THE SUTHERLAND JEWEL ROBBERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1899, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE SUTHERLAND JEWEL ROBBERY.

THE STORY OF HOW JOHNSON'S MISTRESS BETRAYED HIM.

Interesting' evidence showing how the police were put on the track of the jewels stolen from the Duchess ol Sutherland in Paris was given at West London, when the alleged author of the robbery, William Johnson, alias 'Harry, the Valet,' again took his place. in the dock, on December 122.

A showily ilrested woman, whose name was not revealed, went into the. box and told the story of Johnson's great coup, his subsequent wanderings and the part she played in his downtall.

She said she first met Ihe prisoner last April at Brighton, and stayed-with him at a hotel, she paying the bills, besides advancing him money. They afterwards went to Ostend, where he tried to shoot her. Later on they came to Paris, where there were fresh quarrel:-;, and she complained to the police. Ultimately they separated.

A few days after this she received a letter from Johnson saying, 'I've got everything you want. Lei me see you a I ,ouee.' That day lie followed her to her hotel and showed her the 'stuff."

He said. 'Look at this,' and produced the jewellery—a. long necklace, a diamond necklace, an emerald ring, a bangle with a gold ball attached, another ring, a diamond collarette, the pearls being out, and a, cross 11 Ice an Egyptian star. The diamonds from the ci-oss had been abstracted, and were in 0 piece of tissue paper. He told her the jewels belonged to the Duchess of .Sutherland, adding.

•1 WENT TO THE STATION to see her off. She went out to speak to a man and I popped in and got it. If you want to get anybody's jewellery you must get round the maid.'

The wiliiess added that the police arrived. The prisoner sat down with the jewels in his pockets. The. Frenchman looked at him with a wide mouth and walked out. (Laughter.) She came to London, and, having g-ivien information to the Scotland Yard authorities, went to Brighton, where the prisoner visited her and gave her about. C.'iO or £40 worth of notes. She did not then tell him that she had given him away.

After he found out that she had giveu him away lie called her a dirty rug- and smacked her face, nearly knocking- her eye out. She. tried to kick him out of the room, or rather called her maid to do so. He told her that he was going to foreign parts, and she would not see him/igain. Inspector Dinnie subsequently called upon her and showed her some portraits, from which she picked out that of the prisoner.

The anonymous witness was not cross-examined. Inspector Dinnie having1 given evidence, and previous convictions having- been proved against, the prisoner, Johnson was committed for trial.