VALUABLE PEARLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20536, 11 October 1928, Page 16

VALUABLE PEARLS.

STRING WORTH £7OOO. THEFT CHARGE WITHDRAWN. NO EVIDENCE FROM OWNER. Because a lady declined to travel from France to explain the disappearance of a valuable necklace, a Liverpool case ended with dramatic suddenness. Brought up on remand, Mary Hardinian, a governess, aged 39, was charged with being in possession of a string of pearls valued at £7OOO, the property of Mine. Lang Niller, of Paris. Mr F. Borrows, prosecuting, explained that since Miss Hardiman was last before the court the police had received a communication from the Paris authorities, who had been in touch with Mme. Lang Niller and her husband. The French police stated that the lady did not wish to be troubled with a journey to Liverpool to give evidence. In the circumstances, the chief constable asked that the charge against Miss Hardiman should be withdrawn. The magistrate: Do I understand that the alleged owner of the pearls will not take the trouble to come over and give evidence ? Mr Borrows: That is so. The magistrate: “ But these pearls are worth £7OOO. It is very remarkable.” Addressing accused, the magistrate remarked: “The charge against you is withdrawn and you are discharged.” A wardress then handed a brown paper parcel to defendant, who left the dock without uttering a word. Miss Hardiman was first charged on her own confession with being in unlawful possession of the pearls, which were supposed to have been stolen in Paris last November. A police inspector described how a London firm of jewellers received a parcel containing four pearls, with the request to sell them on behalf of a “ Mrs Howley,” the letter being written on notepaper with the heading “ Adelpbi Hotel, Liverpool.” As a reference the writer gave the Imperial Bank of India. Inquiries both at the bank and at the hotel disclosed that nobody called “ Mrs Howley ” could be discovered. On July 21, added the inspector, Miss Hardiman called at the hotel ami asked whether there were any letters for Mrs Howley. She was interviewed by a detective, and told him that the pearls had been given her by the wife of an Indian mill manager, with whom she had served as governess. Later, however, she called at the police station and stated; “ I want to toll the truth. I was in the employ of Mme. Lang Niller, in Paris, from October, 1927, to’February, 1928. I saw a string of pearls iu her bedroom and I took them about November, 1927. I was questioned by the police, but I had the pearls hidden, and said I did not know anything about them. I later heard they acre of great value, and that a reward was being offered for them. I was too frightened then to disclose the fact that I had them. I did not dispose of any of them, except the diamondstudded clasp, which I sold to a pawnbroker for £40.” The inspector explained that a few minutes later the woman made a statement that shortly before Christmas, 1927, she took from a wallet a note valued at 4000 francs.