STOLEN GOLD STATUE
QONVICTION OF ASSESSOR EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL LONDON, Feb. 4 Further details are published about John William Bell, one of London's foremost insurance assessors, who was sentenced last week to one year's imprisonment on a charge of receiving a gold glatiie of Aphrodite, valued at £20,000. The convicted man was first charged with having burglariously broken into , Kensington Court, London, and stolen the statue of the Greek Codess of Love, which is said to be 2000 years old. Bell was largely connected with Lloyd's. He employed 20 clerks in the city and had branch offices abroad. He had assisted in the recovery of thousands of pounds worth of stolen property, especially jewellery. In the majority of the thefts entrusted to him to investigate he often menaced by thieves. The trial lasted five days. Hie prosecution said that Lloyd's offered a reward of £2500 for. the recovery of the statuo end otl(er missing articles. Bell in September told the police lie believed the articles were thrown into Regent's Park Canal and he could assist in their recovery. Later he told solicitors acting on behalf of tho insurance company conjperned/that the Aphrodite and gold plate pould be restored for £SOOO. The solicitors, through a private inquiry pgent, arranged for Bell to meet a tobacconist named Rothfield at the latter's shop (find receive £4500, of which the thieves fcvero toy get £2500 and Bell and Rothfield were to halve the remainder. Tho police arrested Bell while lie was delivering the statue. In his evidence, accused said that, as fin assessor, ho often received information about stolen property. An unknown man telephoned him concerning tho articles, after which ho communicated with the police. Solicitors paid this man £ISOO and were to pay the remainder when tho firticle/s were restored. He kept them for five weeks because he did not want to lose the £ISOO.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21417, 15 February 1933, Page 10
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313STOLEN GOLD STATUE New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21417, 15 February 1933, Page 10
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