The Washington times., 1936-05-14

Charles II. liked. He went to Ire.
land, excited revolts In the Elmer.
aid Isle, came within the hands
breath Of the gallows and for
some strange reason was always
forgiven. And then, long about
1870, he conceived in his mind
the idea Of stealing the crown
Jewels from the Tower Of London.
The crown jewels had always
been kept in the tower. In those
days they were not numerous.
King John had lost the Regalia
in the Wash. At various times
English kings had pawned their
Jewels as the need of money had
forced them to part with them.
The keeper of the crown jewels
was an aged man, who kept them
in a strong room in his official
residence at the tower. To reach
them it was necessary to pass
the gateway and the guards, and
the problem of abStracting them
was difficult enough to daunt all
but the most daring.
At all events, this extraordi-
nary fellow, Colonel Blood, es'
tablished a social relationship
with the old man and his family
who were the guardians Of the
Jewels. He produced a young
man. whom he called his son, as
a prospective sutton for the
daughter of the keeper OF the
Jewels. There were several lunch:
cons and dinners. Colonel Blood
made an appointment to intro
duce his so-called son to the pro-
Spective bride.
The day came and the hour
approached for Miss Edwards to
meet her prospective bridegroom.
The minister had been summoned.
The services were waiting. But
the minister was a fraud intro,
duced by Colonel Blood. =.
There was slight delay. Colonel
Blood asked Mr.. Edwards if they,
might see the jewels. The old
man had no reason for refusing
to satisfy so innocent a request,
and accordingly they went to the
Jewel Room. He went there alone;
leaving his wife and daughter in
her bridal gown.
When they arrived at the place
where the jewels reposed, he was
Immediately seized and gagged.
Old as he was, he struggled to
endeavor to raise an alarm, and
so Colonel Blood drew his sword
and apparently ran it through
the old man. Immediately these
amazing thieves, having seized
the Crown, the Orb and the rest
of the Crown Jewels, tried to
escape.
PARDONED AGAIN y
But here enters one Of those
curious things Of human nature.
Miss Edwards, the prospective
bride, was Gas we are told by the
Rt. Honorable the Earl Of Birken"
head, in his Famous Trials of
| HiStory') anxious to know what
manner Of man it was who was
waiting for her. The long delay
disturbed her and finally she her!
self, in her bridal garments, went
from their apartment to the Jewel
Room and heard faint voice cry
Treason! The Crown is Stolen."
She screamed, of course, when
she found her father lying bathed
in blood. The thieves were
quickly caught and the most
amazing thing is that this man
Colonel Blood, having conSpired
against the king many times, hav'
ing boldly tried to seize the crown
jewels, was forgiven by that amazI
ing man Charles II. He took q
high line and admitted that the
plan was his. He refused to say
who his associates were. He
threatened Charles II if i'll befell
anyone connected with his party
And, the most daring thing OF
all, he told Charles II that he
had once tried to assaSSinate him
at Batter sea, not far from Lon
don, but one sight of the king had
filled him with awe and he was
unable to do him harm. And
Charles so admired this unScrupU
Ious man that he granted him q
pardon for crimes including re
bellion in Ireland and an attempt
to steal the crown jewels.
This man Blood (some day 9
competent biographer will write
about him a most amazing story
finished his career on the twenty
fourth day Of August, 1880, I'm
Scathed-a neck which Shoult
have been on the gallows some q
times.
II copyright. 1895. by King Features
| Syndicate. 1nc.)