John Quincy Adams Digital Diary

3. Mr: Fisher last Evening left his pocket-book in his surtout pocket, in one of our anti-chambers— The pocket-book contained three fifty ruble bank-bills, which were stolen from it; and the theft must have been committed, to all appearance, either by John Berndt, a footman whom I have lately taken into service or by Waldstein my steward— John came to me this morning in great agitation and told his story— The surtout was left in his custody—the pocket-book fell from the pocket on the floor—he picked it up and looked into it; and says that there were in it three one hundred ruble bills— But Mr: Fisher himself says they were fifty ruble bills— Waldstein afterwards came, took the surtout from the first into the second anti-chamber, and sent John below upon some errand. When he returned, he says he found the surtout restored to its first place— He looked again into the pocket-book, and found the bills were gone— He was so much terrified that he did not tell Mr: Fisher of it when he went away; but immediately after went & waked Pierre who was gone to bed; told him of it, and asked his advice what to do— Pierre told him to wait untill the morning, and then if he was innocent to go to Mr: Fisher and tell him the story. He went accordingly this morning— Mr: Fisher was in bed; and found upon examining his pocket-book that the money was gone. John charges Waldstein with having taken the money while he was gone below. But he cannot justify himself for having opened the pocket-book, or for neglecting to tell Mr: Fisher that the money was gone, when he went away— Waldstein declares that he did not know there was a pocket-book, or money in the pocket— Mr: Harris called on me in the course of the morning, and I had some conversation with him respecting the course to be taken in this business— I took however no final resolution upon the subject— Madame Colombi and her sister Clementine, with Don Francisco Colombi, her husband’s brother spent the Evening with us; but went away before supper. Mr: J. S. Smith, Mr: Jones and Mr: Everett supped with us, and the party did not break up untill nearly one in the morning.