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speaking of hail, we got some hail and even snow in Orinda yesterday. tomorrow's low is 28 degrees F.
As I was quietly taking photographs at the pond’s edge, this goose came up to me thinking I had lots of food, but I had nothing to hand over, so it decided the camera was the next best thing.
We replaced the coconut matting liners in a couple of pots and spread the remains of the old ones around the garden for use as nesting material. These free offerings have been totally ignored but the new liners have been ripped to shreds by a couple of blackbirds.
When my son and I crashed a train robbery on the McCloud Railway in 2003, we didn't appreciate that we were seeing a metaphor for the entire railroad. A little over a year later, the steam locomotive would be sold. In 2006, freight operations ceased. Although the scenic line from McCloud to Mount Shasta remains in place, resumption of rail activity becomes less likely with each passing year.
As the hostage negotiator failed to make contact with the bank robbers, the incident commander decided to deploy the Special Tactics Unit to resolve the incident.
The Special Tactics Unit move into position and deploy tear gas into the bank. As the team made entry, the two bank robbers surrender and the team arrested them peacefully. All hostages are rescued and unharmed.
The Black-headed Gulls just wait for the Terns to return with sand eels and quite often will try to rob the Terns of their food.
Recently I have been inspired by a lot of other builder's futuristic/cyber punk Mocs. Ended up being one of my favorite Mocs I've done.
Hughenden Post Office opened on the 1st of July 1878 (a receiving office had been open from 1874).
Officials confirmed on the 27th of March 1900, a robbery took place at the Hughenden Post Office. The items taken from the post office safe included a large quantity of jewellery, a fixed deposit receipt for £500, and cash amounting to £338. Also twenty registered letters.
In connection with the robbery, the police had later discovered two cheques buried near the Flinders River. The cashbox of Mr Storey, the postmaster, had also been discovered but the contents were missing. Some postal notes were unearthed near the river, and several other boxes were also found, one of which contained four watches and several cheques, including one for £686. A couple of other small cheques had also been recovered. The amount that was stolen from the safe totalled to £329.
By April that year, an arrest had been made over the post office robbery. John Sweeney, a labourer, was charged on suspicion - - only with preliminary formal evidence.
Source: Trove.
Not much of normal interest but just imagine two 1960's Jaguar motor's ripping through the frame in a breakneck cop's versus robber's car chase.
Well, it happened here in 1967, in the film Robbery, starring Stanley Baker, Barry Foster and George Sewell.
You can see the chase on YouTube, Robbery (1967) - the car chase, 6:23.
LR3599
Cooper saw on the news a bank robbery. There where hostages and the police were trying to negotiate with the robbers. He told Jenny and they rushed over. It was fairly easy for Illusion to get in although Glimpse a little harder time. When they were in they saw someone they had never seen. He was wearing all green and had a yellow belt. He also appeared to have some sort of cannon attached to his right arm. They only saw him for a few seconds as he dashed across the counters and blasted a perfectly circular hole in the roof and jump out. They did have a short shootout with the other normal robbers after the man in green escaped.
This was intended to be an app for Arsenal in the DCSG, I had planned on fixing up the character and bringing him back to his prime, pre rise of arsenal, I was told I couldn't use him since he was In the outlaws series, I assumed it would be like the league where characters from it have their own series, but I decided not to argue and now I'm going to release this one story, and maybe if I get lucky I can nudge this into DCSG cannon, though that's just wishful thinking, anyways enjoy.
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Star City
A couple days ago I had gotten an anonymous tip that there was gonna be some robbery in Star City, honestly I don’t know why I didn’t just tell Ollie, but nonetheless I headed back to my old home. I have been alone recently,some of my friends have left town recently on their own business, so i've been alone, if I'm being honest with myself, I'm not in the best shape right now, but I won't let that slow me down, I can take out some thugs. Soon enough two shady looking men dressed in black walk in, one's wearing a long coat, the other one a jacket, one's bearded, the other one clean shaven,normally I would be drawing my bow, but I've been using a crossbow recently my advanced arsenal helps a lot, after all there's nothing like it. __________________________________________________
"Alright Roy, you know why we came down here to the range, right?”
“Well sure Ollie, I've gotta show you my archery skills.”
“Yeah, now it's okay if you mess up at first, I'm here to support you through this” we prepared to shoot, but in a shocking turn of events, I was able to draw my bow faster, with one swift motion I launch the arrow out of my hand, when it's began to take off, Oliver launches his, the two arrows race to their respective targets, and with a loud sound on impact, Roy's arrow hits first.
“Wow...that’s speedy!” he yelled out, joy and amazement came over his words.
“You know I kinda like that name, can you call me Speedy?”
“That sounds good, Speedy." _________________________________________________
I get my mind back on the mission, trying to concentrate I keep remembering that first time firing my bow with Ollie, I look down at my crossbow, with distain. Now time for the mission to really start, gotta get these thoughts off my mind, the thugs dash out of the bank and make a break for a little alley way on the right, but they won’t get away tonight. I jump down and shoot at the bearded thug, who in a scatterbrained move, jumped on to the other thug, knocking him down.
“COME ON LET’S GET OUTTA HERE!” the bearded thug scrams away, he doesn’t have any money, only this guy. I aim the crossbow at his face and he cowers in fear. I can see him clearly now, young man, early twenties, looks like a good kid, looks can be deceiving, I’m sure scum like this would use that.
“P-please man, I’ve got a little brother at home, come on man…please” I keep my crossbow pointed directly at his head, I might do it, I haven’t done it too recently, and I used to never do it, hell it wasn’t too long ago that I switched to using a crossbow.
Looking at this young man, cower in fear of me, as I hold a deadly weapon directly at his skull, it saddens me, things, things were different back then, everything was, back in Star City, now maybe it’s time to use an old trick Ollie liked.
“Your little brother, why are you taking care of him, what caused you to get custody?”
“My family visited Gotham, me my mom, and little brother, we had so much fun, then one day, one of the big time criminals showed up, we didn’t find her body for a week, when It finally turned up it was a miracle, she was alive, but comatose, I’ve been taking care of him ever since” the words fade into the black night as I begin to ask him more questions.
“Sorry for prying, but what about your father?”
“Was a good man worked for the CIA, during the prometheus incident he was killed, that damn man took a lot away from all of us” as I hear that I look at the portion of my arm that was cut off, covered by one of the gloves I wear, back when I worked for the Government on my last mission some pretty bad stuff happened and it led me on this path. Killing, causing pain, it’s not the right way, I've been operating In newer ways recently, and now it's time to change that. “Leave and go to your brother, but you need to let me bring the money back to the bank, and stay away from your partner, he seems like he intends to get you killed, oh and nice cap, much better than a trucker hat, I hate those things” I look around, cops will be here soon, he better hurry up.
“Alright, I’ll get outta here, and I defiantly agree with you on trucker hats” he begins to sprint the opposite direction of the alley, good to see those two won’t be meeting up, now it’s time to set out on a new chapter of my life, a story of redemption.
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So that was the first part of my Arsenal series, It may last north of twenty issues, maybe more, It was essentially supposed to be a Roy Harper Rebirth, but in a big epic story where he confronts an old enemy, I hope you guys enjoyed it have a good day, bye.
There are many stories revolving around spectacular robberies of trains and post carriages from the old days of wild west. Some of them are more convoluted than others, though, like the story of John „Dandy“ Slim, the notorious gunslinger and ladies man. „Dandy“ Slim had committed various dreadful crimes before his final heist. Robbing banks and carriages, stealing horses, cattle and gold, he had always been one step ahead of the authorities and close to the women’s hearts. This might sound strange, but most women liked him, for he showed their husbands that they were not all mighty and often embarrassed them with his extraordinarily spectacular and effective ways of taking their gold and money away. For what should be his final heist, he had apparently chosen a National Bank gold transfer headed for the west coast. Ladden with gold, diamonds and finest whisky, this transport was worth a fortune and would guarantee any robber a luxurious life style for the rest of his days. Sherif Richard Montgomery Barns was sent out to keep the fright save. He had gotten word of Slim’s planned heist and hid with his men aboard the train. Slim and his associates were quickly outnumbered and taken into custody.They should have been transferred to a prison at the west coats upon the trains arrival, however, shortly after their capture the train was forced to stop because of damaged train tracks. Since the ranch of Alistor Cray, a wealthy landlord, was nearby, the Sherif decided to lock away Slim and his gang in there until they could continue their journey. Guards were posted all around the ranch and Slim was locked away as securely as possible. Yet, the next day no trace of him or the gold could be found. All doors were still locked and the guards couldn’t remember a thing. The case remained a mystery for a long time, as the sherif and landlord wondered what outside force could have managed to pull this off. The truth was only discovered months later, when landlord Cray’s wife disappeared, leaving a letter for her flabbergasted husband. She had fallen madly in love with „Dandy“ Slim and run away to reunite with him. The day of the robbery, she damaged the tracks, given the guards poisoned whisky and opened the locks for Slim and his gang, just as they had planned. Locking everything again afterwards, she had stayed behind to not draw any attention. After her letter was submitted to the authorities, a massive search for her and Slim was started, but they were never found. Some say they fled to Europe, some say to the far East, some say to Russia, but they all agree that they had fled to a better life, being blessed with endless amounts of money and true love for each other.
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Here are my western themed figures for the second round in the @figbarfcentral fig-off-tournament against benthebrickbuilder. This was a nice challenge and I had quite some fun working on the forced perspective background.
I had a long wait tonight, went early 'cause the sun was shining but I only saw a couple of the bigger cubs late on, quite pleased with this though. The magpies are a sure sign of an approaching fox, every now and then the cubs will go for one of them but I can't imagine them actually catching one. I'm trying to catch up but by the time I get back from the foxes I have to set up for the badgers, I really want to get make the most of the badger cubs before we go away in a few weeks : )
And yes the magpie has a piece of the fox's meat.
Somersworth, New Hampshire
As featured in the new book, Wicked Strange: Your Guide to Ghosts, Monsters, Odditties & Urban Legends from New England.
Investigate an 1897 Good Friday murder and bank robbery that left the town of Somersworth, New Hampshire, in shock. A 68-year-old pillar of the community named Joseph Stickney was found lying in the bank in a pool of his own blood. The police chased 24-year-old Joseph Kelley into Canada where he was apprehended and brought back to New Hampshire for trial. In court, Kelley claimed he was under contract with the Devil.
Scene V - Robbery
#flickrnovel #novel
When we got back home the door was open. I knew I hadn’t left it open so I asked if we should call the police because there probably had been a robbery. Sebastian said that he will first check if something valuable has been stolen or would it be better to leave it without messing the police with it. After all, it would have taken long before they even got there and the investigation would have taken another hour or two. He didn’t notice that anything special was gone, but the home looked like a disaster. Still, he looked worried and looked like something had disappeared even if he tried to assure me that everything was fine. The apartment was messed up and there were papers on the floor. Even the book that I had been examining before was ripped apart. I wonder what they had been looking for but apparently they didn’t find and there for there was a mess of frustration. We cleaned the place until we were too tired to continue and finally fell asleep. He was sleeping in his bed and I was sleeping on that old velvet couch.
At night I woke to the sound of someone knocking on the door. I saw that Sebastian was in deep sleep so I quietly walked to the door. I saw a paper sliding under it and then I heard steps. Whoever he was, he left before I got a chance to open the door. Hallway was dark so I didn’t see anyone when I tried to look from the spyhole. I took the paper and saw it was for Sebastian. I walked back to the bedroom, put it on his nightstand and went back to the couch without getting any sleep at all. It had been a long day and night. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow to find out what was in that paper and maybe I would also find out what the letter I found earlier was all about.
To be continued...
Read the other scenes here: www.flickr.com/photos/neya365/sets/72157625025686050/
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Text & pic all rights reserved Neya
September 27.2010 Finland.
The inspiration for the character Angie came from the cover art that first appeared in the magazine : Best true detective cover July 1962 flic.kr/p/bnSaXy
The story of the racket dames behind the sensational Park Avenue Jewel Robberies
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This is a link to a You Tube Video of a thief not unlike our Angie.
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Title: Now, if only she could find where that darling young miss, the one so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too?
Case Study 113 : Warning, these are the raw, bare unusual facts as originally recorded. Some names, times, places and some facts have been altered.
Name: Angelica D circa 1933
Subject: an unscrupulous light-fingered body thief
Place: Resolution Ball - Baltimore (original incarnation)
Time: Evening, through early morning, of the dance
Story line:
Angie grinned, stowing away the emerald bracelet, as she smugly watched the police dragging away the struggling girl. Lit cigarette dangling from a corner of her lip; Angie smirked wickedly to herself as Ginny frantically tried to plead her innocence.
**
One of the coppers had her by the wrists; the other tried gripping her waist, finding it slippery by the satiny gown she was wearing. Ginny was pleading, it was not me, I don’t know how it got there, please let me go, my emeralds, my bracelet… its…its…. gone! I must find it, shrieked the struggling girl. Angie just listened to the girl, ginning; Ginny’s tearful words, spoken in her brash nasally east ender accent, wasn’t helping her cause with the pre-judgmental coppers.
One of them snarled loudly into her ear, ere ,you aint the kind to wear emeralds sister, we’ve got your number, it was her diamonds youse was after.
Actually, she had, Angie admitted to herself wickedly. Yes, dear Ginny had been wearing an emerald bracelet, the one Angie now had tucked securely away. Nevertheless, she chose not to enlighten the harness bulls on the matter, and smugly watched as the small group disappeared through the entrance, heading down to the eastside patrol car waiting at the street, as she let a wisp of cigarette smoke curl upwards from her sneering lips.
**
So it was now, with the emeralds safely tucked away, that Angie turned he back to the main door to watch down the long corridor as she continued puffing on her victory smoke. At the end of the hallway was the main entrance to the cavernous Ballroom where all action had all taken place leading up to poor Ginny’s arrest.
With a suspect now in custody, and two less security bulls, Angie was free to slip back in amongst the wealthy guests in attendance at the ball. Now, if only she could find where that darling young miss, the one so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too! She shivered deliciously at the mere thought of it. However, she decided to take her time finishing her cigarette, give things ample time to cool down, as she marveled at the opulence that seemed to bleed from every square inch of the Baltimore Palace this evening.
How Angie savored attending events held here, and visited the Baltimore area Ballroom several times whenever she was in town on “business”. The lighting, modern for the day, seemed to coax any piece of jewelry to sparkle. Making it ever so easy to focus on even the smallest (and sometimes most expensive) piece a fashionably dressed female would be wearing.
**
For you see, Angie was a master pickpocket, who, with the discovery and subsequent aid of a pamphlet written in the early 1800’s, was able to take her game to the next, more profitable level...
See Album: Angie Picks Chicago for the story of how she discovered the phamplette.
Entitled the Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip by “Gaston Monescu, 1826”, it covered the various tactics and moves used by master pickpockets of the time, Including whole chapters on successful “Methodes” of relieving a well-dressed lady of her” jeweles”.
Angie had nimbly crafted a new art form of relieving wealthy women and rich girls of their valuable jewelry. She performed this feat by combining the tactics of an illusionist, with the delicate touch of “The Dip” ; Employing this method to nick the fiery sparklers while still warm from the unwary, usually sleekly be-gowned , shapely figures ostentatiously displaying them!
**
Angie began to reflect on how the ballroom had looked when she had first entered some three hours previously. She had been eagerly anticipating the opportunities in store for her inside, and she was not disappointed in the very least. The place was packed wall to wall with guests dressed in their dapper nines for the annual event.
Like a kid in a candy shop, Angie had eagerly looked over the crowd, admiring the shiny, flowing gowns the female guests were wearing. Selecting and keenly observing dresses made of the richest, most form fitting material, for by long experience, these women wearing them would bring the most profit. By employing this method to narrow the field of selections, Angie was able to quickly to pinpoint on a piece of jewelry, make her move, and be gone before giving any security patrolling the area a chance to recognize her for what she was. It sometimes was as easy as slipping candy from a baby’s grasp, or as Angie like to imagine it, relieving the satin and lace clad innocent of her “silver spoon” *** ( see addendum AA)..
Angie than eagerly looked over the jewels of those she had chosen, vividly glittering their colourful joy at being brought out of the vault and worn for this evening’s festivities. She had been quite hard pressed to make a selection, so for the first 30 minutes or so, Angie just mingled about, following her whimsy.
Then she spotted Olivia. Elegant in a long slick purple gown of luxurious silk that pleasantly flowed and swirled tightly along her shapely figure as she flitted about, presenting the very picture of a tickle thief’s dream ( see addendum BB).. Young, flighty and loaded with beckoning diamonds, Angie began to stalk her in ever decreasing circles, hunting her slowly, deliberately, much as a snake in the grass would a tiny unsuspecting mouse. However, all too soon, Angie realized that this mouse was being watched over by someone else, like a hawk.
The hawks name was Ginny. Lower east end, rough as her cousin Olivia was polished, awkward in one of her cousins borrowed long satin gowns, she watched protectively over her mingling cousin from the sidelines, totally out of her element, ill-fitting right down to the only jewelry she wore, a shimmering elegant emerald bracelet that was obviously borrowed( probably from Olivia) . Angie weighed the consequences of an attempt on Olivia’s diamonds, deciding that there was plenty of less guarded prey, and so Angie reluctantly decided to let go of the scent.
**
It was not much later that Angie, from her new perch at one of the twin bars that lined opposite sides of the room, found herself eyeing a most interesting subject. She rose and began trailing behind the swishing gown of her new prospect. The fine taffeta gown was spilling down along the still voluptuous, if not a little pudgy, figure of an older, matronly looking lady with long hair of faded gold. Her longish hair was home to a glittering Diamond Head band, from which shimmering strings of diamonds were entertained in her still silky soft hair.
The lady stopped to chat with two other finely decked out women, giving Angie a chance to circle and leisurely eyeball, head to foot, these unsuspecting ladies baubles. Angie felt her heart rate quicken with delight at what she saw.. Now, older women could be a little bit trickier since they were more likely to notice quicker the disappearance of often worn jewelry, as opposed to younger ladies or girls were not yet used to wearing fine jewelry adorning their squirming figures. Nevertheless, Angie spied something that should even the playing field a bit, so to speak, making this wealthy lady a fairly less risky prospect…
Now, Monescu‘s pamphlet had a little side Chapter on how ladies would sooner think jewels were lost as to believe they had been stolen from them (pickpockets only go after wallets and hankies, my dear, everyone knows that!) . To this end, lifting only one of a pair, like an earring, or clips, is a safe bet, especially if one desires to tempt fate and remain in the area to try for a second piece, like say the brooch that one of the ladie’s friends was obligingly displayin!
And the lady with the shimmering headpiece Angie was ogling, was wearing a pair of twin diamond and ruby clips, one on each side of the wide shiny sash that tightly encircled her gowns’ bulging waistline. Taking one of those expensively jeweled clips would be as easy! As easy as picking the slippery pocket of a fidgety young child clad in silk. Which in a fashion, Angie had actually done many times early on in her career. ,.. Including once long ago, coming across not one fidgety child, but a small group of em! The wedding attired young girls were playing alone at a playground, their chaperones having obligingly wandered off for a bit of naughty fun! When Angie finally left the chirpy little group to continue their game of (appropriately enough) cops n robbers, It had definitely not been just the contents of the gullible young lady’s fluttery satin gowns’ pockets that walked off along with her!
(See album, Angie at play, for the full story)
Angie’s full attention was now focused on the two wave shaped clips as the pair fired glittering salvos of flickering rainbow-like colures with each elegant movement their mistress made. Patiently Angie stalked from a distance, awaiting her chance. It came soon enough, when the Hors d’oeuvres were put out, and the clips, along with their mistress, headed with the other multitudes of guests to the long banquet tables. As they formed a line, Angie managed to wedge herself in between the lines, effectively cutting off her victim, who bumped against Angie.
Angie’s left hand slipped in and snaked along the satin sash, feeling once again the deliciously tingling ling chill she always experienced when her fingers first rubbed against the warm scintillating material of a luscious gown as she dipped in to steal the selected jewel.. This time was no different as her slender fingers located the first of the clips ; lifting it up, and nimbly flicked open the clasp( it was amazing how jewelers skimped on clasps when making upper end jewels), at the same time her right hand slithered up the slick taffeta backside of her victims gown. Reaching underneath an armpit, her fingernails dug in, distracting her victim as to the nefarious activity happening at her waist. The lady was knocked slightly off balance, and anyone else who saw the pair had their eyes focused their faces, and not on any handiwork occurring with the hands below sight.
Angie apologized profusely in her softest most innocent voice. Petting down the ladies backside as she did so with her right hand, while her left plucked the clip from her sash and palmed the jewel and slipped behind her back. It was over in seconds, merely someone trying to cut the line, and Angie made her escaped receiving a few clucks of the tongue from one of the ladies’ friend as the lady caught up to them. Angie just smiled at them winningly, her hand still behind her back. As she smiled, Angie slipped the diamond clip down inside her sash before turning away and heading off.
It had all come off quite easily, and Angie was congratulating herself, when suddenly a voice behind her pronounced, quite loud and clear, oh my gwad Ceclia, you’ve lost a brooch. Diamond clip Angie correctly the lady silently to herself. She did not turn, but kept on moving, even slowing her pace a bit. From the same area she heard Celica gasp. Me clip, I’ve lost one of me diamond clips! it was here a minute ago, remember Maud, you was admiring them, weren’t you? Angie could imagine from what actions the lady in the elegant taffeta gown was taking now that she had discovered her loss, security was probably hoofing their way over, Angie had to think quickly.
Not losing any of her demeanor, Angie turned causally around to watch with the rest of the nearby group as the lady was showing her sash and the remaining clip to a couple of her friends. Angie spied a brace uniformed bulls approaching. She casually turned and headed across the room, her mind whirling. she knew that the pricy clip was too hot to hold onto. She had slowly looked around as she sauntered away from the scene. Then, spotting one of the many Ladies powder rooms scattered around, she ducked into it. Angie knew from past experiences ( and a few hints from Monescu‘s phamplett) that rooms such as these had a plethora of hiding places to let “hot items” cool down..
She entered the room, the noise dying out as the door closed. She was alone, wait, not nearly, the room had one other occupant. Ginny was at the sink, washing her face, the bored look she had worn all evening now was replaced by deep thoughts, forlorn ones by the looks of it. On the fly Angie coolly devised a plan.
She walked up behind the unwary, unnoticing, fetchingly clad Ginny, and wrapped her arms round her, hugging, as she called out, Maude dear, I haven’t seen you in ages. Ginny was uncomfortably flabbergasted, and Angie felt her warm figure stiffen. She turned and Angie apologized, I am so sorry , I totally mistook you for someone else. I should have known better, Maude is not nearly as pretty .As she spoke, Angies’ fingers touched and prodded the startled girl, not allowing her to collect her wits. If Angie was hoping for a smile, she didn’t get it,. Streetwise Ginny looked at Angie hard, and scolded the thief for scaring the beezusses out of her. In a Huff Ginny left, Angie watched as Ginny’s soft gown curled around the closing door before whipping out of.
She was smiling to herself, for as she had hugged Ginny, she had deposited the clip in the innocent girls green velvet purse that was laying open on the vanity. She had also in the process, tit for tat, whisked off the wide gold bracelet embedded with emeralds.
Not wasting any time Angie headed down the hallway where she secreted the bracelet in a nearby ash can, slipping it underneath the ½ ash filled bowl. Angie than reentered the ballroom, and went up to the orchestra’s conductor and requested a couple of waltzes, ones she knew were lengthy.
She then look around to make sure that she had all the principle players in her plot in sight. She spied Ginny talking with her cousin Olivia, and Celia was still searching the floor by the banquet tables. Now Maude , Maude took a little doing, but Angie spotted her chatting with a security cop. Great Angie thought, all I need to do is wait for it. “It” soon became apparent , was the start of one of the slow waltzes, and sure enough, Olivia was almost immediately scooped up and led off to the dance floor, leaving poor Ginny alone, as she had been most of the evening. Her hard disposition more than enough to keep any potential suitors at bay.
Angie immediately sought out Maude, a short mousey woman in a faded velvet gown wearing loads of gold chains and bangles. Angie caught her ear; feeding her a story about what she saw being placed in a certain green velvet purse. Maude’s eyes darted to where Ginny stood along a wall, and Angie saw a delicious gleam flare up in mousey Maude’s semi -be speckled green eyes.
**
Angie than serenely slipped back, regaining her barstool perch and waited as the developments unfolded. Maude went to the copper she had been chatting up, and they both went to Celica. The copped grabbed a partner and the group surrounded poor Ginny. Angie kept one eye on the, and the other on Olivia, who was dancing on the far side of the room, blissfully unaware of the clamor on the far wall, that was surrounding her hapless cousin Ginny.
Angie saw that, upon discovering what she had in her purse, they were going to arrest her and escort Ginny off the premises, exactly as Angie had planned! Angie slipped from her stool, and headed out to the lobby to await the final act in Ginny’s tragedy. Angie concealed herself in the hidden alcove, behind the small ash can where she had stashed the emerald bracelet. Just in time to witness the poor girl, struggling between the two security types, and being forcibly escorting her out. When she was sure no suspicion was coming her way, Angie lit a victory smoke, and retrieved the emeralds, stowing them away as she looked back upon the protesting Ginny, struggling as she was being ushered out the door to the waiting patrol car on the street below.
**
Now, Angie only had to find where that darling young Olivia, so richly clad in purple silk, had gotten her pretty little self-off too! With a suspect now in custody, and two less security bulls, Angie was free to slip back in amongst the wealthy guests in attendance at the ball. Good thing old Angie girl was a tough cookie, she contemplated, congratulating herself over not losing her head and coming out in roses, as happy with herself, she watched down the hallway. She was in no hurry; haste makes waste after all, so Angie savored her thoughts as she waited patiently to continue her mischievous habits.
Her thoughts now were trained fully on the unsuspecting, capriciously flighty , Olivia, and her dazzling diamonds.
In her mind’s eye she relished over several scenarios that could develop, and how to use them to her advantage, Angie exciting herself so much that she held the cigarette for a minute to lick her lips over them…
She imagined Olivia darting about, as she looked for her missing cousin, imagining, a well-placed foot on the hemline of a swirling long purple silk gown, which could yield some marvelous results.
Or perhaps Olivia could use some help looking for her cousin. Angie would then be able to discreetly help herself to some of the enticingly slippery-gowned Olivia’s dainty, but expensively fiery, diamond jewelry.
Alternatively, and best of all, and it is here where the almost purring Angie licked her lips, was a most scintillating scenario…
Angie could explain what had happened and offer to share a cab downtown with her new friend. Angie would comfort the worrying, sobbing (brought on by how Angie would describe what had happened) girl riding alongside her in the back of the bouncing cab. Angie would comfortingly stroke the warm figure encased in the richly slick, scrumptiously smooth silky gown, as she cooed words of encouragement in Olivia’s ears, Angie’s lips touching the diamond earrings dripping down from their lobes.
Then she would let Olivia go inside alone, as not to cause her cousin any further embarrassment. Then Angie would watch as Olivia hurried away, admiring the flow of her shiny gown in the light from the entranceways lamps ,and while also basking in the provocative sparkle of any remaining diamonds that Angie had not managed to spirit away during the ride down to the police station.
Angie shivered happily, as she gave one final drag on her cigarette and bent down to place it in the ash bin.
Suddenly Angie’s senses perked up, and she raised her head, shooting her gaze down the long corridor..
A lady was leaving the ballroom, unescorted, heading down the long hallway to the exit. She could tell by the quality of the long slinky gown that fell in ruffles from the hem of the long black mink she wore, and by the rings glittering from the hand that held the thick mink, that this specimen was well worth some effort. Angie rose, not yet noticed by the fur encased broad. One for the road, Angie thought to herself, bemused. The lady kept looking back, like she did not really want to leave and was afraid she would miss something exciting. That fact, along with the narrowness of the passage made for an excellent opportunity… A well place foot, and expertly placed bump, a few seconds of confusion, and the lady and Angie would part company, and Angie would have parted something else from the broad, and be a richer woman for it.
It was a formula that Angie had perfected and executed many profitable times. As a matter of fact, it had only been a few days prior that a young daughter, quite fetchingly (and targetable) in a pretty lavender satin and lace gown, ornamented regally with pearls and a flashy blue rhinestone tiara, had quite literally, but not accidentally, come under foot. Allowing Angie the opportunity to artfully nick the girl’s fine strands of gleaming white pearls (with a sapphire gemmed drop!) that had obligingly bounced up from the girl’s heaving chest into Angie’s waiting fingers.
Angie now watched this rich lady headed towards her, with the very same thoughts in mind. But she needed to know what jewels the broad had hidden under that pricey mink. As the lady came close Angie tried to “will” her to open up. “C’mon honey, its warm, you must be burning up in that pelt, show mama what you got.” But the broad did not obligingly peel back the mink for Angie, and Angie would never know what riches may have been in the cupboard, or perhaps it had been bare, though Angie seriously doubted it. The lady reached her, shooting Angie a nervous smile. Angie smiled back, wondering if the lad realized how close she had come to being relieved of one of her fancy trinkets.
As the woman passed by, Angie watched her backside, musing to herself, Fine, I’ll just have to settle for Olivia. Angie then started down the long deserted corridor with a brisk walk, her satin dress bouncing in rhythm.
**
Reaching the Ballroom proper, Angie stopped and gave the room a vigilant scan for security, and as she had figured, it definitely had loosened up. She then searched in earnest for the young miss clad in her expensive purple silk “tickling gown”( see addendum rr). The naïve young thing had been ever so carelessly displaying those delectably exquisite diamonds of hers with such reckless abandon that it would be a wonder if she still possessed all of them. It will be a wonder if she still does after meeting me, Angie mused. She almost was purring in anticipation as she thought about those diamonds, especially the long necklace and the way it had flung from side to side as the girl had walked past Angie the first time that evening(and several more since). Angie envisioned the diamonded box clasp at the back of her bare neck (long hair was high in a bun) that held the necklace around her neck, for now! She secretly prayed that Olivia had not removed her shiny hairpiece to let her long hair down, it would make things so much the easier.
As Angie thought about this she slowly edged her way along the wall, dodging in and out amongst the happily chatting guest, constantly on the lookout for Olivia.
Now Angie had learned not to stay so focused on one target that she would miss another opportunity that may unexpectantly arise. This was another lesson she had learned the hard way, most notably at a fancy wedding reception that was held in a fancy venue complete with a hedged in English Garden. A perfect spot for ambushing unsuspecting, well-jeweled quarry!
(See album, Angie being receptive, for the full story)
So, by being on the alert, Angie was prepared when she was suddenly, unexpectedly blindsided from behind as something incredibly soft, slickly bumped up against her back. Like a cat, she kept her feet and whirled around in time to catch a handful of pure heaven in the form of one of the be- gowned young “princesses” that seemed to be everywhere this gay evening. She found herself nose to eye with a young miss, resplendent in a long slippery gown as black as ink, and as soft as young chinchilla. The sleek gown literally poured tightly down along her perked figure to the floor, covering over her shiny black high heels. The colour of night that was her gown was broken only by the whiteness of her bare shoulders and neck, and by an exquisitely large, leaf like brooch of clear diamond banquets that covered her right side at least 8 inches above and below her slender waistline.
The young “princess” giggled nervously as she profusely apologized over her “silliness” at tripping over her own gown as she had stepped backwards. Angie oozed kindness as she spoke soothingly to the girl, watching her melt like putty in Angie’s light fingered hands. As Angie spoke calmingly to the girl, her eyes were indiscreetly soaking up the dazzling white diamond necklace that surrounded the nervous girl’s bare white throat that was now eye level to Angie. .Angie looked down at the girls gloved hand resting upon her full bosom , admiring the softness of the satin gloves (dyed to match her gown) that stretched up past her elbows, drooling secretly over the enormous cocktail ring that graced one of her fingers. The princess raised up her hands, giving them to Angie, who took up the satin clad hands, holding them as tightly as she was holding the girls gaze, before letting the girl slowly slip them from her firm grasp., .
The girls eyes finally broke away, and Angie smiled exuberantly, giving the girl an enveloping hug to show there were no hard feelings, letting her hands slip ever so gingerly down to grasp the girl by the waist, giving her a squeeze. She then let the young thing slip out, free to go on her way, as Angie turned and did likewise. As Angie sauntered off, she happily thought that it was sometimes funny how occasionally, when least expected, one gets very lucky. As she thought this, she moved her clenched fist to the top of her dress. Pulling the dress out, she dropped down her cleavage the rather large, expensively glittering , diamond brooch she had so carefully slipped from the rather ditsy young ”princess” black satin clad waist. The damsel had not so much felt a prick when Angie had lifted the jewel, snapped the clasp open, and slipped it from her figure as her hands had squeezed her scintillatingly soft waist. She now felt it wonderfully slip down, joining Ginny’s purloined bracelet already resting securely there. Angie stole a careful look back over her shoulder.
The clueless young” Princess” was now happily dancing away with a tuxedoed young man. Her handsome partner, with a neatly trimmed beard, had one white gloved hand holding up her hand in black satin gloved the enormous cocktail ring shining out like some richly coloured beacon ; the other white gloved hand lay upon her back, mere inches away from the simple hook in eye clasp of the necklace of white diamonds. Angie drooled, how she would have liked to have had her hands in either of the positions that the man’s were now laid. Taking the ring and necklace would have been a piece of cake. Angie did sometimes secretly envy men, who could get close to jewel-laden ladies in ways that Angie could not! Angie imagined these wicked thoughts to herself as she allowed herself to be mesmerized by the blaze of fiery diamonds that for the time being, were still wrapped around the “princess’s” slender white throat.
Angie was not worried about the young lady raising a squawk over a missing brooch. Clumsy Dames like her were used to having jewelry misplaced. Angie wondered if they ever realized how many times those jewels were not misplaced, but stolen by light fingered thieves who, like Angie, knew all too well how to read the signs and reap the rewards. If only she had had time to be better prepared, she sighed, turning her attention reluctantly away from the diamonds.
Angie moved off, filled with the confidence that the tides of her fortune had turned for the better. Rounding a corner Angie spied Celia off to one side, and toyed with the idea of slipping off her remaining diamond clip now that Maud was still chatting up one of the Guards (another one out of commission!) Then, for a split second, on the other side of the room, she saw the silky wisp of purple that singled out her prey. Now, down to business she said, licking her lips. With a cat like gleam in her eyes, she swiftly stole into the crowd of dancing couples. Soon she was lost to sight, swept up in a rainbow coloured sea of slinky swirling gowns.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
( addendum AA )..
***( Not that Angie really ever stooped that low….. The closet she ever came was finding a wealthy couples silk suited young one left alone for a few minutes in his carriage holding a fine grained wooden rattle with possibly real gold inlays. Pulling away the rattle, she had let it drop beside the carriage, walking away and watching from a distance as the baby started to fuss. Soon the child’s young sister, who had so inattentively been minding her younger brother, approached. Angie watched, mesmerized by the thick sterling silver chain and locket that was dangling merrily from the girl’s throat. Timing it perfectly, Angie moved to the carriage as the girl was bending over, cooing and shaking the rattle to quiet her baby brother down. Taking swift advantage of the young girl’s distraction, Angie’s long fingers nimbly lifted up and slipped off the glimmering chain and locket from the high frilly neckline of the sister’s shiny blouse. Then, as Angie pocketed the purloined jewel with one hand, she made use of her other to admire and compliment her unsuspecting victim of her party outfit, consisting of a cute long sleek midnight satin skirt paired quite fetchingly with the ruffled long sleeved blouse of emerald taffeta!
Angie spent a few chancy minutes talking to the sister, looking for older than her years with her long brown held up in a high bun, as her baby brother settled down. As they chatted, a thought emerged in Angie’s mind around making a try for the girls silver engraved cuffed bracelet wrapped around the charming young sister’s slender left wrist, or possibly, even better, the child’s dangling clasped silver earrings! Throwing all caution to the wind, Angie made a lighthearted attempt to suggest how much better it would feel for the young lady by letting her hair down. It must be awfully hurtful for her, to have it tied up in that high tight bun, Angie cooed. A lot more comfortable hanging down and free in a ponytail like mine, Angie suggested, offering graciously to help with the procedure. The young lady giggled, shaking her pretty head, earrings flickering, as she looked over towards a small gathering of self -absorbed, well-dressed adults standing by the tables set up at the east end of the gardens. She apologetically told Angie that Mama would certainly not approve. Score one for Mama, Angie sighed, petting the girls soft shoulder to show her no worries, and while doing so took her other hand and running it ever so lightly along the youth’s black skirt, delved into its’ pocket , but found the cupboard bare. So, then, after looking down at the sleeping baby, Angie finally took her leave. Migrating off towards a small gathering of fancy frocked, nicely jeweled debutantes giggling by an exit in a far west corner of the extensive parks gardens)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Addendum BB)
(excerpted from :Cutpurse: skilles, artes and Secretes of the Dip by “Gaston Monescu, 1826”)
A perfect tickle thief setup, as Angie renamed it, was a ploy for use on a lady “waering a long gown or skirtes” that was easily trip able, when a foot stepped on it from behind, sometimes added with a soft nudge, sending the wearer tumbling. Ones fingers, in the process of steading or helping would glide(tickling) over the material ( the sleeker the better) to reach and pluck free the fair ladies’ targeted bauble.
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Interested in reading more about the shenanigans of Angie?
Then Check out the following albums:
Angie Picks Chicago flic.kr/s/aHsjZzs5Qe
Angie being Receptive flic.kr/s/aHsjZzsjGH
Angie being chartable flic.kr/s/aHsk5YknhV
Angie at Play flic.kr/s/aHsjYB65Je
Angie Trick Or Treat( coming soon)
Editor’s Note:
Our Thanks to Mr Gardner for pointing out the existence of Mr. Monescu’s 1826 guide
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Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives
This photo was taken within the Island Safari Camp where we stayed. It's just outside of the town of Maun, Botswana. The monkeys were not friendly, more like thieves as I fought them off from stealing my breakfast, clothes on the line and about anything else they could get their hands on. One big male even sat in the drivers seat bearing teeth when I tried to shoo him out. While this fight was going on other members of the tribe were trying to get in the back of the camper. It was not fun.
Sequoia: Come on sis we gotta go the guard is coming back in five minutes!
Jasmine: Look theres no diamonds here Quoi!
WE came to SECURE A BAG now help me hold this bag open real quick !
As the standoff continues, the hostage negotiator tried to make contact with the bank robbers in an attempt to end the incident peacefully.
After the bank robbers failed to answer the phone inside the bank several times, the hostage negotiator supported by Special Tactics Constables deployed from an armoured vehicle to make one final attempt to contact the hostage takers.
Will the bank robbers surrender?
To be continued...
I'm glad that this shot worked out so well. We spotted those curvy rails, arranged the model but then I noticed that the background blur would not be satisfiing with the Sigma 35 1.4 Art. So I did a multirow Panorama with the Zeiss Apo Sonnar 2/135 consisting of 12 Images. Hope u like it, too :-)
One thing lead to another and I ended up in the drive with Rusty the dog, a torch, a pair of oakleys and an orb string. I remember Tim doing a very similar shot to this a while back but using his pinhead mask for the model. Sorry Tim but its desperate times at the minute, thanks for the inspiration!!!
Where the Jewels Are.
A Prequel to
“An Odyssey Less Taken “ (Tallie)
An Escapade in 3 Acts…
Excerpts:
************
Act 1
The Mustard Seed is planted
***********
A couple is getting ready to leave for an apparently Fancy Dress Affair:
The wife cascades down the stairs swirling her silk dress for to catch her husband’s eye, which she does.
Blimey Bess, did you leave anything in ur Jewelry Casket, he chides with a satisfied smirk.
Casket, Luv? Really? I keep telling you what a morbid term that is, she scolds him , while she smiles radiantly ; fetchingly placing a hand to her husband’s cheek, then straightening the black bow tie of his tux.
Don’t be snide, I know you like it when I dress. Besides it’s not often we get to hob nob with near royalty. Beth said in justification of herself driving to the occasion dressed to the nines.
But Beth, Calling it a casket is an old term, and her husband starts to explain (not for the first time) the origin of the phrase ”jewele casket”
Hush child, Beth simpers, placing a finger to his lips, with a very becoming look in her eyes, save it for the students. She turns away and he slaps her lovingly upon her posterior. She giggles and heads back to the stairs.
The doorbell rings.
Beth stops and turns, looking at the door. Could you get that dear, looks like a postal package. I have to go upstairs to finish my hair, and to bury my casket, you old toad she tosses at him, making no attempt to hide in her voice the with undying affection she has for her husband, the love of her life.
He obediently goes to the door, where a man in uniform can be seen through the window, waiting with a package.
He turns, a lump rising in his throat as he eyeballs his pretty ( to him) wife Bess. The main reason is too catch another look at the pretty party dress swishing along her withdrawing figure ,but he also throws a teasing retort at her retreating back, . besides, casket It what me Mum called it luv…..
Turning away, he goes to open the door.
End Act 1
*******
Act 2
The Trolley Cometh
*******
Up on a hummock a large stone manor sits, dominating the landscape below.
A proper butler opens the Manor’s double doors and a stream of well gowned, ladies pour out. The many jewels they are wearing sparkling like some sort of jewel filled waterfall as they move heading down to where a quite ornate Trolley awaits them.
The whispering rustle of high end satin and the erupting glitter of colourfully flickering tiffany quality jewels, lighting up the dreary early morning as female members of the wedding party descend.
The bride is the last to come out into the early morning, stopping to survey the activity below , ever so a royal highness looking down on her subjects.
It was her idea to have her brides maids be driven out to her parents country estate before the dress rehearsal and have a photo grapher take shots of her party at various locations. Since the Groom and his Groomsmen were not allowed, by custom, to view the gowned bride before the ceremony, they were of course not invited. Nor was anyone else outside herself, the bridal party and the photo grapher. The rehearsal and dinner were to take place later that afternoon, and the bride and her party would be changing at the country estate. Towards that means they had already placed cases aboard the trolley containing their evening clothes and everyday jewelry that they would wear for the evenings festivities..
She preferred to be in control off all aspects of the situation. Needless to say, her wedding planner, waiting at the stone cathedral, had developed a migraine over the whole affair.
After a couple of group shots are arranged in front of the elegant trolley, the party is herded aboard by the tuxedoed trolley driver. He has their schedule to keep. He is helped by his pretty blonde wife, herself dressed shimmering, sparkling, as she expertly moves (herds?) the elegant ladies , escorting them cheerfully to their seats.
And with a lurch of the trolley on the old private road, the entire ultra-wealthy group set off on their pre nuptial adventure.
End Act 2
*******
The connection between acts 1 & 2, for those who haven’t figured it out, will be revealed in act 3.
Please comment if you’re going to stay tuned for the outcome
************
****************
This would be the 3rd and possibly final installment of the trilogy…..If you are interested in reading the storyline complete you may find it enlightening to visit Acts 1 and 2 (respectively) before proceeding any further.
Please consider leaving a comment behind that you have (read) the acts. It would be deeply appreciated.
Act 3(?)
After the Harvest
*******
The inspector arrives in his rather jaunty sports auto. He emerges with his Detective Sargent, approaching a waiting constable.
The constable’s partner, Archie, is inside with the police matron.
What do we have Constable? The inspector asks quizzically.
Apparently we have a husband and wife teem who own and drive a private rental trolley, that then decides to waylay and rob the entire wedding party they were hired to ferry about.
Way out here, in the middle of nowhere, Constable?
Appears they were going to the Brides summer home to be photographed. The trolley turned down the path to this old deserted manor where they were told there was engine trouble.
And they were robbed, by the driver and his wife you say Constable?
Them, and two others waiting.
4 robbers then,
Who called it in Constable?
Received an anonymous tip
And just what were they robbed of, Constable? The inspector asked, almost wearily.
Stripped of everything down to their bloody knickers, the lot of them. Then handcuffed and left.
Language Mate, the inspector chided his constable, looking at his Sargent, taking this all down?
Detective Sargent nods
Now, he said turning back to the Constable, Just why do you suppose they stripped them of their clothes.
The gowns were worth L3000 pounds each, real emeralds, the brides was worth double that, with real diamonds
So they were robbed for their expensive clothes, then eh Sargent, the inspector leered.
No Sir that was not all the lot were after.
The Bride was wearing diamond jewelry worth L100,000 pounds easy, the rest of the girls were wearing matching emeralds sets that the bride paid L32,000 pounds each.
Each, The inspector arched an eyebrow.
Each of the Bridesmaids, inspector, answered the ridden constable.
That’s a great amount of information constable. Just how did you acquire it.
The bride sir, she won’t stop squawking on about it. answered the Constable
Careful how you talk about your betters, constable, the inspector winked at him.
I’m sure the young lady in question has every right to squawk.
So let me get this straight constable, a bridal party was Shanghaied and robbed of their possessions by their trolley driver, his wife and two other associates. Then someone cordially calls the station to let us in on the joke?
Right sir, no joke though
Then why did they leave their trolley here, for evidence against them?
Asked the Inspector, before turning to his Detective Sargent.
Sergeant. send a man down to the drivers abode, the information should be acquired from the registration from the plates they so handily left.
The Constable cleared his throat, actually my partner Archie already called it in Sir.
The inspector raised an eyebrow, Glad to see someone is on the ball.
The police radio crackles, the constable goes to answer it.
He comes back, standing smartly at attention.
Just received a call, they found the husband and wife tied up in their basement.
Apparently two men posing as a postal worker and driver held them up.
The ones who robbed the bride and her party? Constable?
No sir, apparently the two who brought them here were imposters.
The real uns were held them up at gunpoint, made to strip to their underthings and tied up.
Then Two others, man and woman, took the Trolly to the Manor to “pick up” the Bride and her Bridesmaids.
Has a statement been taken? Yes sir, but there is not much.
Thieves were disguised as postal workers. House was ransacked, safe looted, wife jewel case cleaned out, the usual.
After burgling their manor, the occupants were stripped to their skivvies, trussed up and locked in their basement cannery.
Then a call came in on their telephone, the thieves answered it. After they hung up, the husband heard their phone used to call us, and heard the two thieves leave..
Was anything said by the thieves?
They only overheard the one thing, something one of the postage men said.
Thief posing as one, right constable, don’t want to give anyone a bad rep
Yes sir,
it appears that when the thief - wearing the postman’s costume- answered the phone, he repeated a phrase.
And what would that phrase have been, constable?
Mustard Seed,
Mustard seed? Eh.
Sergeant, the inspector turned to his detective sergeant. That begs the question, why Mustard seed?
The Detective Sergeant mulled it over for a minute. Then offered:
Seed, could be seed money, mustards grow from a small seed into something quite large. This robbery was seed money for something bigger, possibly, sir?
Not bad Sargent, will make an inspector of you yet.
The inspector turns back to the constable, who has had just about enough of his superiors questions.
He is relieved to now hear what the inspector has to say.
Constable, stand pat here while my sergeant and I have a chat with our victims inside,
The inspector turned to his Detective Sergeant :
Let’s get this lot sorted out, and then will we’ll head over and see about the driver and his wife…
The two made their way up towards the decaying deserted manor house.
The Constable, watching them disappear inside, mutters under his breath.
That is an awfully big haul just for seed money. I would be happy with what that lot will get for what they stole. I bet the old man is off target on this one. Thieves probably will be out of the country with the loot and have it pawned in the states by the time he gets done with his questions.
The constable was closer to the truth than he realized…..
Originally the gang planning the heist had meant to carry out the caper then head off to parts unknown with the loot and lay low. During planning the stages of the heist, one of their members infiltrated the group to garner information. Remarks were interestingly overheard by chatting bridesmaids about a lavish affair being staged a fortnight away (only one week after the rehearsal dinner).
From the “seed” planted by that helpful bit of overheard gossip, grew the new job the group was now going to carry out very shortly .
Mustard seed become its code name.
End of Act 3
*****************
In addendum
Now we break away from the crime scene to visit an occurrence that took place some two hours prior to the phone call that alerted the police to the unfortunate incident related above.
The scene: Inside a C. Hoare & Co branch, in a posh end of London..
Two ladies, both, opulently dressed in satins and jewels, their thick fur coats have been carefully hung by a smartly dressed lady porter, nearby, had been seated and served. The pair are now alone in a richly furnished private room of the bank. Wine at hand, they are merrily going through a collection of jewelry glistening from an open safe deposit strongbox brought up from the depths of the banks’ vault.
The fashionable, long haired daughter is half-heartedly trying on one of several jewel encrusted Tiaras…… Her stylish, bobbed haired mother is admiring the sparkle of a diamond waterfall style necklace; the pricy jewels’ matching mates, (earrings and bracelets and brooch) are laid out next to her.
The daughter suddenly lest out a squeal of delight as she spy’s a small sparkling ruby and emerald encrusted diamond cocktail ring , which she grabs and slips on her pinky. She admires the raw, rainbow like fireworks as she moves it under the lights.
Mum, can I? it will go ever so nicely with the gown I’m wearing to Polly’s Soiree.
Hey, that was my Great Aunts , her Mother yelps grasping at the ring. Almost looking like Defoe’s Sunday dressed Moll Flanders snatching at the colourful trinket worn by a young miss, awed by the passing parade of royals.
Unlike that distracted young miss, however, the daughter was able to hold the ring high from the reach of Her mother’s fingertips, giggling as she did so.
Now Millicent, her mother lectured, You know we don’t approve of young Lady Pollyanna’s fancy boy, Raul. He would probably manage a way to slip the ring from off your finger.
Oh, MaMa, , answered Millicent, I’ll be ever so careful, and please don’t you harp on poor Raul. He really is quite a dear, and the pearls were simply lost, nothing more. Let me wear the ring, and I’ll wear whatever jewelry you pick out for me the weekend, Sagely bargained Millicent.
Promise? Her mother asks, relenting in to her daughter’s wishes. It’s just that we don’t you making publicity over getting robbed just before your occasion.
Mum, Millicent says soothingly, nothing will happen to me before my Debs Ball, or occasion as you will call it. She bent over and kissed her mother on the forehead, before going back to her admiration of the pretty ring.
But innocently enough, pretty Millicent has no idea of the prophetic canniness her naively made promise to her mother would soon foretell.
To be continued….
Please see:
Album entitled “Tallie”
For the main story of what the mustard seed turned out to grow into…..
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The narration above is from a play with its roots Derived from a story based on fact.
Do to the rather extensive connections of the Families involved: an official report was never released to the public.
The case was finally Closed without being resolved to the victims,
Apparently the job was perfectly planned and executed by professionals , probably with inside information from never discovered sources.
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Please consider leaving a comment behind that you have (read) the acts. It would be deeply appreciated.
Courtesy of Chatwick University Archives
Taken for Saturday Self Challenge 20/06/2020 - A Memento ( and why ) .
Well this is a cross stitch done and given to me by my daughter , it is shown against a background of Cornish National Tartan .
Back in 1999 I wanted to go and see the total eclipse but in Britain it was only total in parts of Cornwall , some of the North Coast was just out of the line of totality . Could not make my mind up whether or not to go though as it was predicted there would be a huge number of folk wanting to do the same thing and roads would become blocked . Solution - my wife and myself went and stayed beforehand in Barnstaple and early in the morning of the eclipse drove along minor road south to a favourite village of ours high up on Bodmin Moor - Minions ( and it was there a very long time before any strange yellow creatures were heard of ). Minons is the highest village in Cornwall and has ancient history in the form of The Hurlers - a link to my pic -
( flic.kr/p/2b2bbq1 ) , also here are other old historic sites , strange rock formations and of course masses of Cornish Industrial Archaeology in the form of remains of the old Tin and Copper Mines ( right up my street ) - more links --
Well , we got there in good time avoiding those traveling west and had a good choice of where to park , settled down to wait and watched as more and more arrived - the pub was open so went and had a slurp at just after 9 o'clock am !! Pretty soon it was obvious there was going to be a tiny village with more folk in it than ever before ( even when the place was a centre of mass industry !! ) . The local bobby was on duty there and not used to seeing so many cars and when someone in the queue to get into the village asked him what the hold up was - his terse reply was " I tell ee What the problem is -- Too many Damn Cars !! ".
Now bearing in mind we have come here to witness an eclipse - the sky was wall to wall clouds !! Coming up to the time we had Radio Cornwall on the car radio and they were at Marazion near to St. Micheal's Mount far to the west of The Duchy with Patrick Moore there as well and they had rain . With the slight time difference of the eclipse we heard all the cheers on the wireless as it went dark over the west ,but no chance of seeing the event . A minute or two later our turn for the lights to go out , everything went to a Deep Purple as we overlooked Wheal Jenkin Engine House , the birds went scatty AND a small hole appeared in the clouds just at the right time and place to see the total eclipse clearly . All the hippie types on the other side of the village at The Hurlers could be heard banging their drums and singing , the engine house was an odd silhouette and far to our left where we could see toward the North Coast where there was a strange peach coloured light that was not in totality !!
And just as quick it was all over and that was that - deliberately I did not attempt any sort of photography knowing there would be plenty to see on the tele and so I could enjoy the moment all the more .
Reality now sets in , we are surrounded by cars everywhere ,even a bus was now blocking the lane we were in at the entrance . However , I could make out a way through the cars carrying on down the lane and I knew it would lead me to Henwood , an even smaller village but from there I could get out and onto other routes and so in a very short time we went up to Jamaica Inn at Bolventor to have a quick pit stop and have a small glass of ale brewed especially for the occasion ---called " Daylight Robbery ". We then went and found a quiet spot on Bodmin Moor to eat our sandwiches . Again listening to Radio Cornwall phone in we heard about the chap who drove down from the North , only to sleep through the whole event !!We have been back to Minions many times , but the first time afterwards we called in at the Post Office & General Stores and I found out talking to the owner that the traffic there was in such a mess it was over four hours before things calmed down , am I glad we moved when we did !! Oh , the shop at Minions sells splendid pasties and the ice creams are excellent too .
My apologies for such a long winded tale , but it does show how much of a memento this cross stitch really is !!!!
And to conclude an old classic to listen to --
Although the Warrego River district in southwest Queensland was explored briefly by Thomas Mitchell in 1846 and Edmund Kennedy in 1847, the main impetus for pastoral development of the Warrego occurred in the 1860s, following William Landsborough's exploration of the area in 1862 during his search for the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition. In 1862 Landsborough and his second in command, George Bourne, both published journals of their expedition from the Gulf of Carpentaria south to Melbourne, identifying good pastoral land along the Warrego River.
In 1867 a petition was presented to Parliament seeking the establishment of a town reserve at the intersection of two main stock routes beside the Warrego River, and the township of Cunnamulla was surveyed the same year. The name is thought to be an Aboriginal term meaning 'long stretch of water'.
By 1871 Cunnamulla had a population of 45. The town grew slowly in the 1870s, gaining momentum toward the end of the decade. A court house reserve was surveyed in 1874, and the 1874 Postal Directory lists a police magistrate who also conducted the court of petty sessions, a police inspector, a post master and a poundkeeper. A branch of the Queensland Government Savings Bank also operated by this date. The Cunnamulla State School was established in 1878, and in 1879 the Paroo Divisional Board, based at Cunnamulla, was proclaimed. The period 1880 to 1900 was one of consolidation for the town, which became the service centre for an expanding pastoral district. Cobb & Co. began to run passenger coaches from Charleville to Cunnamulla in 1881, and gained the mail contract in 1883. By 1881 two banks were operating in the town, the Queensland National Bank established by January 1880, and the Commercial Banking Company of Sydney, opened in 1880. The town became a railhead in the late 1890s.
In 1880 an incident occurred that provided the township of Cunnamulla with considerable publicity. On the 16th of January 1880 Joseph Wells, a station hand, robbed the Queensland National Bank at Cunnamulla at gunpoint. The alarm was raised and as Wells was about to leave the bank, storekeeper William Murphy from next door attempted to restrain him and in the scuffle, was shot accidentally in the shoulder. This allowed Wells to escape from the bank, only to find that a crowd of onlookers was gathering outside.
As he tried to leave the scene on horseback, the horse's bridle broke and, in desperation, the robber ran toward the outskirts of the town. Amongst the crowd of onlookers were two men with unloaded guns, who gave chase. Turning on them and threatening to shoot if they didn't retreat, Wells ran into the bush.
The police were alerted and organised an intensive search for the robber, who may have escaped detection but for the persistence of a sheep dog which had followed Wells' scent and sat barking under a tree. On investigating, the local police sergeant discovered that Wells had taken refuge in the branches of the tree, where he was well camouflaged.
Wells was arrested and stood trial in Toowoomba, charged with armed robbery with wounding. He was found guilty and received the maximum penalty, death. Because of the accidental nature of Murphy's wounding and the fact that Wells had not had legal representation during his trial, opponents of capital punishment, including several members of Parliament, appealed to the Full Court on Wells' behalf. Despite these appeals and much debate about capital punishment in the Queensland press, Wells was executed on the 22nd of March 1880. However, the saga had its legacy, with Wells becoming the last man to be executed for armed robbery with wounding in Queensland. One of his supporters, Arthur Rutledge MLA, on becoming Attorney General (November 1883 to June 1888), legislated to have armed robbery removed from the list of capital offences in Queensland.
The tree in which Wells hid has become integrally associated with the robber's story and its outcome, and is a feature of interest to tourists.
The Robbers Tree was severely damaged in a supercell hailstorm in September 2021 reducing it to a butchered trunk.
Source: Queensland Heritage Register & Queensland Country Life.
52 Weeks of Pix 2016
Week 10 of 52
Theme: A Childhood Memory
As a child I spent hours with my old west playset. I still have parts of it today although my fort and Indian camp are long gone.
Shown here is a bank robbery with the sheriff and towns people responding to the crisis.
Leica M2
Leica Summicron 35mm f/2 IV "King of Bokeh"
Fuji Neopan 400
Ilford ID-11 1+0
9 min 20°C
Scan from negative film
Name: Thomas Dodds
Arrested for: not given
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 3 October 1914
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-256-Thomas Dodds
For an image of his accomplice Mark Schidlossky see www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/21412004993/in/dateposted/.
The Shields Daily News for 5 October 1914 reports:
“GOING THROUGH SEAMAN’S POCKETS. ONE MONTH FOR THIEVES AT NO. SHIELDS.
Today at North Shields, Mark Schidlossky, seaman, Russia and Thomas Dodds, labourer, South Shields, were charged with stealing 5s from the person of James McLeod on the New Quay.
McLeod said he was proceeding to his ship, which was lying at Smith’s Dock, when he was accosted by two men, whom he now recognised. They pushed him up against the wall and took everything from his pockets. John Michael Graham, Lawson Street, said he saw the two men holding the prosecutor and going through his pockets.
PC Pallister said the Russian said in answer to the charge “I got no money” and the other man made no reply. The first prisoner had 2s 10d and the other 1s 2d in their possession. The Bench committed the defendants to prison for one month each”.
These images are taken from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 (TWAM ref. DX1388/1). This set is our selection of the best mugshots taken during the First World War. They have been chosen because of the sharpness and general quality of the images. The album doesn’t record the details of each prisoner’s crimes, just their names and dates of arrest.
In order to discover the stories behind the mugshots, staff from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums visited North Shields Local Studies Library where they carefully searched through microfilm copies of the ‘Shields Daily News’ looking for newspaper reports of the court cases. The newspaper reports have been transcribed and added below each mugshot.
Combining these two separate records gives us a fascinating insight into life on the Home Front during the First World War. These images document the lives of people of different ages and backgrounds, both civilians and soldiers. Our purpose here is not to judge them but simply to reflect the realities of their time.
(Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons. Please cite 'Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please email archives@twmuseums.org.uk.