Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-07-09
JEWEL THIEVES
PROTECTED BY
THEIR VICTIMS
Many Put in Their Work al
Large Social Functions,
Says Detective.
N. Y. CROOKS CLEvEREST

WASHINGTON, July e.-The Caruso
gem robbery. which has been so widely
and efficiently advertised, has attracted
attention to the fact that thefts of jewels
are greatly on the increase.
In New York, where a systematic cam
paign of robberies seems TO be well under
way, it is believed that an unusually
clever band Of crooks is at work, with
a master mind disposing Of the stolen
goods.
In other cities, on trains, at country
houses, the story of disappearing val
uables is the same.
Morgan Bradford, head OF a well-known
detective agency. says that the prevail
ence Of jewel robberies by guests is not
even dimlys realized, and that the victims
are the last people to be convinced.
This, he says, is what makes life hard
est for detectives.
A society woman employs a sleuth to
recover her $4,000 breastpin, stolen out
OF a dresser drawer during a dinner
party.
He comes and quizzes the servants and
questions her as to how many people
saw her drop It IL the drawer.
Only two Of her friends, she tells him.
and she is indignant when he insists on
their names.
He looks them up and finds that one
/ Of the young women has only a small
income, as money goes in that strata Of
society, that she is in debt. and that
she made short trip to New York the
day after the party.
WONT ALLOW
ANY QUESTIONING.
Yet when he reports this to the woman
who employs him, she, as likely as not,
refuses to allow him to question her
friends, as it would be an insult.
So the detective, having followed other
clues to no purpose, has to give up the
Job and the amateur burglar continues
her social career with her honesty IN
Questioned-as she had foreseen.
This sort OF thing. AR. Bradford says,
happens all the time. 1t accounts large
ly for the estimate that Of all the Jewels
reported as missing only about one-fourth
are recovered.
These amateurs rarely II ever resort
TO burglars methods
There Is no business Of entering win
dows at night with fashlight and black
cambria mask
Theft for them is made ridiculouslv
easy. Time and again they have heard
TIER host mention carelessly the fabu-
lous cost OF this bit Of bric-a- brac or
OF that necklace, and so when chance
sooner or later leaves the guest alone
and face TO face with the object OK
value, it is unobtrusIveIy stored away
and the incident Is closed
An interesting case of this sort hap
pened in Washington during a reception
given by 4 wealthy man. we'll known In
society. One Of the guests was a popu-
lar youth whose chief drawback to hap.
piness was his small income.
DETECTIVE SEES
THEFT BY GUEST.
This young man was alone in a parIor
when he was seen by a detective pres
ent to hnger 4 tiny Japanese carving.
Presently he slipned il in the coat
tail pocket of his dress suit.
The detective Informed the host. who
begged that nothing be done.
But few days later a curio dealer
telephoned the owner of the CARVING
you remember" he said, 81 sold you
a bit OF japanese carting for $500.
We'll, you know the Japs rarely dupn-
cate, and anyway I know mark on
your piece. 1t was brought here just
how by young man who wants 500 for
Il. I told him to come back for the
money"
This time there could be no question
Of the young mans guilt, so the owner
sent the detective to the shop
When the young man came in the de-
teetive held up the carving and said
pleasantly. This belongs to Mr.. X"
The society man bowed formally to the
dealer and the detective and left the
store without a word. He has not been
seen In these parts since.
Comparatively few robberies OF this sort
occur In Washington, however.
Despite the more and less wealthy peo-
pie Of national fame who spend part Of
their time in the capital. there is not a
great deal Of wealth in the city
Washington is known as the thieves
graveyard, partly because OF this lack of
material worth stealing, but more be-
cause the city police system is known TO
be unusually free from graft, so that n
thief can not get of by political pm as
is often done in the big centers OF IN
derworld activity.