The Washington times., 1919-08-10
Fictionthe
Gentleman
Thief Who
Robs Guests
at Society 5
Most
Fashionable

Viewpoints mysterious EseLASs -
work again after the absence OF
= several years-in fact since the first
year Of the war?
Did he serve under ore of the warning
governments and has he returned more
skiIfuI and holder than eyer2
Or was the cessation OF his actlVitles
Dire to the fact that jewels were not worn
during the war?
Are men and women OF wealth and fash.
tan aetuallv rubbing shoulders with some
me who dances, dimes and plays bridge
with them only for the sake Of stealing
their diamond rings, pearl earrings ana
other jewels at the first favorable oppor-
Tbese are questions that are agitAting
All Newport and are dulling the brilliance
Sc what had promised to be one OF the
most notable seasons in the resorts his
tory.
one moment beautiful matTon is wear
ing her full complement Of jewels--the
next moment one q ner process peaLl
earrings Is gone "A deoutante ie wear
iag a more than priceless diamond brooch
she dances or talks animatedly IN the
bffahtIy lighted ballroom. She clutches
f5le front Of her low-cut bodice-her dia'
monds have disappeared!
financial magnate % worldwide rep
nfafion sits at q large and formal dinner
His shirt front bears the usual two studs,
pearls they are, perfectly matched ana
worth kings ransom. AS be leaves the
table there Is the necessary slight CON
fnsion. and as be and his companions move
slowly toward the doorway he discovers
that one Of his studs h missing.
There Is. Of course, In every instance,
f6nch searching about, but the jewels are
never found. II sounds like witchcraft-
How can perfectly visible articles disap-
near completely from sight? II q jewel
~ anv article Of value is lost in room
6iled with ones friends and social equals
# must Just naturally be found-un-
less! And right here is the crux OF
the whole disturbing situation In gay ana
beautiful Newport there Is Inle i
IN the marty, and terrifyingly expert ana
efficient one!
Larceny from the person, as these thefts
are legally classed, Is a most delicate
ioperation. It is far more difficult and
hazardous than rifing a safe or silver
chest Plenty Of nerve and knowledge
! ~ bnrgIar's tools make the gentle art OF
burglary . fairly easy one to follow.
Lemon. for example, is wildly excited
over series Of house robberies; jewels
and plate worth huge sums Of money have
been stolen at night from well-guarded
houses. These burglaries are annoying
an5 an that but they are understandable:
fbey do not smack OF mystery.
The Newport affair is very different and
Ieads 10 but one conclusion-there must
he a @Raffles" in the Summer colony!
AND this man or woman must not only
nave the entree to the most exclusive
homes but must also have the absolute
confidence of NewpoTt's social leaders,
In no other way can the theft OF Mrs:
John Wanamaker, JT's, pearl earring and
her husbands pearl shirt stud be ex'
Dlained. In no other way can Mrs. John
portland. wife Of Lieutenant-C Commander
Rorland, of the navy, explain the mystery
~ the disappearance of her diamond and
platinum brooch.
Then there is Mrs. William Miller Ora
hams dinner guest, woman who VIII
not allow her name to be published, who
lost a rare and unusual brooch at one OF
Mrs Gfaham's July dinners There were
twelve sduare-cut diamonds Of the purest
water set In q frame Of exquisite hand
wrought platinum. This bauble, oddly
enough. had been talked about at the din.
ner. for the woman is not only a social
leader but is noted for her jewel collec
tfon and being among friends she IN
discreetly mentioned something Of the
yalue az the beautifully CT { stones. Before
the evening was over her brooch was gone
The consensus Of opinion is that II he is
NOT the old "RAffles;" then new and more
Daring "RafIes1 has crept into Newport and
& successfully robbing the very men and
women who have graciously accepted him
Although there is a possibility that the
thief, may be q woman, logic points to It's
being a man. Society not infrequently II
the past accepted men Of good address
and possessed OF at least one decent dress
SUIT, even though they had nothing else e
bless themselves with. These men were usu
ally dancers or bounders Of similar trade
with the coming Of the war bars were lei