The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-12-07
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The Gentleman From Paris

antecedents.
DIR. ard Mrs. Jerome Depinni-the
last named being an Italian countess
had winter home in Minneapolis.
They were in the habit Of going
south for winter, and left the Western
home in charge of a venerable SER
want.
One year when they returned to
Minneapolis they discovered that the
servant had disappeared, and with him
mary of the precious possessions Of
the family.
These included a rare watch that
had once been the property of Car
dinal Richelieu, and a grape cluster
design In pearls, diamonds and plat
mum, the work of the peerless artist,
Benvenuto Cellini.
1t was felt instinctfvely that the
stolen goods had been taken to New
York, so Doctor Depinni called upon
George B. Dougherty, a clever detec-
tive Of that city, who had made rep
utatioE by solving more than one per-
picking case.
His first inquiry concerned the ven
cradle caretaker.
The victims were sure that he was
all right; they feared, in fact, that
he might have met with foul play.
AS a proof of the mans good name,
they exhibited q sheaf of letters of
recommendation he had brought with
him when he applied for the job.
Daugherty investigated and found
that all the letters had been forged.
This satisfied him that the man was
crook, and, from the character of
the robbery, he was convinced that
the caretaker worked with confed-
crates.
His first move was to make a tour
of the pawnshops of New York.
After that he visited many Of the
dealers in antiques.
On the second day of the search he
was fortunate enough to come across
the famous Richelieu watch in a shop
on Sixth avenue.
The dealer pretended to be very
much shocked when he was told that
he had purchased stolen goods, and, in
reparation, said he was willing to do
all in his power to bring the thief to
justice.
He stated that the man had told him
his name was "Mr. Coates" aid that
he had picked up this antique and
others in the Rue Madame, that street
of famous antique shops in the French
capital.
1t had been picked up truly
enough, but not in the manner nor in
the place suggested by the clever
crook.
The dealer was able to give very
good description of the man who had
sold him the watch.
He said that he was of medium
build, smooth shaven, of an olive COM
plexion and with dark eyes.
The rogues' gallery was consulted
and the detective found several men
by the name of Coates, but none Of
them answered the description Of the
gentleman who seemed to be so IA
miliar with the Rue Madame.
Dougherty now turned his attention
to the secondhand stores, and, by
great good luck, he located dealer
who had purchased the grape cluster
design made by Benvenuto Cellini.
This man was able to give him a
clue regarding the whereabouts Of the
elusive "Mr. Coates"
He said he had gone West, ard
thought he was living in Wisconsin.
1t did not take Dougherty long to
get to Milwaukee, and there, with the
aid of the police, he located the man
for whom he had been searching so
long.
He was existing in hall bedroom,
and having spent all of his money,
was on the lookout for a fresh job.
The detective, in short, had struck
him at the psychological moment.
Dougherty played his part cautious
ly. He might have arrested him Oh
suspicion, but he did not propose to
do anything like that.
What he wanted was real evidence.
At their second meeting he began to
talk about antiques and said that he
had customer who was anxious to get
some rare Seventeenth century works
of art, that he was willing to pay a
big price for the right kind of articles.
The so-called "Mr. Coates swal-
lowed the bait lie, hook and sinker
and offered to take the detective to a
place in New York where he could
get the watch once owned by the great
French cardinal.
The rest of it was detail. 1t, was
proved that the fellow was the con-
federate of the caretaker who had
robbed the Western home of Doctor
Depinni and after the usual formali-
ties, he was placed on trial and
promptly convicted.
He was given long sentence, dur
ing which it Is to be presumed that he
had ample opportunity for improving
/ his knowladpe of the French lafYuage