HELMET WORN AT BOSWORTH

Evening Star, Issue 23273, 23 May 1939, Page 12

HELMET WORN AT BOSWORTH

DEALER SENTENCED FOR THEFT Clement Archer John Milward. of the Parsonage, Englcfield, Surrey, described as a well-known dealer in antique armour, was sent to prison for three months at Truro recently, and was fined £5 for stealing a fifteenthcentury salade, valued at £l6O, from Carhayes Church in December, 1937. This salade, or helmet, is believed to have been worn by a member of the Trevarnon family at the Battle of Bosworth in 1486, and is understood to be one of the only two headpieces of its type in existence. The accused pleaded guilty, and evidence showed the salade was removed from the church and in its place was put a German forgery of little value. The missing salade had been offered for sale in London and had been exhibited at the antique dealers’ fair last year. The accused said it was sent to him by a person from near Rochester, but he could not remember the person’s name and address. Later he admitted taking the helmet, but added he had always asked a price for it far in excess of its market value. He had consistently refused good offers for it, and was glad it would now be restored to the church. A previous conviction for theft was proved against the accused, who was said to have been educated at Eton. Mr M. T. Police, for Milward, said his action was mad and foolhardy, but not a criminal. It was that of a collector maniac, which was akin of that of a kleptomaniac.