THEFT OF HESSE JEWELS

Chronicle (Levin), 11 June 1946, Page 5

THEFT OF HESSE JEWELS

ANOTHER AMERICAN OFFICER ARRESTED Received Mondav, 7 p.m. FEANKFUKT, June 10. An American, Alajor D. VVatson, at taclied to the Frankt'urt headquarters. has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of the llouse ot Hesse Crovvn jevvels from Kronberg Castle. Major Watson, who is 34 years oi age, was decorated personally last Jum by General Eisenhower with ti. Bronze •Star. General Zhukov also awardcd him the Russian medal for battle inerit He holds the F-ench^Croix de Guerrc and Belgian Medal. The U.S. War Oepartmcnt yesterday announced that a W.A.G. captain anu lier colonel husband have been arresteu in connection with the theft of j sweivalued at £375,000 " belonging to th Ilohenzollern llouse of Hesse from Krontjerg Castle, 15 miles from Frank furt, during Ihe tiine tlu castle vva.being used as an American officers club. The jewels inciuded a targe diamom tiara, a pearl necklace, and an anu. thvst brooch, as well as items .» sentiiiM'nlal vatun. Princcss Vlargarita of liesse, a grand-dauglitei of Quee: Victoria, reported the toss .0 Germai otlicials last Decernber. A War Department official said that tiie jevvels and other Ireirlooms, includ ing an ancient Bible, had been recovered. Two others implicated weri a major, who was 'still owavtiwe duty. and a disrharged corporal. The officia disclosed that. ihe YV.A.C. captain ario the colonel were picked up by the mili tarv authorities at La Salle Hotei Chicago, early 011 Monday morning two davs before Ihe tragic hre at th hotel. The official said that the j.evvel; comprised a magniticent array oi necklaces, rings and diadems. in April, 19-15, the Ilesse family wa. f'orced to lice from the castle becausi American troops were approaching. Tlu Americans occupied the castle, foum: certain trinkets, and went on scouting expeditions looking for something ti. drink. They fdunil about 1800 bottle; which had not lieen verv carefully con cealeil. Searching t'urther, they founu the hiding place for ehoice vvines, arut liecause they had been very carefultv secreteil the soldiers felt there must be something else hidden. 80 they con tinued searching and finaJlv discoverett a hidden box which local workmen blnsted open for thern. . The jewels were entrusted to the W.A.C. captain vvlu. was then in charge of the rest of th( home, but she failed to, report the dis covery to the militar'y authorities. The theft was only discovered when PrinceSs Sophie asked the American.for thern as she was about to marry anii wanted thern. Suspects were liued up and then the marriage of the colone and the W.A.C. whicli was discovered on June 1, aroused suspicions. Tliev were trailed to a town in- Wisconsin where they were 011 a honeymoon, bui they slipped away lo Chicago and registered at the La 8alle Hotel. The army officer said: " We probablv saved their lives, as they were on one of the floors which were burned out. luterrogation started immeiliately, and the W.A.C. soon broke down and con fessed. The diamonds, pearls, amethysts anu heirlooms which have been recovered consirit of betvveen 25 and 50,per cent. of the loot.