LADY LUDLOW'S JEWELS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18896, 19 December 1924, Page 11

LADY LUDLOW'S JEWELS

RETURN OF THE ANTIQUES.

NEWSPAPER REPORT DENIED.

Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association (Reed. 8.5 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 17

Tho Evening Standard states that antiques va.ued at £200,000, belonging to the Weri her collection, which were stolen in June, have been returned to the owner. The police had always been pu'/.zled by the fact that the thieves took this portion of the collection, which, though most valuable as antiques, would not be negotiable without revealing its character and origin, as the collection is known to dealers throughout the world.

It is now believed, says the paper, that the thieves did not intend to take the antiques, but only the modern jewellery.

Lady Ludlow, the owner of the collection, denies the report, and says nothing has been sent back to her.

The mystery is deepened by a statement in tho Daily Express to the effect tint the valuables are in safety, though they are not yet in the hands of the owner. It is believed that they have been hoarded secretly since the robbery, found unsaleable, and returned. The Express does not say to whom.

The Morning Post asserts that, the jewels never left the country, but were returned six weeks after they were stolen on the payment, oi' £5000 reward. The police have rn- knowledge, of this negotiation, and are sti for the thieves.

P.ut i rs on June 12 rifled the famous jewels-j'jit Bath House, Piccadilly, which the lafi : Sir Julius Wernher had collected as tho result of a life-long ijobhy. They belonged to his widow, now Lady Ludlow, arid consisted chiefly of fifteenth and sixteenth century jewels. These were priceless owing to their rarity and hist on':;! association. The burglars concealed i;hem-elves in the basement of the building until everyone was asleep. They (hen went to the museum, which occupied '.he whole of the floor of Bath House. The public was shocked to think that the th'ev<>s might melt dov n the vnique je.veiled cups, enamels, and an tif?ue sell;rig■; for the gold, regardless of til>2 (b strnct ion of their art value. A msideiate estimate of the value of the stolen jewels was £250,0CQ. Most of the gems had been worn by queens and princesses, and the who!:; collection cost Sir Julius over £1,000.000. After the lohbery tbi floor of the museum was lit - tired with white flock, which the thieves bad torn from cushions in order to pack the stolen jewels. Sir Julius Wernher died in 1912. leaving a fortune of £11,000.000, the greater part, going to bis v idow, who is reputed to be the richest woman in Kngland. During the war Lady Ludlow subscribed £2,000.000 to trie war loan. Lord Ludlow was killed on the hunting field in 1922.