A HOAX THAT FAILED

Evening Star, Issue 14512, 2 November 1910, Page 8

A HOAX THAT FAILED

A remarkably audacious attempt to effect a big jewel robbery, which was frustrated ouly just in time, is reported from Potsdam (says the Berlin correspondent of the Central News Agency). The affair took place at one of the fashionable jewellers’ shops, where a brilliantly-equipped carriage drew up at the doors, attended by servants wearing the Imperial livery, and a fashionably attired young lady stepped from the vehicle and entered the shop. The proprietor, scenting a valuable Royal order, himself asked the lady’s wishes, and was told that she had been sent by the Kaiserin to select some presents for her daughter. After a careful inspection of the most costly diamond rings, brooches, and other goods, the lady chose articles of jewellery to the value of several thousands of pounds, and prepared to leave, one of her footmen carrying the boxes in which the jewellery had been packed. In the meantime, however, one of the shop assistants, who was well acquainted with V )c appearance of all the ladies of the court, and who knew he had never seen this particular lady before, had watched her closely, suspecting that something was wrong, slipped away and telephoned to the police. The arrival within a very few minutes of two detectives, who placed themselves at the doorway in waiting, did not pass unnoticed by the customer, who hurried her movements and made as if to pass quietly through to the street. She found her way respectfully barred, hut instead ft attempting to face the matter out she made a sudden dart through the door and attempted flight. The police were, however, too quick for her, and she was promptly seized and taken into _ custody. The spectacle of a fashionably dressed lady struggling in the arms of a couple of stalwart police officers created an unprecedented sensation in the neighborhood, but sho was quickly got into the waiting carriage, which had already been commandeered by another policeman, and the party drove off to the police station, the liveried footman and coachman safely handcuffed. Police investigations showed that the “court lady” was a well-known hotel-thief, very smartly disguised—the son of a certain Potsdam official, as a matter of fact—of whom the police had recently lost sight. A later message gives a different complexion to the above. This account states that a young man, nineteen years of age, the son of wealthy parents, fired by the description of a visit of a “Moorish mission” to a British battleship not long since, made a bet that he would visit the Potsdam residence of the Crown Prince in the guise of a lady. Having obtained the necessary attire, hired an elegant carriage, not unlike a Royal coach, and engaged two footmen and two pageboys, the hoaxer, styling himself the “Countess Arniin,” drove, accompanied by a friend, first to the law courts, over which they were shown by the officials, and then to the residence of the Crown Prince, - where they were allowed to enter and leave their cards unchallenged. A request to be shown over the castle was, however, refused. After leaving the castle, the “Countess’s” friend appears to have thought the joke had gone far enough, and left the young men, who drove alone to a Potsdam jeweller’s and selected some gems, which he directed should be sent for the Crown Princess’s inspection. But the masquerade was brought to a termination at this moment by the appearance of a detective from the Royal castle, 'who had suspected the bona fides of the self-styled countess, and followed “her” carriage on a bicycle. The “countess” confessed his real identity, and was arrested, having to pass the night in gaol. The police are inclined to take a serious view of the matter, and it is stated that proceedings will be instituted against the joker and Ins friend. —‘ Central News.’