JEWELS AND RELICS STOLEN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10684, 30 December 1925, Page 2

JEWELS AND RELICS STOLEN

ROBBERS IN ST. PETER’S, ROME. Details have arrived by mail of the daring robbery of priceless relics from St. Peter’s, Romo, and the sensational details in connection therewith. Forty arrests were made following the discovery of the theft of precious church ornaments and vessels from the treasury of St. Peter’s. _ A complete list of the objejcts stolen brings the loss to over two million lire (£80,000). . . x ~ . A solid gold church service stiidded with pearls and diamonds, tilt gift of the late Pope Pius X. to Cardinal Merry del Val, who donated it to the Treasury of St. Peter’s, is worth a million lire alone. Objects stolen include a ring belonging to the statue of St. Peter. For the past few years this lias never been taken out of the treasury, as an exact copy is placed yearly at the feast of St. Peter on the bronze statue in the Basilicia.

Among other priceless treasures missing are:— . , ... , Crucifix studded with emeralds and rubies, the gift of the Colombian Republic to the late Pope Pius X. Sacred vessels studded with jewels. Massive Ring, the gift of Cardinal Della Volpi. These bring the loss to over another million lire. Experts in jewels. The thieves were familiar with the surroundings, as well as experts m choosing only gems of priceless value. On the pavement was found a beautiful wrought silver gilt chalice, which they had smashed to discover whether it was really gold. Finding that it was only silver gilt, it was ruthlessly cast to the ground. Church thefts in Italy have been very frequent during the past three years. Hitherto the robbers specialised in ancient masterpieces, and antiques, but the police watch antiquarian shops so closely that it is hard now to dispose of the objects. For this reason the thieves of St. Peter’s confined themselves to gold and jewels, and many priceless historical objects were spared. These include: A crystal cross, the gift of the Cardinal of York, the last of the Stuarts. Altar cross and two candelabra designed in the time of Michael Angelo by Gentili. Cross of the Emperor Justinian. Crucifix and candlesticks of solid gold by Benvenuto Cellini. Dalmatica of ancient embroidery worn by Charlemagne when he was crowned Emperor in Rome. No effort was made to force the cases where these relics are kept. The thieves evidently knew that special burglar alarms had been placed on the doors of the cases some few years ago, when Cardinal Merry Del Val became patron of the Basilica. The police, reconstructing the theft, ascertained that clever experts with a chisel had spent many hours making a large hole in the floor above the treasury. In order to do this they must, it is thought, have had accomplices among the painters and workmen who for the past few months had been repairing the rooms. Owing to the thickness of the floor, at least three nights’ work must have been required.

Obviating Finger Prints. Besides wearing gloves to obviate finger-prints, the thieves used perfect burglar tools, including a 6aw which cut masonry like cheese. Several tools wer e left behind, also a miniature “parachute,” which, placed under the saw, noiselessly caught the pieces of masonry as they fell. It is said that painters working in this room, when ordered to remove a huge box in which the paints were held, refused, saying the work was unfinished. It is exactly at this 6pot that the pavement was removed. The only clue the police worked on was that given by a housemaid, who went to the fountain in the square for a jug of water at 11 o’clock. She saw near the canon’s house a motor-car with three “ desperate-looking” individuals, who glared at her. The caretaker also heard a motor-car rush through the square in the early morning. Military police on duty heard nothing. The Minister of the Interior 6ent a special representative to Cardinal Merry del Val, notifying that no stone would be left unturned to find the thieves. Frontiers were watched, and jewellers warned not to buy precious stones or gold. Special detectives were also employed by Cardinal Merry del Val. The result of all the police activity was that no less than 40 suspects were arrested, and eventually the culprits were discovered, the stolen jewels and relics recovered,, much to the delight of the ecclesiastical heads. A“ Te Deum” was sung in St. Peter’s. In future all the jewels will bo housed m ; steel cases.