RICH MAN AS BURGLAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 324, 10 June 1911, Page 10

RICH MAN AS BURGLAR.

PROFITS OF A DOUBLE LIFE._ An extraordinary ease of the Jekyll and Hyde type has been disclosed by the action of the Government in seizing the property to the value of £BOOO belonging to Mr. R. F. Cummings, of Tacoma, Washington State. According to the Government laweyrs, Mr. Cummings, one of the most respected and popular citizens of Tacoma, is identical with Eddie Fay, a notorious burglar, who a few months ago was arrested and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment at the Atlan/ta Convict Prison for a daring robbery at Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Cummings is a handsome and cultured gentleman and a member of the leading clubs at Tacoma. He was engaged to a wealthy girl of good family, and was supposed to nave large business interests in Eastern States which gave him an excuse for prolonged absence from home. When captured at New York Fay was claiming the possession at the Grand Central Station of trunks containing some £17,000 worth of stamps taken from a safe at the Richmond Post Office. Of these stolen stamps over £3OOO worth were missing. Fay was fastidious even on burglaring expedition, as was proved by the presence in the trunks of a magnificent set of burglar's tools, wrapped in tissue paper and enclosed in handsome leather cases. In his pockets there was found a.directory of banks, with the habits of janitors and the position of ,the safes exactly described.

Months of research by Government agents led to the surprising allegation that Fay, after each successful expedition, was in the habit of retiring to Tacoma, where he resumed the habits of a gentleman of wealth. Leading hostesses in Tacoma, who had been speculating ior several weeks on the mystery of Cumming's disappearance, declare they recognise their favorite guest in the photographs of Eddie Fay.