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Greetings all,
As some of you know, Francis Tumblety was apparently robbed on April 17, 1891, in Little Rock, Arkansas. It occurred the week prior to the Carrie Brown murder in New York:
Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas
19 April 1891
COUPLE OF BURGLARIES
The Plateau Hotel Guests Worked For $8,000
Special to the Arkansas Gazette.
HOT SPRINGS, April 18. Thieves went through the Plateau Hotel last night, securing about $8,000 in money and diamonds, Judge A.M. Duffie, of this city, and that well-known mysterious individual, Dr. Frank Francis Tumblety, being the victims. The thieves secured a gold watch and a considerable sum of money from Judge Duffie, and $2,000 in cash and diamonds valued between $5,000 and $7,000 from Dr. Tumblety. It was well known that Dr. Tumblety had the money and valuables and carried them on his person, besides valuable papers. No clue to the identity of the thieves.
The following article I picked from Howard Brown on JTRForums, which shows that in Tumblety’s semi-retired, post-advertising, herbal doctor years, he enjoyed pick pocketing, either as a past-time or because he hated the idea of withdrawing his own money out of the bank and spending it. Interestingly, the private detective spotted some burglary tools.
Daily Picayune ( New Orleans,La. )
March 25,1881
Page 12
DR. FRANCIS TUMBLETY
The Whilom Medical Quack in Jail for Pocket-Picking
Last Tuesday Henry Govan, an employee of the U.S. District Attorney, was accosted on Canal Street by a tall, eccentric, yet withal gentlemanly looking man who asked him several questions appertaining to himself. The old man asked Govan to partake of some liquid refreshment, and for that purpose they entered Weager's(?) saloon, where they remained in pleasant commune with each other for an hour or more and then parted friends, making an appointment for the following morning.
Govan, who resides at 339 Blenville* Street, concluded not to keep the engagement, and left his home taking another route for his office in the Customs House.
At the corner of Decatur and Custom House Street, however, he encountered his tall friend of the previous night, and they had a cigar together.
When Govan reached his office, he missed a pocket book, which he said contained between fifty and seventy dollars, and as he stated no one else came near him but the tall old man. He started down to find his friend, but he was gone.
Govan applied to the police and was advised to call on the first policeman, point out the alleged pickpocket and cause his arrest.
Govan, however, secured the services of D.C. O'Malley, a "private detective," who soon got on the trail of the stranger and yesterday arrested him.
He was lodged in the Third Station, where he gave his name as Dr. Francis Tumblety. On his person, were found two extremely valuable solitaire diamond rings, two cluster diamond rings, a large amount of money, stocks and bonds, and a magnificent gold chain and a small gold watch.
Detective O'Malley states that the Doctor acknowledged to him having stolen the pocket-book, and told him where he could find a portion of the money.
As O'Malley claims to have observed a quantity of burglars' tools in the Doctor's room, he obtained from Judge Miltenberger a search warrant and went back to the room. Arriving there he found $30 55 wrapped in a piece of newspaper lying on the bureau, but the burglarious implements were not there.
As the matter appeared to be very suspicious, an investigation was ordered and Alds** Pecora and McDonough proceeded on their errand to Dr. Tumblety's room. His landlady avers that he is a perfect gentleman and highly educated and was very prompt in settling his indebtness to her and others. He came to New Orleans on the Friday previous to Mardi Gras, and remained here ever since. He received a great many visits principally from young men between the ages of sixteen and twenty years, with whom he appeared very intimate, some of them remaining with him all night.
In the doctor's room was found a number of decorations- whether genuine or not, remains to be seen. He has a gold medal, alleged to have been presented by the citizens of Montreal, Canada, for services rendered and for skill and science, presented March 4, 1858, on the obverse side of which was the inscription, "To give light to those who sit in darkness;" what purported to be a cross of the Legion of Honor, the Iron Cross of Prussia, a cross from the Emporer of Austria, and one presented by his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. He had an extensive correspondence from different portions of the globe, and his room was lighted with epistles of all kinds.
Dr. Tumblety is a man apparently sixty five years of age, with grey hair and moustache, which he dyes black. He stands 6 feet 2 inches in his stockings and usually dresses in an undress naval uniform with a white or blue naval cap. There is no doubt but what he is possessed of means, as the amount of money found on his person plainly indicated. All persons with whom he was thrown in contact unite in pronouncing him a highly educated man one who has seen a great deal of the world.
O'Malley made an affadavit against Dr. Tumblety, from information recieved, with picking Govan's pocket. He will be arraigned before Judge Miltenberger today.
Could it be that in 1891 in Arkansas Francis Tumblety had the great idea of breaking into Judge Duffie’s room to steal his valuables, and for the purpose of deception, broke into his own room claiming he was violated, as well? It’s certainly interesting that Tumblety still had his favorite diamonds in 1903.
What do you think?
Sincerely,
Mike
As some of you know, Francis Tumblety was apparently robbed on April 17, 1891, in Little Rock, Arkansas. It occurred the week prior to the Carrie Brown murder in New York:
Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas
19 April 1891
COUPLE OF BURGLARIES
The Plateau Hotel Guests Worked For $8,000
Special to the Arkansas Gazette.
HOT SPRINGS, April 18. Thieves went through the Plateau Hotel last night, securing about $8,000 in money and diamonds, Judge A.M. Duffie, of this city, and that well-known mysterious individual, Dr. Frank Francis Tumblety, being the victims. The thieves secured a gold watch and a considerable sum of money from Judge Duffie, and $2,000 in cash and diamonds valued between $5,000 and $7,000 from Dr. Tumblety. It was well known that Dr. Tumblety had the money and valuables and carried them on his person, besides valuable papers. No clue to the identity of the thieves.
The following article I picked from Howard Brown on JTRForums, which shows that in Tumblety’s semi-retired, post-advertising, herbal doctor years, he enjoyed pick pocketing, either as a past-time or because he hated the idea of withdrawing his own money out of the bank and spending it. Interestingly, the private detective spotted some burglary tools.
Daily Picayune ( New Orleans,La. )
March 25,1881
Page 12
DR. FRANCIS TUMBLETY
The Whilom Medical Quack in Jail for Pocket-Picking
Last Tuesday Henry Govan, an employee of the U.S. District Attorney, was accosted on Canal Street by a tall, eccentric, yet withal gentlemanly looking man who asked him several questions appertaining to himself. The old man asked Govan to partake of some liquid refreshment, and for that purpose they entered Weager's(?) saloon, where they remained in pleasant commune with each other for an hour or more and then parted friends, making an appointment for the following morning.
Govan, who resides at 339 Blenville* Street, concluded not to keep the engagement, and left his home taking another route for his office in the Customs House.
At the corner of Decatur and Custom House Street, however, he encountered his tall friend of the previous night, and they had a cigar together.
When Govan reached his office, he missed a pocket book, which he said contained between fifty and seventy dollars, and as he stated no one else came near him but the tall old man. He started down to find his friend, but he was gone.
Govan applied to the police and was advised to call on the first policeman, point out the alleged pickpocket and cause his arrest.
Govan, however, secured the services of D.C. O'Malley, a "private detective," who soon got on the trail of the stranger and yesterday arrested him.
He was lodged in the Third Station, where he gave his name as Dr. Francis Tumblety. On his person, were found two extremely valuable solitaire diamond rings, two cluster diamond rings, a large amount of money, stocks and bonds, and a magnificent gold chain and a small gold watch.
Detective O'Malley states that the Doctor acknowledged to him having stolen the pocket-book, and told him where he could find a portion of the money.
As O'Malley claims to have observed a quantity of burglars' tools in the Doctor's room, he obtained from Judge Miltenberger a search warrant and went back to the room. Arriving there he found $30 55 wrapped in a piece of newspaper lying on the bureau, but the burglarious implements were not there.
As the matter appeared to be very suspicious, an investigation was ordered and Alds** Pecora and McDonough proceeded on their errand to Dr. Tumblety's room. His landlady avers that he is a perfect gentleman and highly educated and was very prompt in settling his indebtness to her and others. He came to New Orleans on the Friday previous to Mardi Gras, and remained here ever since. He received a great many visits principally from young men between the ages of sixteen and twenty years, with whom he appeared very intimate, some of them remaining with him all night.
In the doctor's room was found a number of decorations- whether genuine or not, remains to be seen. He has a gold medal, alleged to have been presented by the citizens of Montreal, Canada, for services rendered and for skill and science, presented March 4, 1858, on the obverse side of which was the inscription, "To give light to those who sit in darkness;" what purported to be a cross of the Legion of Honor, the Iron Cross of Prussia, a cross from the Emporer of Austria, and one presented by his Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales. He had an extensive correspondence from different portions of the globe, and his room was lighted with epistles of all kinds.
Dr. Tumblety is a man apparently sixty five years of age, with grey hair and moustache, which he dyes black. He stands 6 feet 2 inches in his stockings and usually dresses in an undress naval uniform with a white or blue naval cap. There is no doubt but what he is possessed of means, as the amount of money found on his person plainly indicated. All persons with whom he was thrown in contact unite in pronouncing him a highly educated man one who has seen a great deal of the world.
O'Malley made an affadavit against Dr. Tumblety, from information recieved, with picking Govan's pocket. He will be arraigned before Judge Miltenberger today.
Could it be that in 1891 in Arkansas Francis Tumblety had the great idea of breaking into Judge Duffie’s room to steal his valuables, and for the purpose of deception, broke into his own room claiming he was violated, as well? It’s certainly interesting that Tumblety still had his favorite diamonds in 1903.
What do you think?
Sincerely,
Mike
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