The Incredible Story of Arthur Barry, the Legendary Jewel Hunter

American Arthur Barry went down in history as one of the most skilled jewel thieves of the 20th century. He was known as a "gentleman burglar": he dressed like an aristocrat, robbed only the rich, never used a weapon, and always remained impeccably polite. But behind the polished dandy's appearance and the glitter of stolen diamonds lurked a human destiny with its own weaknesses and vices.

Arthur Joseph Barry was born in 1896 in Worcester, Massachusetts, to poor Irish immigrants. The family was one of 12 children, and his parents worked tirelessly to support themselves. However, they were never able to escape poverty, and Arthur experienced hunger and cold from an early age. At a young age, the boy promised himself that he would want for nothing when he grew up and would use any means necessary to achieve success.

Arthur embarked on the slippery path of crime while still a teenager. He met Lowell Jack, an experienced safecracker and explosives expert. He became his assistant, initially helping him sell his loot in nearby towns. At 15, Arthur excelled at his job and even earned some respect in the criminal community. Young Barry's first independent crimes were pickpocketing. But after only raking in $100 in a few hours of "work," Arthur became disillusioned. He found the business humiliating and unprofitable, and decided to steal on a grand scale. He soon realized that cash was best avoided altogether, and that jewelry was the best option.

Since Arthur's potential "clients" were members of high society, he had to fit in. Barry was always impeccably dressed, wore an expensive watch, and drove a nice car. He had a gift for making people feel at ease, which opened many doors for him. During one social event, Arthur struck up a conversation with the Prince of Wales. For two hours, they animatedly discussed the family of the heir to the throne. Shortly thereafter, $150,000 worth of jewelry disappeared from the British royal's New York mansion.

It seems like a huge sum of money, especially given the dollar exchange rate at the beginning of the 20th century. But selling someone else's family jewels wasn't easy. Arthur's commission from buyers was no more than 20 percent. Nevertheless, it was enough for him to live comfortably. Barry had his suits made by renowned tailors, rented a luxurious apartment, and drove around in a red Cadillac with a personal chauffeur. The elegant car was registered in the name of his mistress, Evelyn Townsend.

Arthur's weakness was women. He spent the lion's share of his income on beauties, and the money never stayed in his pockets. Therefore, Barry never turned down a job that seemed promising. He was also a true professional. Arthur worked carefully, preferring to infiltrate wealthy homes at night, when the owners were asleep.

Even when caught by the unexpectedly awakened owner of the valuables, Arthur never lost his composure. He never used a weapon, only appealing to common sense and threatening serious consequences. Barry was very persuasive, and his victims only decided to call the police after they had left. Throughout his long career as a treasure hunter, Arthur never once resorted to force.

Arthur often advised his future "victims" to insure their jewelry for an amount significantly higher than their actual value—a compromise of sorts. After a while, to avoid arousing suspicion, he stole anything that attracted attention from their homes.

The owners contacted the insurance company and received compensation far in excess of the value of the lost jewelry. Ultimately, having recovered their losses, the "clients" remembered Arthur with gratitude, who remained as kind and unflappable as ever. Of course, no one suspected that the courteous young man had helped them get rid of their gold and diamonds.

During World War I, Arthur Barry was drafted into the army. He went to Europe, where he fought in several major battles, including the Battle of Château-Thierry. Arthur demonstrated courage at the front, and for saving three wounded comrades under fire, he was nominated for the Silver Star. But the career criminal began to miss his beloved work and, without receiving the award, deserted from the army.

Returning to New York, Arthur expanded his operations. He began searching for wealthy women in high-end stores, then stalking them to find their addresses. Posing as a police officer, Barry would obtain information about the victim from law enforcement databases, which would help him gain their trust.

Sometimes Arthur posed as an admirer, and sometimes he hired himself out as a servant to a wealthy household. The result was always the same: his victims lost valuables worth large sums of money. Barry's skill and nobility were legendary, and crime reporters loved to publish stories about them.

During a robbery at the home of renowned stock speculator Jesse Livermore, Arthur Barry accidentally woke the owner and his wife. However, his composure remained intact: throwing a robe over his wife's shoulders and lighting her cigarette, he politely greeted her and warned them that the telephone line had already been cut, so they shouldn't make any noise to avoid trouble. After taking approximately $100,000 worth of jewelry from the dressing table, Barry prepared to leave, but at the last moment he abandoned the ring her husband had given her as a wedding gift.

Another legendary incident occurred at the famous Plaza Hotel. Having quietly entered the six-room apartment of millionaire Frank Woolworth's daughter, Arthur Barry stole jewelry valued at $750,000. Among the loot were five strands of pearls—four counterfeit, and one genuine, worth $450,000. The owner of the pearls was in the bathroom during the theft, and her maid was in the next room.

However, sometimes Barry acted more ruthlessly. Once, breaking into a wealthy home at night, Arthur discovered all the valuables locked in a safe. So he simply loaded the 80-kilogram steel box onto a golf cart and carried it away. The owner was asleep in the room at the time, and the thief managed to avoid disturbing her. Inside the safe was $12,000 in cash and gold coins.

For years, the cunning thief managed to evade the police. But he was finally caught. One of his many girlfriends, jealous of another woman, gave him away. Barry was arrested, and the court sentenced him to a hefty 25-year sentence. But the criminal had no intention of wasting his best years in prison.

On July 28, 1929, Arthur doused a guard with ammonia stolen from the laundry room and stole the keys to the weapons room. Barry armed the prisoners in his wing of the prison, and they escaped. A chase ensued, with the escape planner and one of his accomplices escaping in a stolen car. Police fired on the escapees and killed Arthur's accomplice.

Arthur himself suffered a serious injury: a shard of glass punctured the cornea of his right eye, but he still managed to escape. Things were not going well for him—he had lost 60% of his vision, and on top of that, he was shot by guards while leaving prison. Barry was forced to flee to Albany, New York, and hide with friends until his wounds healed. For the next three years, he evaded the police, who were searching intensively for him across the states.

In 1932, he was finally caught and returned to the dock. This time, the court sentenced him to 17 years in prison. One of the key incidents in Barry's case was the robbery of the home of multimillionaire Percy Rockefeller. For six long years, America's best detectives were baffled as to how the thief had single-handedly managed to rob the rich man's fortress-like mansion.

Access to the estate was blocked by ferocious guard mastiffs. Barry knew that the meat would only last for a short time. Learning that two male dogs were running loose in the yard, he sent them a female dog in heat. While the animals were distracted, Arthur calmly entered the house, took $20,000 worth of jewelry, and, as he left, took the dog with him to avoid leaving evidence. When the defendant told this story, the courtroom erupted in laughter.

Barry served his 17 years in prison, "from start to finish." Released in 1949, he decided to start a new life and found work. After his release, Barry worked as a ticket collector for the Greyhound bus company in Worcester. He earned only $50 a week, but it was enough for him. Everyone knew what he had done before. But this didn't stop Arthur from becoming a respected man. In 1953, he even became the head of his town's World War I veterans council.

In his later years, Arthur Barry was asked who he had robbed of the largest sum. The former criminal's answer surprised everyone:

Arthur Barry has gone down in history as a "gentleman burglar," combining cold calculation with unexpected politeness and even generosity. For some, he's a criminal who robbed dozens of mansions; for others, a romantic figure worthy of a novel or film. What do you think: was Barry simply a cunning thief, or can he be seen as a Robin Hood-like legend?