ROMANOFF RUBIES' STOLEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 1010, 13 November 1917, Page 5

ROMANOFF RUBIES' STOLEN.

Silver statues and antiques to tho value of £150,000 were stolen from the Senate building in Petrograd recently by six armed robbers, who declared that the statues of the Romanoff family offended their revolutionary sentiments. The robbers, three of whom were disguised as soldiers, arrived at the. Senate building, in which a vast collection of historic valuables is kept, in an automobile. The porter'at the door "as knocked down and tied with ropes and a sack placed over his head. Another employee, who attempted to summon aid by telephone, was forced to desist when a revolver was held at his head. Entering the famous Catherine Hall, the robbers took from its pedestal a. silver statue of the Empress Catherine 11., valued at £50,000. It was carried to the automobile, and then a second statue representing Russia at prayer, was taken out the same way. The famous statue ul Minerva, presented to the Senate by Empress Catherine, and many big candlesticks and equestrian statuettes completed the loot of the thieves. _ 'flic automobile carrying the robbers and their booty got away from the building a half hour before the guards arrived.