LONDON JEWEL SALES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 83, 9 March 1925, Page 12

LONDON JEWEL SALES.

EAST END REVELATIONS. LONDON, Feb. 19. How East End hotels, cafes and alleys are converted every Sunday into veritable Alladin’s caves, with mysterious dealers laying priceless jewellery on cloths, stalls, and even the bare ground within the shadow of the doorway of hotel bars, was related by James Betts, 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 he recently saw a portion of the Russian Crown jewels sold at Aldgate, where there were at least 400 dealers every Sunday, and in the summertime the number reached 1000. Prospective purchasers were allowed to examine the articles, which were sold by auction to the highest bidder. The most valuable jewellery 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 separately by weight. Betts, in cross-examination, said that no questions were asked at Aidgate. When he bought gold articles he always melted them down. He denied that the object was to make it more difficult for the police to trace stolen articles.