DIAMOND IN AN APPLE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19517, 22 December 1926, Page 13

DIAMOND IN AN APPLE.

-FAMOUS JEWEL RECOVERED SEQUEL TO RECENT ROBBERY. ARREST OF FOUR PERSONS. DARING THEFT RECALLED. By Telesraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 6 p.m.) A. and N.Z. PARIS, Dec. 20 There has been a sequel to the sensational robbery which occurred at the Chateau de Montlhery, at Chantilly, 24 miles north-east of Paris, early in October, when thieves broke into the gem room at the chateau and carried off the famous Grande Conde rose diamond, valued at 10.000,000 francs, and other valuables. Le Matin states that the Grande Conde diamond and other booty stolen have been recovered, and that five arrests have been made in connection with the robbery. The names of the arrested persons are: Leon Kauffer arid Emile Souter, Alsatians; Jacob Goldenrafc, a Polish Jew, who is an antiquary; and Maria Schill, a jeweller; and Madame de Gourtry, who was wearing valuable lurs and had £l5O in her possession when arrested. Goldenrat and Schill art: receivers. A BomantiC! Discovery. Ivauffcr and Souter were staying at a small hotel, where the discovery of the Conde diamond was made under romantic conditions. A chambermaid was dusting the bedroom occupied by the two men when she noticed an apple on the mantelpiece.. She was hungry, so she decided to eat it, and presently her teeth came in contact with a hard substance, which proved to be the diamond. Tho police were called in and recovered the jewel. Kauffer had been absent from the room all night and the landlady, becoming suspicions, searched his valise. An apple fell out and it was placed on the mantelpiece. When Kauffer returned he walked into the arms of a detective. He immediately made a full confession. Confession by Thieves. The thieves confessed that they stole a ladder, on which they crossed the moat around the chateau, and then they climbed a wall of the chateau. They ased gloves to prevent fingerprints being left. From the jewels stolen the thieves wrenched out the stones and threw the settings in the river Seine. They sold the jewels, except the Conde diamond, to Schill through Goldenrat. Schill, who had since twice resold the diamond, took the principal share of the proceeds, paying the thieves 30,000 francs, which is in the possession of Kauffer's mistress at Strasbnrg. The robbery was most daring. A drawbridge connects the park with the treasure tower. This is raised at night. The thieves, however, threw a ladder across the gap and in this way gained access to the walls of the tower, which they scaled. Onci thief kept watch while the others rifled the cases and secured all the articles which they could place in ifcheir pockets, including the Conde diamond. Other' articles of artistic interest were not touched, including priceless enamels by Benvenuto Cellini. The Condo diamond is said to be the most beautiful pink diamond in the world. It is pear-shaped, about half an inch wide and one inch and a-quarter long. It is set as a, tie pin and is surrounded by other preicous stones. This diamond was one of the treasures left by the Prince of Conde. It is impossible to estimate its value. The other articles secured by the thieves would alone have constituted z, sensational haul. They included a Cross of the Legion of Honour, which Napoleon gave to Baron Ayinard, also diamonds, gold bracelets, rings and watches.