ADVENTURES OF RING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22970, 23 February 1938, Page 15

ADVENTURES OF RING

LOST AND FOUND AGAIN RECOGNITION BY JEWELLER [by telegraph—ows correspondent] HASTINGS, Tuesday The ownership of a gold and diamond ring valued at £2O, which was found in a picture theatre in 1936, was a question which Mr. J. Miller, S.M., was called upon to decide in the Hastings Magistrate's Court to-day. George Thomas Elsworth stated that he found the ring in a Hastings theatre. When it xvas not advertised for he handed it to the police. The police kept it for 12 months and then handed it back ta him. Witness said he then took 1 the ring to a jeweller, Bertram M. Kessell, to have it valued. Kessell claimed the ring as his own, stating that he last saw it six or eight months before and had missed it two or three days previously. Witness said the name "Kessell" was stamped on the ring. It was through this that Kessell recognised it. To Mr. Averill, who appeared for Kessell witness said he did not know Kessell's name was on the ring until it was handed back to him by the police. Kessell gave evidence that the ring was manufactured in his shop before the war. On his return from the war he took it for his own use. He discontinued to wear it at the time of the earthquake, except for special occasions. He missed it, but thought it was mislaid. When it came back to the shop for valuation he at 'once claimed it. The magistrate said the ring was an unusual one. Kessell seemed to have been lax in not inquiring about it when it was lost. It seemed that the ring was Kessell's. "At the same time," the magistrate added, "I would suggest that he should make the finder a substantial reward." An order was made for the return of the ring to Kessell.