WHERE DID THEY GET THE MONEY?

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 85, 3 January 1918, Page 4

WHERE DID THEY GET THE MONEY?

GERMAN ESCAPEES' LITTLE •AVAR. CHEST.

By Teleerraph—Presn Aefociatlon. Auckland, January 2. The ""Star" to-day.publishes.tie following"There has been considerable speculation regarding gold found m tlie possession of the German prisoners who escaped from Motuihi Island when they were recaptured. Count von Luckner had about £1000 when lie left. .Germany—in German gold. He succeeded in chancing a portion into British gold. When the disaster overtook the Sco Adler he divided the money among two parties, each taking £500. Thus lie had £500 in bis possession when lie was firsi captured. This was taken from him by the authorities, and it is still in their possession. There is still to be explained the £123 odd found in the possession of "£Ee prisoners ihev were recaptured. There is little doubt that this money was supplied by Von Eg'dy, the Samoan planter. The money was in gold, in addition to which there was about £20 in >,ew Zealand notes and silver and about Loo German marks. This money Von Egidy did not carry on his person. He \liad placed it among the clothes in his trunk, and although the authorities searched him the onl ycash they discovered on him was £3 or £4, found in his pockets. , When ho was sent to New Zealand the money came with him in the trunk, anil remained there, as far as can be gathered, during the seven months that he was interned on Somes Island. When he was transferred to Auckland his trunk, still containing the money, was sent with him. W7ien the escape was planned Von Egidy handed tliis money over to tho Count, and the latter divided it among tlie party till tliev got away, when they lianded rfc 'Back to-Von Luckner, who put it into a bag for safe keeping. Wfypn the Count saw that recapture wits inevitable he again distributed tlife money—£42 in English gold and the'remainder (£80) in German gold."'