Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1890 — FAILED IN HIS ATTEMPT [ARTICLE]

FAILED IN HIS ATTEMPT

A BOLD ROBBERY PLANNED IN A CHICAGO HOTEL. A Guest Sends for m Jeweler to fend Him Diamonds for Examination and Then Attacks the Clerk in HU Room—The Robber Behind the Bars. Chicago dispatch: Tho other day Hyman, Rcrg & Co., jewelers and diamond dealers at 127 Stato street, received the following letter: ‘•Hyman, Rerg & Co.—Gentlemen: Please send, for my inspection, to room 649 in the Palmer house, several diamond rings and pins. Do not send very high priced stones, as I do not want to pay more than $125 for the ring and $65 for tho pin. I fell down and sprained my ankle last night, and so am unable to visit your store. lamin a hurry, as I will leave for Louisville to-night If I am able to ride in a cab. Very respectfully, Ralph Allen.” The firm telephoned to the Palmer house to find out what was known there of Mr. Allen. The reply caino back that nothing was known of hint except that such a person was occupying the room mentioned to which he had been assigned throe days beforo, without giving his residence. William A. Bigler, a salesman for tho firm, was sent to Allen’s room with a package of diamonds worth nearly 31,500 in his pocket. Ho also took with him to tho room Louis Perret, one of tho hotel porters, and stationed him just outside the door. Allen was in his room bathing in warm water tho foot lie said ho had Injured. * Negotiations for tho diamonds wore short. Allen picked out a ring worth $65 and a pin worth 8125. “Bundle the rest, of them up while I get tho money/’ said Allen, as ho drew tho bare foot out of the water and hobbled around back of Bigler and bent down to tako something from under the mattress on the bod. The salesman was about to look behind him, for he had been suspicious all tho while, when ho was half stunned by a terrific blow on tho head. Ho got upon his feet and faced his assailant In time to partly ward off the next blow. But tho heavy cane In Allen’s hand, after breaking on Bigler’s arm, descended with foreo enough to cut a wound two inches long in tho scalp. The woundod man screamed, and Allen, without stopping to grab the package of diamonds, rushed out of the room and down tho hall-way. Porret, the porter, followed, but lost the fleet-footed robber In a blind passage way. Cecil Gregg, the time-keeper, saw the thief go into a room on the fifth floor that happened to be unlocked, and, following him In, found him under tho bod. Ho was quickly pulled out and taken to tho armory. / Allen is about 5 feet 3 inches in height, thick-set, dark-complexioned, with a short, stubby black mustache and black hair, worn pompadour. From what papers were found in his satchel lie seeihs to have been lately In l’hHae delphlaand Washington. He would say\ nothing of his identity or his past. Of \ his present trouble he said: “Before God this Is my first offense against the laws. This Is tho first time I have over been guilty of a crime. lam willing to plead guilty and go to prison, but I am not willing to tell my true name and bring disgrace on my poor mother and father.”.