MYSTERY OF AN IDOL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20367, 23 September 1929, Page 14

MYSTERY OF AN IDOL.

TAKEN FROM RESIDENCE.

SUGGESTED MISCHIEVOUS ACT

Burglars stole a Burmese idol but ignored jewellery worth several thousand pounds in a mysterious raid on the home of Lady (Arthur) Herbert at Coldbrook, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, early one morning recently. They forced a window on the ground floor and locked Lady Herbert in the room on tho first floor, where she was sleeping. They then searched several rooms.

The idol, which is 22in. high and curiously carved of wood, was in the hall. The burglars took it and loft tho houso without disturbing any of tha valuablo contents. Servants hoard nothing and Lady Herbert was unawaro of the burglary until she was wakened in tho morning.

Tho idol has boon in tho possession ol tho family for many years. Lady Hor bert's husband, tho lato Sir Arthur Hor bert, who died in 1921, was in tho Diplo matic Servico in l'orsia and Afghanistan,

Tho police afterwards stated that thoy belioved thoy had found tho solution of tho disappearance of t.fio idol. The Ohiof Constable said that ho did not regard the affair as being a serious attempt by expert burglars, but rather a caso of mischief on the part of someone who was acquainted with tho premises. Ho was not prepared to say whether tho matter would involve an arrest.

"No serious thief would have left a lot of pieces of silver and valuable ornaments lying about absolutely untouched, and made off with a comparatively valueless object," the chief constable said. "Thero was plenty of booty which a thief could have stowed away easily. "

" It would have been an easy matter to leave by the front door, but apparently it was not used. There wore marks on a window which had not been used, for years, made to look as though someone had attempted to get in there. This window, which is under Lady Herbert's suite, could not havo been opened without making a considerable noise, and it is strange that no such noise was heard on the night of the robbery. " A brace and bit wore found outside the house, and thero wore marks near tho catch of another window, and under the window-sill. It was a clumsy effort to suggest an attempt at breaking in. Some broken window-glass was found outside the house—not inside."