GREAT JEWEL ROBBERY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 91, 1 June 1877, Page 3

GREAT JEWEL ROBBERY.

A robbery of jewels, very similar in its circumstances to those which were so numerous near London rather more than a year ago, took.place cm February 15th at Battle Abbey, near Hastings, the seat of the; Duke of 'Cleveland. As on former occasions the time chosen for the robbery was, while there was a dinner party in the mansion. Between 10 and 11 p.m., a servant attempted to enter the Duchess's dressing-room, but found the door locked. She raised an alarm ; the door was burst open, and it was then found that the locks of the Duchess's drawers had been picked and the jewels stolen, the empty cases being left scattered about the room. It was found that entrance had been gained through the window, which the thieves had entered by means of two ladders lashad together and planted upon the terraoe below. The • footprints of three men were traced upon - the lawn. Fortunately the thieves in their hurry overlooked one valuable jewel case, but the booty they obtained was nevertheless very considerable, amounting in value to about LIO,OOO The jewels consisted principally of diamond and ruby necklaces and earrings, gold bracelets and lockets, &c. Among the articles stolen was a necklace given to the Duchess by the Queen on her marriage, her Grace having been one of her Majesty's bridesmaids. It is described as " a handsome combination of diamonds and ruby stars and emeralds. . There was also stolen a gold watch presented to the Duchess by her husband on their wedding day. This watch was stolen once before, and three years afterwards was recovered in the shop of a London pawnbroker. A reward of L2OO has been offered for information which shall lead to the detection of the thieves, but as yet the police are said to be completely at fault. Since then another robbery of the same kind, but smaller, has been successfully committed in another mansion. The servants are not suspected of collusion in either case, but it is evident the internal arrangements of such large establishments need to be improved.— Daily Times , Correspodent.