THE LOST NECKLACE PEARLS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1859, 19 September 1913, Page 7

THE LOST NECKLACE PEARLS.

STORY OF THE FIND.

REJOICINGS AT LLOYD'S,

By Telegraph—Press Aesoclation— Copyright London, September 17. Further details regarding the finding in a gutter at Highbury of 59 of tho stolen nooklace pearls (yesterday's cablo message stated tho number to be 58), is now availablo. Augustus Home, a pianoforte backmaker, who lives with his three children in two rooms, was going to his work when he saw a man put something in tho gutter and walk away. Home, going up, prodded the bundle with his stick, and found a broken string of pearls, many boing loose. Ho took tho pearls to the police station, and received a receipt for fifty-nine pearl imitations. Home went to work and was still doubtful as to whether ho had really found tho necklace, until the evening papers proved his good fortune. ; Tho police had meanwhile sent five of tho jHMtTIs to a neighbouring jeweller, who immediately reported them to be of the highest quality. It is stated thatono of Home's companions threw away one of tho missing pearls, believing it to be only marble. Homo's find was in tho vicinity, of the house occupied by Gutwirth, an Austrian, and one of the men who is charged with being concerned! in the robbery of the neclclaoe. Mr. Mayer, their owner, recognised tliem at the first glance. Fifty-seven belonged to tho necklace, and two were from another necklace. Two loose pearls are still missing. Tho detectives had' a clue as to where tho pearls wero hidden, and 1 it is l possible that the holder had found out that tho police were hard on his track. Obviously ho wished the- pearls to bo found at onco.

Ex-Superintendent Leach, the detective representing the underwriters, denies that tho pearls were found in a g.utter at Highbury. says ho is bound to secrecy, as further arrests aro possiblo. Tho news of the find caused a sensation at Lloyd'.s. The crier mounted the rostrum, rang tho Lutine bell (recovered from tho wreck of H.M.S. Lutine in 1779), and announced: "Gentlemen, tho rumour regarding the recovery of the necklaco is correct." Lusty cheering followed the announcement. It as not expected that the claim for expenses for 'salvage in connection with tlio theft will exceed £20,000. Since tho theft of tho necklaco tho underwriters 'have arranged that insurance liability for a single piece of jewellery shall never exceed £50,000. •

(Rec. September 18, 10.20 p.m.) London, September 18. It is understood that the thieves carefully engineered tho theft of tlio lieck'aca, behoving that tlio jewels were diamonds, and were bitterly disappointed to find that thev woro pearls. Aa diamonds they would 1 have been virtually untraceable. Tho "Daily Chronicle" states that when tho full story is told it will bo found that tlho main credit for tho discovery .of the thieves belongs to Mr. Quadratstein, a man of keen lintcllect and inflexiblo will and courage. He gained the full confidence of the thieves, and exercised such influence upon them that tlicy wero prepared to meet him anywhere, and do anything ho asked. Though shadowed for twelvo days before being arrested, the thieves' confidence in Quadratstein was not lessened. ; . Brandstatter states that tli£ Scotland Yard authorities last week informed him confidentially that they knew exactly where the necklace was to'be found. "Times" —Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. (R-eo. September 18, 5.5 p.m.) , London, September 18. A barmaid at tho tavern to which Home first brought tho necklace pearls says that she saw a man, with a pearl in his hand, leave the bar and go to a basin in the lavatory. On liis return to' tho bar somo othc rmen asked him what ho had done with "tho marble," and ho replied that he had thrown it away. A search was subsequently made of tho waste-pipe, but proved to bo fruitless. It is asserted that the pearl passed into the sewer.