Jewel Robberies.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13638, 4 July 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

Jewel Robberies.

REMARKABLE RECOVERIES. Valuable antique jewellery stolen from Lowther Castle, Lord Lonsdale's seat, has been recovered at Northampton under singular circumstances. This is the second robbery of jewellery from Lord Lonsdale, it will be recalled that in December Just burglars-broke into his lordship's hunting seat in Rutlandshire—Barleythorpe Hall, near Oakham—and carried off in a motorcar valuable mementoes which had been given by Royalty to Lord Lonsdale. The articles recovered by the Northampton police include a gold and blue enamelled ling, with the bust of. an infant on the front, with the incription " Princess Royal, Nov. 21, 1840." and at the-back are- portraits of the King and Queen. There is also a case of five gold buckles, an oval mounted tortoise-shell pencase, a gold-mounted pebble scent bottle, an antique chatelaine of gold, and diamonds, with a miniature in the centre, a watch and chain, and two rings. It was alleged that when Dilcock (a house carpenter at the Coetle, who has been arrested), arrived at Northampton Railway he complained that he had left in the train a parcel.- worth thousands of of pounds. The railway recovered it, a,nd at his orders it was' left at the Fish Inn, Northampton, where it remained on the top-of a case of mineral waters for over a week.

I As lie did not return, the landlord, Mr. Ranee, opened the parcelt and finding it contained valuable jewellery,' handed it over to the police. Following up a clue, the police -wired to Lord Lonsdale, and he telegraphed back that similar jewellery had been stolen from him. : In the meantime the accused had been motoring about Northampton, and he left in the car two articles of jewellery. The driver of the car returned them to him next morning, and accused then complained that he had forgotten the name of the inn where he had left a. parcel of jewellery. The driver refreshed his memory, and on prisoner calling there the landlord communicated with the police, and he was arrested. !

It was also alleged that Dilcock gave two rings to chamber maids at a Northampton hotel, and they, thinking . the trinkets were of little value, parted with them. They had since been recovered by the police. The chief Constable of Northampton was congratulated by the magistrates upon the smartness shown in the case, and in reply the Chief Constable said he believed other articles of jewellery had been disposed" of in the district by prisoner by gifts or otherwise. He (the Chief Constable) desired the Press to notify that the prisoner hails from -Manchester, .and his parents live nt Chesterton.

The "Daily Chronicle" is in a position to publish some remarkable facts arising liut of the earlier Tobbery at Barleythorpe Hall.

Lord Lonsdale was alawys strongly of opinion thalt among t)he majiy curious characters he had met upon the racecourse, in connection with big fights, and in similar pursuits, he would find someone who knowing the theives, would obtain for his the restoration of his property.

It looked as .if the restoration was to be made the' subject of : a New Year's gift, for on the first day of January of this year he received; at Barleythorpe, the quniet -little Rutlandshire tillage near Oakham, where the robbery took place, a. mysterious communication to the effect, that if an advertisement addressed .to "Camorista. Manonera" was in serted in the "Special Notice" column of .'The Daily Chronicle," saying where the writer could meet him safely, he would be able to give him certain information.

In- answer to this advertisement Lord "Lonsdale received a S'ishf a-t) - Charlton House, terrace from the writer of the letter and was given certain information. " I believe," Lord Lonsdale stated "that man knows where the stolen property is. Whether I shall get it back or - not -is another matter." ' , .

A little; l later a number of well-known thieves arid receivers were very seriously disturbed by a number of Scotland Yard men in connection with another robbery, and one at least of the latter received a long sentence. The scare was a widespread one, extending oven to the Continent, where Lord Lonsdale said the property .was taken. And from that day to this he lias never had a sign from his friend of the advertisement or recovered any of tlie property. "I don't suppose the intrinsic value of the whole of the silver melted down would be £40," lie explained to a press representative, to whom he showed the room whence the property was taken, "bub many of the items stolen were presents from dear old friends who have passed away, and from others who are still alive. I believe the thieves were a continental gang, who knew the sentimental value I placed upon the articles, and hoped to blackmail me."