DARING DIAMOND ROBBERY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8309, 6 May 1905, Page 4

DARING DIAMOND ROBBERY.

£10,000 WORTH STOLEN. A young Austrian named Glattaner went into a chemist's shop in Colmore Row, Birmingham, on March 14, to have a prescription prepared. He was accompanied by an interpreter, and placed on a chair a leather handbag containing diamonds to the value ' of £10,000. As they waited two other men entered, one of whom asked for liquorice powder and the other for a box 'of pills. They both appeared to be in a hurry, and left tha shop together. Presently one returned witb. a bag in his hand, which he placed on a chair. Alongside this was the chair on which the Austrian had placed his bag. The man said that he wanted some more liquorice powder, and this having been supplied, he walked towards his own bag, but, without being noticed, he picked up the other one containing the jewellery, and disappeared. A minute or two afterwards the loss was discovered, and the Austrian and his friend rushed out after the thief. The man had asked the chemist the nearest way to New Street Station, and, supposing that he had gone there, the Austrian went after him, but no trace of the fugitive could be found. • The bag was next day handed to the police. . It was found on the previous evening in a corridor of the premises of Messrs Hood's, of the International Exchange, Edmund Street, but no particular significance was attached to it until the account of the robbery was read in the morning papers. It was first noticed by a salesman within half an hour of the robbery. The International Exchange is within a stone's throw of the chemist's shop, and it is clear that the thieves ou leaving the shop turned their steps, not to New Street — the direction of which they had inquired — but in an opposite direction. Snow Hill Station is quite near, and, with several trains conveniently available, they could get miles away from Birmingham while their pursuers were engaged in a vain quest at New Street Station. Descriptions of the two men " wanted " were published. The police held a strong l-elief that the thieves followed M. Glatta_er from Paris. He is a member of the firm of Glattaner Freres, of 4, Rue de Provence, Paris. His interpreter was convinced that he saw one of the men at the Grand Hotel, where the merchant was staying. Mr ' Smith, the chemist, stated yesterday that the whole occurrence in his shop was so natural and simple that he had no suspicion that anything was wrong. MERCHANT'S GRIEF. M. Glattaner, when interviewed, seemed completely prostrated with grief, and was anything, but hopeful of the return of his treasures. He had no dcubt he could identify many of the jewels, owing to' their rarity, and added that they were not insured because of the great difficulties put in the way by French insurance companies. The police issued the following complete description of the jewels: — Brilliants — 84 carats, from 64tb^to i carats. Rose diamonds — One parcel, 150 to the carat. Emeralds — 121 carats weighing from \ to 2„ carats. Pearls — 64 black oblong . irregular shapes, some mauve and some dark; 1 button pearl, 29 grains, very white; 1 button pearl,. 23 grains, white; 1 pepr-shaped yellowish ; 3 round, pierced for earrings ; 66 Japanese pearls ; 1 pair of Chinese pearls, 27 £ grains; several large parcels of pearls, round and button. Rubies — 52| carats fine Oriental, marquise shape ; 1 ruby 2_ carats, 1 large cabochon ruby weighing 4J carats (reconstructed), 1 parcel of 88 carats (rubies) about i-carat stones. Earrings— -1 pair, 2 pearls, weight 74 grains, sot in French gold (valuable); 1 1 pair yellow pearl, 47 grains, set in French gold. Sapphires— 44f carats, Australian, cabochon cut. Mother-of -pearls — 20 cut to represent birds, with very small ruby or sapphire eyes. Pearl pin— l large oval pearl, weighing 40 grains. .