The Disappearing Jeweler of Shelton
A local partnership ends in a hurried exit, leaving a business partner high and dry and a town searching for a fugitive.
About two months ago, Alex Larock and a traveling watch mender named Sam Bernard formed a partnership to carry on the jewelry business in Shelton, Larock furnishing the money and Bernard the experience. While the man with the latter quality tended the store in the Shelton building, Larock visited the different camps in this vicinity with watches and jewelry. Larock went to Kamilchie on one of these trips last week, and on his return Friday evening found the store locked and deserted. A short investigation showed that Bernard had flown, taking with him all the valuable portable stock and even his tools and lathe, having taken the steamer Josephine on Thursday. Telegrams were sent to the chief of police at the main points on the sound and Portland, but nothing has been heard from him. He got away with over $500 in jewelry. As he is now quite well equipped for a peddler, perhaps he is still in some part of the territory or Oregon, not being likely to go to Victoria on account of the duty. His description is as follows: A Jew, age about 25 years, about five feet six inches in height, light complexion and moustache, wore brown coat and light pants and imitation laced gaiters, with the laces cut out. The booty was carried in a telescope valise.
“A short investigation showed that Bernard had flown, taking with him all the valuable portable stock and even his tools and lathe.”
Business fraud remains a perennial challenge for small-town entrepreneurs, though modern digital trails have replaced the old-fashioned telegraph wires for tracking suspects. The mention of 'telescope valise' offers a fleeting, tactile glimpse into the travel habits of a 19th-century itinerant merchant.
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