STOLEN MACE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 73, 23 September 1922, Page 19

STOLEN MACE

GIVEN £V OFFICER AS SOUVENIPv.

The silver macs of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland disappeared after the fight at the Four Courts in Dublin. It was rescued by an officer of the Free State army, states a correspondent of the "Man Chester Guardian," but subsequently disappeared from the Four Courts Hotel, in which it had been placed. The Value of the mace, which contains abdut a stone weight of silver, is atateu to be £500. At one time it was carried before the Lord Chancellor of Ireland when ho waa in full regalia by an attendant in livery. Energetic search £or the missing _ "biuble" resulted in it being found in the possession of a man. wfib was arrested and charged with its theft. When ho appeared beforo the Court' in connection with the nutter, the, police said, that the defendant at first said he would give it up if he got £1000 reward. When he was challenged ho said that an officer of the National troops told him he could have it as a souvenir So,far the army authorities had not been able to find out whether th« prisoner's story was true or not, but they believed it was not true.

A polioe officer said he searched the prisoner's house, and found the ina.ee hidden under the boards of the floor, which had been ripped up and replaced. When arrested, the prisoner Kaid he received the mace from an officer of the National army, who asked him to take care of it until the trouble had ended, and that after a couple of days the ofcoer, along with others, returned and told the prisoner hs might keep the articleas a souvenir. Cross-examined, he said he thought he could do whatever he'liked with tha article. He could identify the- ofQcqr, who gave it to him. There were soldiers in his house during the trouble, s-nd they knew he had it. 'Tho prisoner wad never in the Four Courts, and ho did not know what the article was "whan he received it.

The Magistrate: The Court remands you for ;i week to give an opportunity for your story to be investigated. You will have an opportunity to identify the- officer who, you allege, Jfjive you the article. Prisoner: -If a ..private had given it to me I should not have taken it.

My. O'Roilly, prosecuting- solicitor: The police have information that''the ma.cc was going to be sent across to England.

Carelessness of people in lumdliiis and writing cheques and bank drafts enables, forgers to not about £6,000,000 a year.

Rats which infedt the old subterranean passages beneath Nottingham «ro bq numerous and force thai they will destroy mongoo&e, ferrets, and wild oats.