LONDON JEWELLERY SALES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 10 March 1925, Page 7

LONDON JEWELLERY SALES.

EAST END REVELATIONS. VERITABLE ALLADIN’S CAVES. LONDON, Eeb. 19, How East End hotels, cafes and alleys are converted every. Sunday into veritable Alladin’s caves, with : mystei 1ous dealers laying priceless jewellery on cloths, stalls, and even the bare oroiind within the shadow of the doort way of hotel bars, was related by James Retts\ jewellery dealer, who was further charged with ' receiving jewellery suspected of having been stolen. Betts, in giving evidence, said that, he purchased the goods in market places and at private sales. He said lie recently saw a portion of the Russian Crown jewels sold at Aldgate, uheie there were at least 409 dealers every Sundav, and in the summer time the number reached 1000. Prospective puicliusers were allowed to examine the articles, which were sold by auction to the highest bidder. The most valuable iewellerv was often broken up, especially at Hatton Garden, where it was impossible to sell even a valuable ring, the buyers stipulating that they preferred to purchase the stones sep-, aratelv bv weight. Betts, in cross-examination, said that no questions were asked at Aldga e. When he bought gold articles he atwavs molted . them down. He denied that the object was to make it more difficult for the police to trace stolen articles. „ , :