THEFT AT PEER’S HOUSE

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 March 1934, Page 6

THEFT AT PEER’S HOUSE

HALIFAX HEIRLOOMS STOLEN. VALUABLES ON LAWN. Many heirlooms of the Halifax, family were taken bv burglars who broke into Hickleton Hall, near Doncaster, during the night before the fun-.-ruT of Lord Halifax. At 'the time that the thieves broke into the Hall the body of Lord Halifax was lying m Hickleton Parish Church, which is 150 yards away. It bad been borne there by villagers carrying rushlights. Throughout the night a policeman was on duty inside Hickleton Hull, and 70 persons, including the vnonr-a-ors and household staff. Were asleep in the building. Next morning.articles, of value and orders and medals wore, found strewn, about the west lawn, where apparently the thieves nad broken open the eases in which they, were kept. Among the articles lying on the lawn was a. Star of India, which was probably given to the first Viscount Halifax, who Was Secretary of Stare for India, There was also a. ring which belonged to Charles, Earl G-jey, a paper knife given-to Lord Halifax, by the Prince of Wales in 1857 ;• Crimean medals; arid a bag of pearls, given to the family by Lord Breadaibane.

The intruders gained entrance to the Hall by boring a. series of holes with a. brace and hit around a panel in the still room door. They then apparently kicked this panel out oiid opened, the door, which is on the ground floor. The burglars were tben able to make, their way to the drawing room, in which the heirlooms were kept. In the ground floor passage they passed a safe, in which was kept the family plate. The burglars apparently tqok two. cases full y of jewels and ordfers from the drawing-room, and

Went out through a ctoOr leading on to the west laWn. Among other articles missing are a bag of Indian coins, given to the first Viscount Halifax in 1862; a cameo set in gilt; an amethyst seal; two gold spoons.; a pair of gold studs, with onyx heads; a gold bracelet; a gold pencil; three medals of the Ashanti War, with the name Wood on their edges; a pendant of pearls and turquoise, with the Royal cipher V.R.. set in diamonds; a blue ribbon with a miniature Star of India; and a very* old gold watch with a filigree work ease.