ewel Box Scandal

ome time ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

While traveling in France, one of the Baron’s friends, Alfred Sloan, was staying at a fashionable hotel. An unfortunate incident occurred after staying at the hotel for a few days. Mr. Sloan found an empty jewel box in the hallway and promptly turned it over to the manager at the hotel.

The owner of the jewel case, after identifying it, said that the jewels that had been in the case were missing. They were stolen, the owner said, and accused Mr. Sloan of being the thief.

Mr. Sloan asked why would a person who would steal the jewels turn in the case? This was just too unreasonable for words. But that is what the authorities thought. It was a deliberate deception and he must be the real crook. After a search of Mr. Sloan, a gold clasp from a piece jewelry was found and that was enough evidence to arrest Mr. Sloan. After in jail for a few days, when the jail guards were not looking, Mr. Sloan sneaked out of the jail pretending that he was only a visitor.

Mr. Sloan returned to Lilliland and told his experience to the Baron and Professor Hamblin, chief advisor to the Baron.

A few days later the French police arrived and said that Mr. Sloan must be taken back to France for a trial. The extradition papers indicated the exact day of the robbery in France. The time of day was also given.

Looking at the Baron’s calendar, it turned out that Mr. Sloan was an official houseguest of the Baron’s and having afternoon tea. So since Mr. Sloan could not be in two places at the same time, he was not in or near the hotel at the time of the robbery.

Professor Hamblin said that he would go back to France and explain to the judge that it would be impossible for Mr. Sloan to be the person they were looking for.

Upon further investigation, it turned out that the husband of the woman who lost the jewelry had taken the jewelry out of the box to have a loose clasp fixed since it kept opening up when the piece was worn. It was done as a surprise and unfortunately, the husband lost the jewelry on the way to the repair shop and did not quite know how to tell his wife of the incident.

The court absolved Mr. Sloan and offered him a complimentary stay at the hotel for two weeks anytime in the future. They were very sorry.