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A FEMALE REPORTER TRACKING A $500,000ROBBERY.BY NELLIEBLYAuthor of 44 Nellie Bly's Book: Around the World in 72 Day*, 44The Mystery of Central Parle 44 Eva, the Adventuress, etc., etc.[37ti8 Story will not be Published in Book-form.]CHAPTER I.A $500,000 BOBBERY.Ok the fifth of August, 1889, two men, members of the great jewelry firm which, for obvious reasons, we shall call Diamond Co., presented themselves at police headquarters. They nervously asked for a private interview with the superintendent of police and the chief of detectives, which was readily, but not without much quiet specula tion, granted them.They stated, without any preliminaries, thatsome time between noon, Saturday, the third, and seven o’clock Monday morning, the fifth, their mammoth jewelry house, at the corner of Broadwayand -— Street, had been robbed of diamondsand other valuables to the amount of $500,000!The two officers, used as they were to all manner of strange and startling occurrences, stared stupidly at their informants, as if their tale was too strange to warrant belief.Five hundred thousand dollars was as close as they could estimate their loss at such a short time, but it was believed to be considerably more.The store had been closed at noon on the previous Saturday, as is customary during the summer months. The greater part of their valuables were deposited in safes before the store and its precious contents were delivered over to the keeping of two watchmen, whose duty it was to remain there fromSaturday until Monday.One member of the firm had always made a practice of being the first to enter the house of jewelson Mondays.When he arrived this day he had knocked for admittance, as was hi* custom, on an iron-shuttered door, which none but the watchmen inside could open. Much to his surprise lie received no 'answer, and when he began to look about he found the iron .shutter was not pulled down tight, and being unbolted cn the inside, practically left thestore open to the outside world.Without much effort the iron shutter was rolled up enough to allow the mystified and apprehensive| man to enter his place of business, when again he was alarmed and surprised to find the inside door ajar!Closing and locking it after him, with fearful anticipations of some dreadful misfortune, he rushed wildly into the store.The sight which met his gaze confirmed his worst fears.. . aHis familiar eye noted the confusion which wasbroadcast.Safes had been broken open and ransacked. The show-cases had been stripped of their nightly coverings, and the best of everything had been taken from the treasures they had held.Frantically the man rushed from floor to floor, finding everything in the same state of confusion, and every where the evidence of thieving presence. Then he remembered the watchmen, who, in the excitement of his discovery, he had forgotten.Of two things he felt positive. Either he would find them missing, or he would stumble upon theirmurdered bodies!Floor after floor he traversed, hunting, not the evidence of a robbery, but the evidence of a murder, until he reached the third.There he found them, lying side by side—bound, gagged, and blindfolded, but alive.He cut their bonds, and they staggered to their feet, facing him with a look which implied theirknowledge of the success of the robbery.They were stiffened and weak, as if from being long confined, and so nervous that it was labor for them to tell a connected story.In fact, there was so little they had to tell, and so strange was that little, that they hesitated and stammered over it, as if afraitl of convicting themselves.Finally the owner decided to let more capable persons worm the story of the robbery from the watchmen, and keeping them beside him, he went to the office and wrote a note to another member of the firm, explaining in a very abrupt way the state of affairs.He pulled the messenger call, and met the boy at the door by which he had entered.Before he had time to receive an answer, a messenger, who had been to his house and followed him to the store, brought word that another member of the firm, who had been ill, had died thatmorning.He immediately sat down to write on a black-bordered card a notice of the death to post on the door, when a loud knocking announced the arrival of an old and trusted employe, who was quickly made acquainted with the state of affairs.The notice of the death was posted on the Broadway door, conveying to employes as well as patrons the reasons for the closed iron shutters and barred doors.The other partner, to whom the note had been sent, soon arrived, accompanied by his son.The partners decided, after a hasty consultation, to go at once to police headquarters to tell the head officers the story of the robbery, meanwhile leaving the son, the trusted employe, and the two watchmen in the pillaged building.44 Have you any reason to suspect any one of this robbery?” the superintendent asked, when the men had told all they had to tell.44 None—none whatever,” was the quick response.“I shall call a couple of my n^n, and we’ll go op at once to the scene of the robbery,” said the inspector; adding, confidentially: “Never fear, I have a wall around New York City, and I’ll catch the thieves and their swag before twenty-four hours go over their heads. $500,000 worth! H’m! They’d have been safer if they’d been less hoggish.”44 There is one thing we must insist upon,” one of the firm said, impressively. 44 This robbery must be kept secret.”The two officials stared at him in surprise.“.That will be hardly possible, sir,” said one, chagrined at the possibility of being connected with a $500,000 robbery, and not being able to have an admiring public read of his opinions and exploits in print.441 repeat, sir,” the great jeweler said, firmly, 44 this robbery must be kept secret at any cost.”44 If you will allow me to say so, this is a strange demand for a man to make who* has* by his own statement, been robbed of $500,000,” the officer remarked, stiffly.“It may be so, sir,” was the replj-. 44 It may seem so to you, but it would cost us considerably more than $500,000 to have this robbery made pub-’ lie.” .441 hope you will tell us in what way?” the inspector said, dryly.44 You may not be aware of it, but wo are intrusted with diamonds, solid silver, and goldware, and gems of inestimable value by our patrons.”The officers nodded their heads, waiting for himto continue.44 Our store has been considered a fortress, I might say. None of us have ever believed it possible for thfeves to effect an entranee. Our patrons shared our belief. Resting easy under this delusion, we have been more careless than we should* have been otherwise. Not negligent, I wish to add; but had we been less positive that it would be easier ro steal the Statue of Liberty in a sightthan to enter our store, we shouM h^ve theprecaution of increasing our force of watchmen and leaving less jewelry in the Show-cases.”44 Well, sir, and do you fear to have this known, that you ask us to work in the dark, as it were?” asked the superintendent, as the victim of the robbery came to a pause.44 It is partly that. To be frank, our safes—as you will find when you examine the store—have all been broken open and a great many of the valuables intrusted to our care for safe keeping have been stolen! If this were to be made public, our reputation would be forever ruined. If a hue and cry is raised about our being robbed, our patrons will be the first to rush to us to inquire of the fate of their treasures, and when they know they are gone, I tell you, sir, our reputation and our business! would be ruined forever.”44 He is right, inspector,” said the superintendent; and the inspector confessed it was so.“We will spare no amount to recover what has been stolen from us, and we wish you, if you take charge of the case, to stop at nothing to regain what is gone.”“You can rest assured,” said the inspector, 44 that we will do all that is possible to be done. I shall put my best, men on it, and I shall bind them all to keep still regarding it. And now we will go up and make an investigation.” ,Calling for two of his best men, the inspector acquainted them with a short account of the wonderful robbery, impressing on them the necessity of maintaining secrecy concerning it.CHAPTER II.A WOMAN IN IT.The inspector and his men went quietly one after the other to the great building, which looked somber and still, as befits an edifice when black-bordered notices on its doors announce death.This great jewelry house, tall and dull of color, faces a beautiful green plaza. Its patrons can enter by either of two wide doors, or feast their eyes upon .gems in three windowis from the sidewalk. One door and many large windows are on the side of the building facing —*— Street. After business hours large, rolling iron shutters are drawn down until one is unable to distinguish door from window, or window from door. At all hours and times pedestrians pass this spot. Many glance at the white-faced clock resting on the back of the heroic figure of a bronze' man, and many remark the grim look of safety it wears.Of the thousands who-stepped up to read the notice on the door that day, not one among them, unless perchance the robbers themselves, realized what a scene was shut off from sight and hearing by the ponderous iron-ahuttered doors and windows.The detectives made a careful examination of all the windows and doors. They were found to be securely fastened. Only the iron shutter covering the —— Street door, which was used by the watchmen and firm,, bad been opened, and a careful inspection showed that it had not been forccd !This proved to the detectives that either the rob* bers had been hvdden insido beforo the storo closed, or were acting in cojlusion with the walt;Nh“ meu -who had! opened tl* (tour to admit ther*^who had then been bound and gagged afterward to preveut suspicion.After the detectives had made a round of the store, finding everything in the confusion described to them but not the slightest clew, they sat down to consult.. 44 This job was done by an expert,” the inspector said, grimly. 44 Everything had been clearly planned beforehand, and it’ll be more than a day’s work to catch the robbers.”441 wish, inspector, you’d let me work up thiscase,” said Murray Hazard, the cleverer of the two men whom the inspector had selected to accompany him. •441 thought of putting you on it,” the inspector said, good-naturedly. 441 wish Danger was here. Ee has a keen scent.”441 beg your pardon, chief; I don’t wish to interfere, but I would ask j'ou to remember that despite his scent he has made some bad blunders,” Hazard suggested, maliciously.44 He has also done some of the finest work,” tho inspector answered, warmly, and then proceeded with the investigation.The partners, who were then present, the son, the trusted employe, in turn were interrogated by the inspector, and twisted and turned and quizzed until they almost suspected themselves of being connected with the theft. No new information was gleaned, however.One of the watchmen was then called, and the inspector began to question hinu 44 What time do you go on duty Saturdays?” the inspector asked Watchman Jones, a large, burly fellow, with cross-eyes.441 comes here at twelve, an’ I stays ’til the bogs and day watchmen comes Monday mornings,” the man replied.44 Did you come at your usual time last Saturday?”441 did.” :44 Was Watchman——”“ Duffy, sur,” Watchman Jones offered.44 Was Watchman Duffy here when you came onSaturday?”“Hewaz. He come in jist ahead of me, fori seen him jist as he came in the door, an’ I followed right on his heels.”44 What was the first thing you did?”44 We pulled down the iron shutters and made thim fast, sure an’ tight.”44 Every one?”44 Yes, every one.”44 How, then, do you get in and out?”441 didn’t go out, an’ he as says I did is a liar,” the watchman exclaimed in anerer and fear.44 Oh, you did not go out?” the inspector repeated, looking at the man sharply, while Murray Hazard hastily wrote something in his note- bookfor future reference.44 No, sir, I didn’t, an7—-r*”“ Very well; but suppose you wanted to, howwould you do it?”44 By the same door as fche boss eonres in.”“Do you lock thut irou curiam just as you do! the others?”44 Certain, they’re jist the same kind,” the man answered^ and Murray Hazard made another entry , iu his note^okv
Newspaper Details
London Story Paper
London, Middlesex, GB
Sat, Apr 04, 1891
Page 1
Full Page
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USA 05 Dec 2019
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