THE STOLEN PEARLS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume 1, Issue 8, 14 February 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE STOLEN PEARLS.

QUESTION OF REWARD;;..---The discovery of by far the greater number of the pearls which formed part of the famous necklace lost rhj transit through the post between Paris and London has come.as a surprise to;most. people, and to none more than to Messrs Brandstatter . and Quadratstein, who have figured so prominently in connection with the case at Bow Street. Seen by a French newspaper representative, M. Brandstatter said: —"I am greatly surprised at the turn . things havo taken. According to the information 1 obtained lately from Scotland Yard, if the necklace was not actually in the diands of the English police they knew exactly where it was to be found. I left London firmly persuaded that in a very short time it would be at Scotland Yard. But this was a secret, and I was warned that I must say nothing about it to anybody, as the slightest indiscretion might upset the plans of the police authorities. Therefore I held ray tongue, but now that the necklace has been found there is no longer any reason for secrecy." Asked whether he expected to share in the reward of £IO,OOO which was offered by the underwriters, M. Brandstatter said: —''Yes, I expect to get my share. It was not alone from the desire to get the reward that I undertook the work which I did in London in association with M. Quadratstein. Our chief desire was to expose the rogues who dishonour the calling in which we -sire engaged. ■' ' After picking up the necklace Home visited the Railway Tavern in Hornsey Road, accompanied by a friend, to: whom he showed it. Neither of the two men realised that the pearls were genuine, and it is alleged that the friend threw, one of the pearls away under the impr that it was a marble. Home went to Scotland Yard oft -Tuesday and was questioned, remaining} there for some hours,. Later he went with Chief - Inspector Ward to the pub-lic-house in Hornsey. Roatl, where ' a search was made for the missing pearl/ but without success. . It will be .remembered that one of' the pearls that are still wanting was one of. the very finest, in the necklace, and it is possible that* was the very one. It is also alleged that Home, believing „the pearls to) be imitation, offered to sell them to two of' his fellow-workmen for a shilling. He oven offered to part with one of the i largest pearls in return for a drink. Subsequently, however, he thought of

the missing pearl necklace, of which so rnuch had been written in the newspapers, and h'e then determined to hand his find over to the police. The value' of the two pearls which are still missing is, according to Mr Max Mayer, between £14,000 and £15,000.The question of the reward, of which it will be seen M. Brandafcatter' claims a chare, is one which is engaging a good deal of fitLention in- insurance circles, and which '-may give rise to some dis-J piito. The notice with regard to it distinctly stated that the S'lo.ooo would; be given, to anyone giving mation as would lead to the recovery : - of the pearls and the conviction of the ~ f.hieves. Assuming that the story .told „ by Home "of his having picked them up in the street is true, it is clear that he is not entitled to claim the whole of ''■' the reward. How then will the reward be apportioned? That is. a question- on : which even experts hesitate to'give aii opinion, and which is fikely" to .cause not a. little disagreement among thera.