EXTENSIVE THEFTS OF GEMS IN NEW YORK. VALET SUSPECTED OF A COOL ROBBERY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7395, 22 February 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

EXTENSIVE THEFTS OF GEMS IN NEW YORK. VALET SUSPECTED OF A COOL ROBBERY.

The biggest jewel robbery that New York has known for many years, and one which in certain of its details recalls the theft of the Burden diamonds, is now engaging the attention of the police. The value of the gems stolen is moderately estimated at 50,000d01s (over £10,000). The victims, Mr and Mrs Paul G. Thebaud, are very well-known members of New York society, and the latter is a daughter of the late Mrs Jules Reynal. The presumed thief (according to the "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent) is a Swiss valet, named Kerns, who was only engaged a month or so ago. Mr and Mrs Thebaud went on Saturday to visit Mr and Mrs Howard Willetts at White Plains, on Long Island. Kerns, on the pretext that he had forgotten his razors, came back to New York early on Sunday, and possessed himself of what jewellery had been left in the town residence; but, apparently not satisfied with this haul, he went 1 out again to White Plains and obtained the gems wlilch Mr and Mrs Thebaua had taken with them. Then, on the plea of illness, and a desire, to consult the village .doctor, he took a trap from Mr Howard Willette's stables and drove to the railway station. Since then all trace of him lias been absolutely lost Among

the stolen gems was a pear-shaped pendant valued at 20,000d01s and a big pearl worth 15,000d015. The latter was a rare grey one, weighing 40 grains. Two hundred and fifty scarf-pins are included in the list of pieces stolen. .

Further details of Kerns' movements (adds the correspondent) conflict in some respects, with those first published, and show that Mr Thebaud had part of the stolen jewellery in his hands on Saturday evening, without knowing it. According to Captain Titus,, head of the detective department, Kern's, who accompanied the Thebaud family to' White Plains on Saturday, returned to the city on Saturday night. Mr Thebaud did not go to White Plains when the other members of his family left, but had waited until Saturday evening. He took the train at the Grand Central Station at 11 o'clock, and upon going into the smoking car after the train was started he was surprised to see Kerns asleep in one of the seats, with a valise beside him. .Mr Thebaud thought it very careless of the valet to leave luggage unguarded in that manner, and at the same time^he wondered why he had come back to the city. After some reflection Mr Thebaud decided to teach the valet a lesson for his supposed carelessness, and, going to the train men, he got them to take the valise and put it under a seat; then Mr Thebaud went to the valet and woke him up, demanding to know what he was doing there. The man seemed greatly flustered, but finally said he had forgotten his razors when he left the city earlier in .the day, and had gone back to get them. Mr Thebaud questioned him about the luggage, and when he could not find the valise Mr Thebaud dragged it out from under the seat and turned it over to him, telling him to be more careful next time.

The New York police have recovered about half of the jewellery stolen from Mr Thebaud, including the pearl pendant, •which is valued at 20,000d015. The gems were discovered in a pawnshop, where they had been pledged for 700dols, although they were worth nearly 30,000d015. The pawnbroker said the man who left them stated his Intention 1 of returning for a further advance. The description given of his customer by the pawnbroker tallied with that of Mr Thebaud's valet. Kerns, of whose whereabouts no trace has yet been found, but who, it appears, had had previous trouble with the law, his portrait being included in the collection of photographs of criminals kept at the police headquarters, and known as the Rogues' Gallery.