FAMOUS JEWELS STOLEN.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 14 June 1924, Page 9

FAMOUS JEWELS STOLEN.

Sensational Robbery in London. UNIQUE COLLECTION DISAPPEARS. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m., June 13.) LONDON, June 12. Burglars rifled the famous Wernher jewel collection at Bathouse (Picadilly), which the late Sir Julius Wernlier collected as the result of a lifelong hobby. They belonged to his widow, now Lady Ludlow, and consisted chiefly of fifteenth and sixteenth century- jewels. They- were priceless owing to rarity and historical associations. The burglars hid in the basement until everybody was asleep. Then they went to the museum which occupied the whole of the first floor of Bathouse. The value is not known, but it 's believed that Sir Julius Wernlier spent hundreds of thousands sterling on his hobby-. It is shocking to think the thieves may melt down the unique jewelled cups, enamels in antique settings, for the sake of gold, and regardless of the destruction of art value. A moderate estimate of the value of the stolen jewels is a quarter of a million. Most of the jewellery had been worn by queens and princesses. The whole collection cost Sir Julius Wernher over a million sterling. After the robbeiy, the floor of the so-called museum was littered with white flock, which the thieves had torn from the cushions in order to pack the stolen jewels. Sir Julius Wernher died in 1912, leaving £11,000,000, the greater part going to his widow, who is reputed to be the richest woman iu England. During the war, she subscribed £2,000,000 to War Loans. Lord Ludlow was killed at Huntingford in 1921.