The Great Python Robbery

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James Brown, an English crook, wires to his accomplice, Jules Judells, in Paris, telling him to come to London at once. Judells leaves via Calais for Folkestone, but learning he is watched adopts the disguise of an old woman. The Folkestone police are on the watch for Judells, but the disguise baffles them, and the crook successfully joins Brown in London. Brown tells Judells that Madame Pillard, a popular opera singer, is visiting London and propounds a scheme for gaining possession of the prima donna's famous jewels. Together they watch Madame Pillard's arrival at Victoria, and tracing her to her hotel, secure apartments above those taken by the opera singer. With them the crooks take a twelve-foot python, which they intend to use in connection with the prospective robbery. By means of a mirror on the end of a pole the crooks watch Madame Pillard's movements and selecting a favorable opportunity descend by a rope outside her window. Judells then pushes the python through the curtains, and at the sight of it the maid falls into a faint. Although terror-stricken Madame Pillard strives to reach the telephone, but the snake prevents her, and she, too, relapses into unconsciousness. Then it is an easy matter for Brown and Judells to clamber into the room and gain possession of the prima donna's jewels. They make their escape from the hotel, taking the python with them. When Madame Pillard recovers consciousness she informs the hotel manager of her loss and he at once telephones for Detective Finn. The detective examines the room and discovers a trouser button that has been lost by Brown. The button bears the name of the tailor and has a fragment of cloth attached, so that Finn is easily able to trace the crook to his house. While Finn is waiting outside Brown's house he sees a gas-fitter about to enter to perform some repairs. Persuading the fitter to change clothes with him, Finn enters the house. He has just discovered where the stolen jewels are hidden when he is surprised by the crooks, who tie him up and throw him into a garret with the python. Then they decide that Judells shall motor to Folkestone and take the boat to Boulogne, while Brown shall get rid of Finn and follow later. Finn overhears this plan. After Judells leaves the house, Billy, a newsboy friend of Finn's, who saw him enter the crook's house, decides to search for the detective. He climbs up a waterspout and enters the house, holding up Brown with the crook's own revolver and freeing Finn from the python's deadly coils. Finn telephones for a police detective to take charge of Brown and then decides to race to Folkestone in time to apprehend Judells. There being no time to catch the boat-train he motorcycles to Hendon, charters an airship, and racing over the Folkestone express drops onto its roof. At Folkestone Finn boards the Boulogne boat, and after an exciting fight captures Judells. Detective Finn returns to London with his prisoner, and is warmly congratulated for the clever way in which he has outwitted the thieves. Billy, the newsboy, is made the detective's assistant, and the case closes as another triumph for Finn.