Thieves’ Plans To Sell Diamond Haul

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27873, 23 January 1956, Page 11

Thieves’ Plans To Sell Diamond Haul

(Rec. 7 p.m.) JOHANNESBURG, Jan. 21. A representative of Charles (“Lucky”) Luciano, formerly a leader of the New York underworld, attempted to buy jewels stolen from the home of Mr Harry Oppenheimer, the diamond magnate, it was said in Court today. The prosecutor. Dr. Yutar, quoted a statement by one of the men accused of the robbery that Luciano’s representative had flown to Johannesburg from Rome to buy the jewels involved in the £213,000 robbery on December Two men appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today charged with stealing the Oppenheimer jewels. They are William Ernest Pearson, aged 32. of Sydney, Australia, and Donald Ernest Miles, a 34-year-old private detective, of Johannesburg. Nearly all the jewels were recovered on December 14 in a police raid on a room occupied by two men in a Johannesburg luxury hotel. Percival William Radley, originally remanded in custody in connexion with

the robbery, will give evidence for the Crown at the trial. The prosecution withdrew allegations against him. Dr. Yutar said that the Crown case was that Miles removed the jewels and then called on Radley with a view to their disposal. Radley negotiated with Pearson, who undertook to dispose of them for £50.000. Dr. Yutar said that Miles had worked at the Oppenheimer home in December. 1954, while the Oppenheimers were abroad, and had access to every part of the house. Miles found a safe in the main bedroom and opened it with a key found in a cupboard. There was little jewellery in the safe at the time, but he conceived the idea of helping himself to the contents later. Radley met Pearson after his arrival from Australia on November 7. and persuaded the Australian to go to London to meet a contact man for a. big “fence.” Pearson left for London on November 23. returning on December 8. Meanwhile, while Mrs Oppenheimer was away. Miles had taken the jewels.

Pearson told Radley on his return from London that he had contacted “Lucky” Luciano in Italy, who would be the best man to buy the jewels. In December. Pearson told Radley that Luciano's man had arrived and was prepared to buy the jewels. On the same day, Pearson met an insurance adjuster from London. Pearson offered to sell the jewels to the insurance company for £75.000. then came down to £50.000. and finally to £40.000. He made it clear that he was not interested in a reward, and did not wish to meet the police. Pearson indicated that he could steal the jewels from the thieves, or buy them from the thieves and get them out of the country, or negotiate a sale with the insurance company. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.