COSTLY FROCKS STOLEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20954, 18 August 1931, Page 10

COSTLY FROCKS STOLEN.

WOMAN'S £BOO LOSS. CLOTHING AND JEWELLERY. Mrs. Evo Johns, recognised as one of the best dressed women in Sydney, and always an outstanding figure on the racecourses, lost frocks worth £6OO one night recently. Thieves ransacked her flat, and stole clothing and jewellery to tho total value of £BOO. Mrs. Johns' husband, Mr. Ocorge Johns, is a well-known paddock bookmaker, and an ex-welter-weight champion boxer of Australia. The robbery occurred at his beautiful flat at Randwick, while he was giving an exhibition at Les O'Donnell's benefit at the Stadium. It was the first time for 18 years that Mr. Johns had been in the ring. When Mr. and Mrs. Johns returned home about 11.15, they found everything in tho flat upside down. The contents of drawers had been strewn about, tho mattress was on the floor, shoes and silverware were scattered about the rooms, and expensive underclothing was piled before the wardrobe. The thieves, who had evidently watched tho departure of Mr. and Mis. Johns, daringly climbed up the front of the flats, swung over a balcony, lowered the sunshade, and then damaged two balcony doors before gaining entry. Frocks specially imported by Mrs. John 3 were taken. Included in the haul was a Russian squirrel coat, which cost £175; a beautiful stole, an ermine coat, and a black and gold sequin evening frock with headdress wero also taken. The next day-Mrs. Johns, who usually has an abundance of beautiful frocks, had only one street frock and ono ovening frock. Mr. Johns, who lost 10 suits and two dinner suits, was left only tho clothing that lie was wearing. The thieves cast asido a bedspread and curtains valued by Mrs. Johns at £SO. Mrs. Johns said that among the stolen property was clothing which could not be bought in Sydney. Her squirrel coat, was most unusual, and tshe could easily identify it.