(This story was originally written and recorded for Retrocast #31, released on January 23, 2025.)
Imagine a scenario where chance and coincidence intertwine to create a story “stranger than fiction”. This is the true tale of Richard B. Alleman, the secretary-treasurer of Everybody’s Poultry Magazine Publishing Company, who experienced just such an event when he lost and recovered a precious diamond ring.
The saga began during the winter of 1930 at the Madison Square Garden (not the same building as is used today) poultry show in New York City. Mr. Alleman, attending the show, removed his ring in a washroom at Childs’ Restaurant, which was located on the ground floor of the Garden. It was a Saturday evening, around 5 o’clock when he laid it by a basin, only to forget about it until 10 o’clock that night. Upon returning, the ring was gone. More than just a valuable item, the ring held immense sentimental value as it was a gift from his wife. He had thought he would never see it again.
About ten days later, while in Frenchtown, New Jersey for a business appointment, a seemingly chance encounter occurred. Mr. Alleman was struck dumbfounded when he noticed a sparkling six-gemmed ring on the finger of a fellow poultry fancier. It looked nearly identical to the ring that Alleman had lost.
At some point in the conversation, the man casually remarked that he had done quite well at the Madison Square Garden show.
Mr. Alleman asked, “How so?”
He replied, “Look what I found!” He then proceeded to show off the ring that was on his finger.
After a few moments of pondering how best to reply, Mr. Alleman stated, “Yes. I never saw you before today but I know all about that ring. You picked it up in the washroom of Childs’ Restaurant in the Garden on Saturday night after 5 o’clock.”
The man was shocked by Mr. Alleman’s statement. “Who in the world told you?”
To which he replied, “I’m the person who left the ring there. I recognized it the moment I saw it on your finger but I hesitated saying anything for fear you would not believe me.”
At that point, the man gave the ring to Mr. Alleman, but he insisted that he hold on to it until the man could confirm with Childs’ Restaurant that he was telling the truth. Then, in March of that year, Mr. Alleman received a registered package in the mail. Inside was his lost ring.
