LOST FROM FLAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 20 November 1926, Page 23

LOST FROM FLAT.

LADY SPICER'S £1500 JEWEL. "PERFECT SERVANT" VANISHES. Once more a perfect manservant Is being sought by the police—this time in connection with the theft of jewellery worth about £1500 from the flat of Lady Spicer, widow of Sir Howard Spieer, in Granville Place, Portman Square, London. Lady Spicer herself discovered the loss on her return from dining with friends. Immediately afterwards it was found that a manservant, who had only been employed at the flats a few days, also was missing. Scotland Yard detectives Instituted » widespread search for him. The servant, who gave the name of Harry Parsons, is a mystery man. He owed his engagement largely to the fact that he represented himself to be an ex-navy man. Ho produced exceptionally good references. "Perfectly Charming." "He was perfectly charming in his manners," the proprietress of. the house of which Lady Spicer's flat formed part, told a representative of the "Sunday News." "When he came from a highclass employment bureau in answer to my request for a manservant I thought he was ideal for the job. "He said that ior seven years he had been in the service of a uaval commander at Torquay, but looked as if he had fallen on evil days. I am partial to ex-service men, and felt sorry for him. "During the three days he was here he worked efficiently and well, doing the ordinary duties of a sort of man-of-all-work. "The man is about 40 years of age, sft Tin in height, of slim build and with fair complexion. He is clean shaven. He sometimes woie glasses, and looked and spoke like a man o£ superior education." A pearl necklace, diamond earrings, diamond bracelets, brooches and watches form the greater part af the missing property. Lady Spice* usually leaves her large Airedale dog in the room which was entered, but on this occasion took it with her to prevent the possibility of other persons in the house being disturbed. "Parsons" was popular with other occupants of the house, and is described as being "very polite and a model of good manners."

GERMAN HORRORS.

"ACE OF SPADES" GANG. DEVIL-WORSHIPPERS' VICTIMS. There exists in Berlin a secret society of devil worshippers known as "The Ace of Spades." Many suicides have been due to the tactics of this evil organisation, and its leaders when caught will be tried on charges of murder. "Help ! Help ! Save mc ! Save mc !'• People in the Berlin streets turned to watch Fraulein Roberta Muller, a pretty twenty-year-old girl, running towards the Potsdamer Bridge over the Spree Canal, casting frightened looks over her shoulder as though pursued. Policemen looked in vain for her pursuers. There were none. Presently the girl screamed in terror. "Satan!" she shrieked, and mounted the parapet of the bridge. There, after seeming to struggle with an invisible adversary, she threw herself into the black water below, still crying out, "Satan ! Satan !" Investigations showed that the girl had been the victim of "The Ace of Spades," and that numerous other suicides had been due to the tactics of this organisation of devil worshippers, whose purpose is to extort blackmail from credulous women by making them believe that Satan himself has taken possession of them. Revolting Demands. When the women have been skilfully driven to the verge of insanity they are told that Mephistopheles can be appeased and induced to leave them In peace by performing certain ceremonies and sacrifices. The victim jumps at the chance and offers to do anything, but when the time comes she finds the things expected of her are so fearful and revolting that she backs out. In despair she asks if there is not some other way. Now comes the first suggestion of money, as they tell her that there is just one ray of hope. It is barely possible that some needy woman might be induced to go through the dreadful ordeal for her. Of course, she would be expected to be paid for It. Knowing what the other woman is supposed to endure, she is not surprised to learn that her proxy has demanded a staggering fee.

If this Is paid, the dupe is assured that Mephistopheles is appeased, and will never bother her again. Women, young or old. who are upset or unhappy, are the prey of the agents of the "Ace of Spades" Society, who tell them they are possessed by fiends. They are taken to underground rooms, where mysterious rites are performed. Trembling with fright, they listen to strange sounds as of an orchestra gone mad ; blinding lights of all colours are shot at them from unexpected places, and there are sickening odours that seem half perfume and half decay. A "priest" in a long robe, with the figure of a devil on it and on his peaked cap, directs the uncanny ceremonies. To find out what particular fiend is tormenting her the victim is asked to select a card from a pack. Mephistopheles, she is told, is represented by the Ace of Spades, but that card fortunately never turns up.' The "priest" drops the cards one by one in front of her. The frightened woman chooses one and turns It up. It is the dreadful Ace of Spades !