AUSTRIA’S CROWN JEWELS

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 223, 8 June 1923, Page 7

AUSTRIA’S CROWN JEWELS

CHARGES OF FRAUD

LAID AGAINST FORMER EMPEROR’S ADVISER

BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYBIGHT.

Paris, June 6.

Baron von Steiner, formerly confidential adviser to the Emperor Francis Joseph, has been arrested on a Swiss warrant and charged with robbing the Austrian Imperial Family of 250,000 francs. Switzerland is taking extradition proceedings.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

(Rec. June 7, 7.45 p.m.)

Paris, June 6.

It is alleged that Baron Bruno Steiner, who has been arrested on Swiss extradition warrants, was empowered to pledge the lmperial Crown and other jewels for the purpose of obtaining a loan for tho exEmperor Karl. Instead, he sold the jewels outright for a sum far below their value. The jewels are stated to be worth over £300,000, and were allegedly sold to a syndicate of international jewellers for £25,500. It is asserted that the historic Marie Antoinette necklace was sold eventually to an English purchaser for about £70,000, three times the amount which the syndicate paid for the whole collection. The Archduke Max accuses Steiner of defrauding the Imperial Family of a quarter of a million francs from tho sales. It is suggested that Steiner’s arrest will lead to a disclosure of the names of the others implicated, who are now living in Switzerland and elsewhere.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.