Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1890 — A Clever Diamond Robbery. [ARTICLE]

A Clever Diamond Robbery.

The death of the famous thief, Walter Stewart, alias Sheriden, in a Montreal prison recalls a bold robbery committed in a diamond merch int s store by him and a pal. ten years ago, which for skill has never been equaled in Philadelphia. Then Sheriden was the most expert diamond thief in America, and a decoy jewel box in the possession of Joseph K. Davidson is the only relic of the daring theft and the mute reminder of the skill of the master thief. Though the two thieves were arrested for the crime some time later not a shadow of the jewels was ever seen by the victim or the detectives. The box is a tin one about eight inches long, four inches wide and (one inch deep. It contains white aud blue papers, usually inclosing loose stone, but 6a.t is the substance in them. ’loward the end of March, 1880, Sheriden, m company with Dave Cummings, another noted crook, visited Davidson’s place and purchased for SBO a diamond ring. They carefully noted tbe exact shape, size aud appearance of the diamond box while selecting tue stone from the collection. Iwo daj s later they came back, looked at the box again and de-parted-without purchasing. When Davidson his trusty box he found its jplace filled with the salt paper. While the salesman was busy they substituted theifalse box, and were perfectly successful in .playing their trick.