The End of the Party

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1010, 28 June 1930, Page 18

The End of the Party

Bandits and the Countess

iTTCdfjPT? Arc amazingly bold mid- ! MW; night hold-up and rob- i bery recently took place ! VFsmwktl uear Bukarest. Me Charles Dewey,! the American financial i adviser bf the Polish Government, was | visiting Rumania. In his honour Prince Antoine Bibesco gave a gala dinner in his castle not far from the Rumanian capital. Mr, Davilla, the Rumanian Minister to Washington, and Countess Szembek (wife of the Polish Minister to Bukarest) were other guests of the Prince. After the dinner party, Mr. Dewey, Mr. Davila and the countess were returning to Bukarest in a motor-car. “Stand and Deliver” At a lonely spot on the road, at midnight, they were accosted by six masked highwaymen, who brought j them to a halt by firing a number of | revolver' shots close to the car. As the car came to a standstill, the highwaymen, some presenting revolvers, and others brandishing knives and clubs, ordered the occupants of the car to get out and hand over their money and other valuables. Mr. Dewey and Mr. Davila obeyed, but the countess had fainted. Entering the car, one bandit stripped off her necklace, bracelet and tiara by force. Mr. Davila tried in vain to dissuade the highwaymen. He pointed out to them the important positions of the occupants of the car, and threatened them with arrest and punishment.

I At his threats the highwaymen ; merely laughed and brought their rej volvers closer to his head. On arrival in Bukarest, Mr. Davila caused his chauffeur to dsive direct to police headquarters.

Both the Ministers of the Interior and War were also informed, and soon a large detachment of police and soldiers went to the scene of the robbery. So far no trace of the robbers has been found. Prince Antoine Bibesco is the son-in-law of the late Earl of Oxford and Asquith.