DUCHESS' LOST JEWELS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 10

DUCHESS ' LOST JEWELS

KICKED ABOUT BY CHILDREN REMARKABLE FIND AFTER 15 YEARS OAKHAM (Rutland), Feb. 17. A £IOOO diamond bracelet belonging t o a Duchess, lost three years ago, has just been restored to its owner in remarkable and fortuitous circumstances.

Meanwhile, it has served as a toy for the children of a groom and has been worn by one of hi.s- daughters. The bracelet is the property of the Duchess of Rutland, who missed it on return iug to Bo.lvoir Castle, Grantham, from the Cottesmore Hunt Ball which was held at Oakham on. February 7, 1930.

The police were told, and the chief constable of the county placarded the district and inserted advertisements iu the national ami local press offering a reward of £SO for the recovery of the bracelet, which consisted of IS huige stones. A strange coincidence within a few hours gave rise to the belief that the loss- had been made good, for a bracelet. containing IS stones was found in a yard adjoining the Victoria Hall, where the ball had been held. WORN BY A SERVANT Apparently it had been lost by another guest at the ball, for it; was not the property of the Duchess 1 of Rutland. The “gems” were found to bn paste, and when no claimant appeared they were handed back to the finder.' Thte Duchess’ jewels rennrned lost, and the insurance company paid her £IOOO. The whole affair had been almost forgotten when, a few days .ago, a young woman went to a jeweller’s shop and asked the value of a string of sparking gems which she possessed. The jeweller’s interest was aroused. and in reply to his questions' the woman said she had recently come into the district to take' up a post as a domestic servant, and that the bracelet, which she had brought with her from home, had excited much comment at a dance she had attended, where one admirer advised her to get it valued.

Tho woman agreed to further inquiries being made, and eventually her father, a groom, told the police .that after the ball at Oakham he j found the jewels lying in the road in j iOhureli street, which runs by the side of the Victoria Hall. Ignorant of . 'their value, lie gave them to his] "children to play with, and for nearly j three years, until liis eldest daughter ‘left home, taking them with her as i“a little farewell gift for luck,” the diamonds had been thrown and kicked about the floor.

'[ no Duke of Rutland identified the ■bracelet, ns that lost by his wife, and it has now been restored to its rightful owner.