RUSSIAN CROWN JEWELS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21068, 30 December 1931, Page 6

RUSSIAN CROWN JEWELS.

SUPPOSED DISCOVERY. BOUGHT FOR SEVEN-AND-SIX. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY. Dec. 24. A string of beads lay temptingly on the counter of a stall in Hoxton Market. London. "I'd like those," said a woman to her husband during a Saturday night Stroll. The husband looked at the ticket. "What ? Seven and six for a row of beads!" the husband exclaimed. "Tt's extortionate!" But his wife insisted, and the beads were bought. To-day they are valued at £27,000. It is thought that once they were elapsed round the throat of ther Tsarina. That is the amazing story of how Russian Royal jewels found their way into a British household. Just before the Orama left Sydney for London last Saturday the first officer. Mr. H. A. Hawker, told the story. The couple who made the purchase are friends of Mr. Hawker. He says that a few days after the lucky' purchase the old-fashioned clasp on the necklace gave trouble and his friend's wife took it to a jeweller. Calling for the necklace later, the woman found the jeweller < most respectful. "Frankly, we are interested in this string of black opals," he said, "and the management has authorised me to offer you £6OOO for it." The woman retained her self-possession and did not turn a hair. She explained that she had only just bought the necklace and did not want to part with it so soon. Her husband was incredulous when she told him of the incident, but to be on the safe side, he decided to take the jewels, to a valuer. The valuer's eyes glistened. "I have formed iny opinion," he said, "but I would like to call a second opinion." Both experts then valued the jewels at £27,000. Scotland Yard expresses the opinion that the jewels are not the proceeds of a robbery and that there is a strong probability that they are of the former Russian Royal jewels.