HUNT FOR TREASURE

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 October 1933, Page 3

HUNT FOR TREASURE

HIDDEN IN SOVIET TOWN. LONDON, August 12. A charge arising out of an expedition to Russia for the recovery of millions of pounds’ worth of treasure supposed to be buried in the town where the Tsar was assassinated, was heard at Bow-street yesterday. Maurice Harry Fredjohn, a middleaged man, of Burbage-road, Dulwich, was accused on a summons under the Bankruptcy Act of obtaining credit to the amount of £l5O from Debenham, Storr and Sons., auctioneers, Kingstreet, * Covent Garden, without disclosing the fact that he was an undischarged bankrupt. The defence was that full disclosure of Fredjohn’s bankruptcy was made before credit was given. Mr Raphael, prosecuting, said that early in April last an expedition set out for Russia from this country to recover jewellery said to be secreted under a house at Ekaterinberg (now renamed Sverdlovsk), the town where the Tsar was assassinated. The jewels were reputed to be worth at least a million and possibly two million pounds. “It sounds an extraordinary enterprise,” remarked counsel, “but apparently it had the sanction of the Soviet Government, and a pact was entered into by which the proceeds of the jewellery, when recovered, should be shared with the Soviet Government. It is in connection with that adventure that these proceedings arise.” Mr Walter Storr Allon, secretary to Debenham, Storr and Sons, said that Fredjohn called upon him with a Major and another man on February 15. Defendant said he had ascertained that there was treasure buried in Russia, and that an expedition was being organised to recover it. Mr Raphael: Did he indicate what the value was? —It was an open question whether it was a million or millions.

Fredjohn, added Mr Allon, wanted him to value the treasure when found, against, the Soviet Government. Defendant said he had an agreement with the Soviet Government. It was arranged that witness should accompany the expedition to Russia and that he should be paid £250 before going, together with his first-class expenses.

About a week later this arrangement was cancelled because Fredjohn said that members of the expedition were disagreeing about the amount. Witness was then given'instead an agreement to pay him £l5O in sixty days for his services. Fredjohn never disclosed to him that he was an undischarged bankrupt.

Upon the arrival of the expedition in Russia search was made for the treasure. The site was found, but. the jewels were inaccessible. The original house had been replaced with workmen’s dwellings, and, that being so, the expedition returned to England.

Mr Neville Fawkes (instructed by Bateman and Co.) defending, suggested in cross-examination, that the expedition was a gamble, and that Mr Allon became a co-adventurer. Mr Allon: I was not gambling. These jewels were alleged to be worth £2,000,000, and, if found, were to be sold through, you?—A quarter was to he sold through us. If it came off it. would have been a. great scoop?—lt would have been a very good thing.

“I THINK THEY ARE THERE.” “I sincerely believe the jewels are there,” added Mr Allon. “T think they are, from what I know npw. The jewels were there originally. I think Mr Goldman was right in what he said that he buried them originally.”

After his return from Russia, an article appeared in a newspaper, for which he received paymen}!. He would not say he gave the information. In consequence of the article proceedings had been instituted against him by Fredjohn in the King’s Bench Division. At one time there was talk of settling the action.

Mr Fawkes said that the action concerned an alleged breach of secrets. An undertaking was given to keep the whole matter’ a secret, as the jewels were buried not only at Ekaterinberg, but at two other places as well. . .

Counsel asked if Mr Allon’s solicitors had since decided to call the settlement off. Mr Allon: 1 take it they did. Was their reason that these proceedings would be a better piece of tactics? —I don’t know what their reason was.

“I am suggesting that these proceedings are of a very malicious nature,” counsel added.

Mr Allon agreed that he had never applied to Fredjohn for the £l5O until after proceedings had been started. His solicitors, he said, advised him that it was useless. His expenses to Russia, and back were all paid. He did not know that his life was insured for as much as £10,000; he thought that it was for £2,500. The hearing was adjourned.