as
sortment before his customer the lat
ter showed little interest. He admired
the stones but had developed q severe
toothache which seemed to require
first attention. Postponing a purchase
until later in the day the thief asked
the way to a dentists office and said
he would return after he had had his
tooth treated. He gave his name as
Peterson and said he lived nine miles
north OF the city. With q few hur-
ried words he left the store and It was
not until some time after the stones
had been returned to the safe that
Hodges suspicious were aroused.
Hodges then remembered the strang-
ers actions had been suspicious and
he hurried to the safe and on examin-
ing the package Of stones first exhibit
ed found that two were missing.
Tries Same Game Elsewhere.
'Peterson's" tooth must have been
greatly relieved by the fresh air for
instead Of going to a dentists office
he walked Immediately to the Joseph
Jewelry Company store, where he at
tempted to work the same game. He
was shown diamonds but did not find
any suitable, asking 70 see larger ones
When the clerk turned for another as
sortment the first lot was removed
from the display tray and Peterson"
had no opportunity to add to his loot.
He was shown more diamonds but
again the painful tooth became trouble
some. and after leaving his name and
address he left the store to Visit a
dentist. II was after his appearance
at the Joseph company store that
Hodges discovered his loss and mott
fled the police. The stranger had time.
however. to reach the station and as
two trains were leaving the station at
about the time the police were called
into the case, he had sufficient time
to get out Of the city before the Of
ficers were on his trail.
Carried Burglar Insurance..
Hodges Is protected BY burglar in
surance but this protection probably
would not cover q loss Of diamonds
taken over tho counter.
Peterson" IL described ~ q man
about So to 81 years Of age. feet q