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News from January 27, 1924 (Buffalo Courier, via Newspapers.com™)
Portions of Schoellkopf Jewels Recovered
Newspapers on January 27, 1924, reported on the shocking event that took place in the United States, specifically in New York. Irene Schoellkopf, wife of a Buffalo millionaire, fell victim to a robbery following a New Year’s Eve party. The thieves made away with jewelry estimated at an alarming $300,000.
Three criminals were involved in the crime: Matthew D. Biddulph, Eugene Moran, and Albert Hurwich. They had managed to outmaneuver law enforcement agencies across 14,000 miles spanning the United States and Mexico, only to be finally apprehended in Princeton, New Jersey. After their apprehension, Moran and Hurwich confessed their guilt. They claimed to have used an intermediary, a jeweler named John W. Mahan, to hawk their ill-gotten treasures.
While Mahan was in custody in Florida, he was able to locate some of the stolen jewels. In a rather unexpected turn of events, Mahan led investigators to Denver where a sealed fruit jar hidden in an undisclosed location housed part of the stolen jewels worth an estimated $86,000. This included rings, bracelets, bar pins, and pearls. One pearl alone was estimated to be worth a staggering $47,500.
Though some of the stolen gems were recovered, a significant portion remained missing.
Learn more about January 27, 1924 through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.
Source Articles and Clippings
Hoodoo Stolen Jewels Worth $86,000 Found Stowed Away In A Jar 27 Jan 1924, Sun The Standard Union (Brooklyn, New York) Newspapers.com
Last Lot Of Gems Found In Colorado 27 Jan 1924, Sun Buffalo Courier Express (Buffalo, New York) Newspapers.com
Sealed Fruit Jar In Denver Yields Up $86,000 Worth Of Stolen Jewels 27 Jan 1924, Sun Buffalo Courier (Buffalo, New York) Newspapers.com