VARIETY STAR’S LOSS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 145, 22 June 1931, Page 8

VARIETY STAR’S LOSS

BURGLARS’ £6OOO HAUL. Jewellery and furs estimated to be worth £6OOO were tolen recently from a flat in Castellain Mansions, Maida Vale, occupied by Mr Clarence Johnstone, of the famous coloured music hall act, Layton and Johnstone. The burglary occurred between 8 p.m. and midnight, while Mr and Mrs Johnstone were out and the flat was unoccupied. When they returned they were unable to enter owing to the fact that the chain behind the door had been fastened. Forcing the door, the couple discovered a bedroom in disorder, and cupboards broken open. A jewel-case had also l»ecn forced and its contents taken. Most of the jewellery belonged to Mrs Johnstone. It consisted of diamond rings, diamond wrist watch, diamond pendant, diamond braclets, and diamond ear-rings. A mink fur coat and a sable stole were also taken. The burglars contented themselves with their haul from the bedroom, for they did not visit any of the other rooms in the flat. They found a suitease in the bedroom, and took the jewellery away in this. “Wo had some guests to dinner,” Air Johnstone related, “and we left the house at 8.15 to go to the London Pavilion. After the performance wo took our guests to their home at Epping Forest. We reached our own flat about a-quarter past twelve. When we found we could not enter we called the chauffeur. who forced the door. The window of the kitchen at the back of Ihe building was wide open, and there wore foot marks on the sill and a cigarette stump on the nob. “In the bedroom we found that a drawer of the dressing table and a small cash box had been forced open, but nothing taken from them. The ward robe door was wide open, and two of my wife’s fur coat? had gone. A small ease which stood by the bod had been opened, and my wife has lost all her jewellery except a few rings she was wearing. My little dog had been doped, and is still far from well. T sincerely hope they have, not given him a slow poison. ’ ’ Singularly the silver used at, dinner had not been touched.