Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1917 — INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE CITIES

New York Jewel Thief Worked Clever Trick NEW YORK. —Here’s the latest trick in thievery. The knave called up Reed & Barton, local the telephone. Said he was Frank Had-, ley, general manager of the subway system, and asked that several brooches: be sent to him at his office. He wanted

to select a gift. “Hedley” added. Reed & Barton put half a dozen brooches valued at $5,500 In a package and sent them to Hedley’s office, 165 Broadway, by a trusted messenger. The’ messenger was told Hedley was out. As a fact, he was ill, and not expected at his desk for several days. Before the messenger reached the store on his return trip the telephone bell rang and the man representing himself as Hedley asked for the mana-

ger. “I am very sorry I was not nt the office when your man called with the brooches,” he said, “but I was unayoidablyLdetalned- In fact, I shan’t return there today. Would you be good enough to send the brooches to my home, 96 Fanshaw avenue, Yonkers?” . The manager said- he would__be_dellghted, and when the messenger appeared he sent him to Yonkers, telling him to take a receipt for the package and leave it. When the messenger alighted at the railroad station a most agreeable man told him just how to get to Mr. Hedley’s house by the shortest cut. He remembers the man was going part way himself and went along until -hei could point out the house. Ten minutes after the messenger had left the Hedley home and headed: for New York minus the jewels, the Hedley telephone bell rang. The maid) answered. “This Is Reed & Barton’s, New York,” said the voice. “Has one of our ..messengers l«rft-a nooklace there?” ————— —... . The maid replied In the affirmative. “Well,” said the voice. “It was *| mistake. It should have gone to someone else. We are sending a local messenger for it. Please give it to him and he’ll give you a receipt.” and the mai'l gave him the jewels. He told the police afterward he had been: engaged by a man at the railroad station to get a bundle at the Hedley house. When he returned pie man took the package from him.

Fine Singer Discovered Doing Menial Work

PITTSBURGH.— Owing to spring skies reminding her of sunny Italy, or perhaps it was the Incessant bird song in the W’illiam Penn hotel lobby, Cecelia Samarrari, once singer in grand opera, while on her knees with a -scrub brush in her hand, opened the

casket of her forgotten notes and to the wonder of hundreds of guests scattered sweetest music from “H Trovatore,” and then she whistled arias from the famous opera. Assistant to President McCargo, A. K. Mcßae, and Assistant. Manager T. F. Mullins were hurriedly summoned from the front office, and they also listened without disturbing the newly awakened singer. As the songstopped and a crowd had gathered

around, the woman looked up in surprise, blushed and went on with her work. Mr. Mullins bade her enter the office, feeling that she could find a better job around the hotel, and she did. She told her story, while a waiter translated into English: ~ “Three years ago I was married to a French singer connected with Spalleti’s grand opera company, playing, in Paris at the outbreak of the wai;. My husband got killed in his first battle—he had been called out Immediately —and I was heartbroken. It must have affected my mind, and in some way I ceased to please the audiences, as my heart was too heayy. I w r as discharged. I was never taught to do anything but sing, and with my mind bewildered I made my way to America to go to some friends in Chicago. I had enough money to carry me over for a year. I found my friends bad moved to Pittsburgh, but 1 never found them here. With my money all gone and my heart sick of all thoughts of the opera, as it brought my dead husband back too vividly to me. I applied at different places, but could get no work. An Irish woman got me a place scrubbing in the hotel here; but the bird song and the blue skies, with the breath of Italy all about, made my heart joyous and I sang.” The woman then dropped her head. Mr. Mullins said something to the Interpreter, who stooped close to her and talked. Her face brightened and she nervously grasped Mr. Mullins’ hand and kissed It passionately. He had told her the management would give her a position suitable to her gifts. Discovered War Eagle, Hidden for Fifty Years PLYMOUTH, MASS—Here is food for “thought on the part of those who are seeking portents. Plymouth has seen its old war eagle once more after It had been hidden from the gaze of the public for many years. An"ltalian

laborer brought the old bird to the light in the attic of the old Bramhall building on Main street, Which is undergoing alterations. Before and at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war the old effigy of a spread eagle, carved in wood and standing on half-unfurled American flags crossed in its talons, stood over the gun rack of the Standish Guards, in what is now Masonic hall. When, as Company B, Third Massachusetts infantry, the

organization became part of the Minute Men of ’6l, on the first call, Capt. Charles C. Doten, commanding, gave the order to march, his men picked thelr~mwtkets frmn.beneath the eagle and _started for Fortress Monroe. _ The eagle remained there while the hall was used for an armory and then found a place in the Plymouth post office in the Davis building when the late George F. Weston was in charge, hanging high above the row of boxes. About 1877 the office was removed to Odd Fellows building, and the eagle disappeared In the move. How it landed in the rubbish of the old attic with, ancient account books and such is unknown. "The workman who found the bird flung it into a heap of refuse and there it was found. Its gilding has become shabby, but the flags are as bright ast when they went Into retirement.

Warm Reception Is Promised Returning Hubby DETROIT. —Edward Louis of this city gave himself up to the authorities in Menominee a few days ago. “I’m a wife deserter,” he said bravely. *1 want to take my medicine like a man.” The police obligingly locked bins

up. Then they asked Sheriff Stein to look up Mrs. Louis at 741 Junction avenue, the address given by the penitent husband. _At this house the Wayne county deputies found a buxom young woman, about twenty years old, energetically sweeping off her front steps. She was mildly nterested in hearing that her husband was in Menominee but flourished her broom in realistic fury when she learned of his self-made charge. ■ -

“He’s kidding himself!” she told the deputies. “He’s fio wife deserter. He’s Just excess baggage. I’ll meet him with this broom if he tries to tell me he’s a wife deserter. I’m through with him. All he wants is a ticket to Detroit after clearing out on his last pay day when we’d been married only six months. Wife deserter? Huh! Well, I won’t claim him! I’ve got n»X old Job back. I’m living with my mother and I have my freedom. Tell him ta quit kidding himself! I’m happy without him!”