New Britain Herald Newspaper, December 13, 1928, Page 16

Howthe Cagey kedthe Myster ‘ewels i 2 Captain Tsaac Emerson, Patent Medicine King and Head of the Baltimore Family Famous for Its Many and Brilliant Marriages. He is Reported as Having Denied Knowl- edge of the Jewel Transaction. FORTUNE in gems, fliers in high tinance, and a Gordian knot of legal procedure are the chief factors in 8 swift moving drama of plot and counter lot which recently was enacted in New g’ork and the ramifications of which em- brace many figures of social prominences. Who owns the $480,000 worth of dia- monds, emeralds, rubies and pearls? A few weeks ago that guestion might have been simply answered. The jewels were the property of the John Wanamaker Company. Today, however, the ownership of the jewels is a moot question and & long legal battle may be necessary before it is answered. The whole fascinating drama revolves around a comparatively unknown figure, Mrs. Maria J. Leslie. According to in- vestigators, Mrs. Leslie for many years has been attached to the household of Cap- tain and Mrs. Isaac Emerson, Baltimore socicty leaders. Captain Emerson is a wealthy drug manufacturer and has been known as the “Bromo Seltzer King.” His family is noted for its many and brilliant marriages which have brought about unions with many of America’s most srominent families, including the Van- erbilts. The story opened some weeks ago when Mrs. Leslie registered at the Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, and communicated with the Wanamaker store regarding some purchases she desired to make, It since has been established that Mrs. Leslie undertook the duties of social sec- vetary for Mrs. Isaac Emerson, and that she frequently made purchases for the ac- count of her employer. When Mrs, Leslie pegistered at the New York hotel the Isaac Emersons were abroad, and while their names are the chief ones in the story they have not yet returned to cut or untie the knot which is puzzling officials and tying up the fortune in gems. + According to officials of the Wana- maker nr{uniufion, Mrs. Leslie expressed the intention of purchasing some jewelry for the account of Mrs. Isaac Emerson. An_elaborate collection of pendants, necklaces, rings and bracelets was dis- played for her consideration, and the total value of those she chose is placed at $480,000. The jewels were delivered to Mrs. Leslie, according to the officials at the sheriff’s office, and were charged to the account of Mrs. Emerson. And then, a few days later, the Wanamaker officials had a strange experience. A leading New York jeweler, Harry Winston, of Fifth Avenue, offered to sell the gems to the ‘Wanamaker organization at a profit of $50,000! When the department store heads had recovered from their surprise they acted quickly, and a thorough investigation was begun. The result of the investigation showed that Mrs. Leslie or her agent had offered the jewels to Mr. Winston, and that she had been introduced to him by ople whom he considered reputable. here was no evidence that he had acted in anything but good faith in purchasing the gems, and their purchase was said to have been a cash transaction. It is also stated that the department store officials succeeded in cabling Ca tain Emerson, and that, in reply to their uery, he stated that he know nothing ef the transaction and that Mrs. Leslie was not authorized to make purchases in such large amounts for his account. What was to be done? The department gtore officials realized acutely the osition in which they were pIarer{ Mr. inston, having boug} e gems in good faith, was holding th and until the return o_ the Isaac Emersons it would be impossible to build up any case indicating liabi on the part of any person in- volved in the transaction. There was no evidence to indicate that Mrs. Leslie had ;v\ right or authority to buy and sell ewels, Mr. Wi ston was called into conference, informed of the exact situa- ffered to return the jewels t sellers provided they would m for his purchase. They, of . having once paid for the jewels ed to do tr Winston, ap- ng the old rule of a in the hand biing worth two in the bush, kept the diamonds, rubies, pearls and emeralds adloc - tightly locked up in his safe, swaiting developments. Then followed the most picturesque &lfl of the whole mysterious busi oel C. Scaffa, a private detective, was called into the case. Mr. Scaffa has established a record for recovering lost and stolen jewelry, his most cutstanding accomplishment being the recovery wa:fl; Mr. Sc:f{l got in touch with Sheriff Culkin of New York, and the Sheriff as- signed Desuty Sheriff Lanman to work caffa in recovering the gems Together they evolved a clover plot which they proceeded to execute with clocklike fortune in gems belonging to the worth famil with Mr. precision, First they had a conference with the de- partment store heads, outlined their &hm, CO- and received assurances of comple operation. Also they received certified checks for the price of the jewelry, plus the $50,000 profit demanded by Mr. Winston. The next part of their little scheme was more difficult. It called for the as- sumption of an air of dapper nonchalance which both achieved with complete suc- cess. Posing as-“big business mex’ the‘ an entered Mr, Winston’s establishment asked for the proprietor. When he presented himself they intre- duced themselves as representatives of the department store, desirous of a confer ence cqneerning the Emerson jewelry. The conference was held forthwith, a com- lete list of the gems was received from gir. Winston and checked against the ‘Wanamaker li changed. Mr. the payment of his purchase price. Scaffa and Lanman departed with the remark that they would again take the matter up with their principals, and that they hoped & satisfactory adjustment But instead of going te the department store the two detectives went 'into court where a writ of replavin would be made. covering the fortune in gems was acquis Next they went to police headquarters satisfactory where they had s long aad- Noel C. Seaffa. Private Detective, Who, With _Deputy Sheriff Lanman, Persuaded Mr. Winston to Turs Over the Gems. partment store T P e - tigw e but the situation was not inston still insisted that he would return the jewels only upom Sherift . plot, and operati 99 Scaffa and Lanman called “We are r upon Mr. Winston bright and man, and a: early. They had talked with intentions the original owners of the jewels, they certified checks made out in favor of said, and fiml]g had persuaded the de- Mr. Wi eads to pay Mr. Winston Mrs. Isaac Emerson. She and Her Husband Now Are in Europe and the Strange Gem Case Cannot Be Settled Until They Return. eonference with police offi- for the jewels and take their chances of cials. This conference fin- getting the money back when the case ished the details of their little finally was settled. the next morning they were ready to put it into rangement, and asked them when they Mr. Winston was satisfied with this ar- would be ready to complete the deal. v now,” replied Mr. Lan- evidence of their serious e two men produced the ston, Certainly Mr. Winston could not have Newspper Feature Service, 1938 Sheriff Culkin, of New York, Displaying Part of the $480,000 Fortune in Gems Which He “Pad- locked” After His Clever Detectives Obtained Them by a Ruse Many Hands Have Been Reaching for the Jewels. been expected to find anything amiss with this display. Here were two repre- sentatives of the department store, ten- dering certified checks for the jewels, and obviously impatient to obtain treasure and thus close the transaction as far as he was concerned. So the jeweler went to his safe and returned with the dis puted jewels, Velvet pads were brought, spread en the counter, and an examination of the jewels was made. There was nothing burried about the process. Messra, Scaffa and Lanman went over the itemized list of the gems and checked =ach piece care- fully, en they reported tlie collection satisfactory. It was restored to its cases which were wrapped up, and Mr. Winston extended the jewels across the counter with one hand while with the other he reached for the certified checks held by Mr. Scaffs. Mr. Scaffa took the jewels and started to hand Mr. Winston the checks. But the checks never reached Mr. Winston’s hand! Instead Mr. Lanman slapped a pnlpor into the palm of the surprised jeweler, and Mr. Scaffa calmly pocketed both gems and checks. As for Mr. Winston, he looked down with surprise at the writ of replevin which called for the restora- tion of the jewels by Sheriff Culkin! Detectives, jewelers, and all concerned agree that the recovery of the $480,000 gem fortune by this ruse was one of cleverest pieces of Iefll procedure ever seen in New York. e scheme worked perfectly from start to finish, and the proper note of seriousness was added immediately after the replevin writ was served. With the jewels and the checks in their xmuion Scaffa and Lanman signaled to 0 men who had been loitering in front of the store. They were headquarters detectives assigned to accompany Scaffa and Lanman, and they entered to assure Mr. Winston that the two “Wanamaker representatives” really.were peace officers and that, now that the; gained pos- session of the jewelry, t{my would be pro- tected until their treasure was safely in the vaults of Sheriff Culkin! Of course the jewels were not im- mediately turned over to the department store. They were held three days, as is required by law, and then representatives of the original owners appeared at the Sheriff’s office to demand their return. The store ‘eosted an $800,000 bond to in- sure Mr. Winston’s protection in the final settlement, and once more the precious stones were back where they started! Not only has this case offered a fas- cinating study in le, annals, but it bids fair to present further difficulties. Authorities frankly are at a loss to de- termine whether a crime has been com- mitted. There were no charges against any person involved and there was no in- dication that there would be any. Mrs. Leslie has, in the past, been au- thorized to make purchases for the Isaac Emersons. Theye is no record of any previous purchase involving such a sum as $480,000, but that fact alone indicates ne violation of law. Since visiting New York Mrs. Leslie has been in a Connecticut sanatarium. She . The Veery Clever Ruse Employed by 4 Two Detectives to Recover a Fortune g in Gems Bought and Charged to ~ the “Bromo King’s” Account. At The Former Mrs. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Who Is One Captain Emerson’s Daughters. She Was Margaret Emerson and Now Is Mrs. Raymond T. Baker. has flatly refused to discuss the case, The clever ruse which cffected the re- eovery of the “mystery jewels” and won the amused admiration of the New York lice, is not the first to bring Detective fa to public attention. Perhaps his most striking achievement was the recovery of the jewels of Mrs, James P. Donahue, Woolworth heire: a few years ago. Returning to the Ho Plaza after an afternoon stroll Mrs Donahue deposited $681,000 worth of jewelry, which she nad been wearing, in & dresser of her room. When next she looked for the gems they were missing. An insurance com- pany retained Scaffa to track the thief, and the case attracted front page publi- city throughout the country. Police ef- forts to locate the loot were futile, and the authorities were completely baffled when Detective Scaffa showed up at headquarters with the missing jewels. He carried the fortune in plain brown paper, and poured it out before the astonished eyes of detectives. When questioned Scaffs told of a mysterious “Mr. X" from whom he had secured the ms. ”Accordlnl to the police investigation which followed, Scaffa received a tele- phone call at his office. The man on the other end of the wire inquired if Scaffa was interested in the Donahue jewels. The detective replied that he was, and the mysterious “Mr. X" offered to returm them for $65,000—nearly ten per cent of their value. Scaffa agreed to meet the “unknown®” and the rendezvous was kept in a New York hotel. Scaffa gave “Mr. X" $65,000 and received the jewels, which were restored to their original owner. This amazing recovery placed Scaffs definitely before the public as a clever detective, and paved the way for his en- trance into other celebrated jewel cases. One of these which attracted wide publicity was the recovery of a $40,000 arl—paYt of the loot from the home of osiah C. Cosden, which was rifled dun ing a party which he gave for the Prince of Wales—a house guest at the time. The total loot in the case amounted to $200,000, and Scaffa discovered the famous “rose pearl” in the shop of & reputable New York jeweler. The dealer told of having purchased it for $8,000. The pearl was returned to Mr. Cosden. Brilliant cases such as these two have marked the career of Scaffa as a de- tective, and he has been frequently called in by wealthy families who have been victimized by sneak thieves. Ae- cordingly he appeared the loflul person to deal with the knotty proiflem of the Emerson gems, and his divposition of the case at least has won the admiration of his fellow operatives, although the case still is far from settled. But regardless of how it is ad. justed, and no adjustment was considered possible until after the Emersons re- turned from abroad, Sheriff Culkin is the cne principal who is entirely satisfied. For he has mccexsfullr “padlocked” the ewels which he literally took from M. inston’s safe with the cooperation of the very jeweler whose last wish would have been to see the jewels leave his shop without being paid for! i