A MANSION ROBBED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 21, 26 January 1938, Page 9

A MANSION ROBBED

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(From *TWToslV' Representative.) . : '/,. ;. LQNDQN, December 29. • j'SfeJfeyed'to be the'work of .the notori--'ous- "House Party Gang," - which - has been, active in the English-Home Counties for several years, one of the largest and most daring burglaries perpetrated in England for.some time was carried out on Christmas Eve. While a band was entertaining the guests of Sir Felix Cassel, K.C., at his country mansion at Putteridge Bury, Bedfordshire, thieves stole jewellery valued at between £30,000 and £50,000 from the bedrooms.

At 9.30 p.m., the Luton Town Band arrived at the house on its annual visit to play carols in the lounge. It is thought that the music drowned the sound of the thieves' approach up the gravel path. They apparently left a ear in a narrow lane near the house, which stands in a wooded park. '

They worked in a masterly manner. Although servants were in many different parts of the building, none of them heard a suspicious sound. A long ladder was takefe. trom the farm buildings and used to reach an upstairs window' giving accest-'to Sir Felix's bedroom. Three bedroom, were entered and ransacked.1

Luck was with the thieves, as had the band not stayed for one more round of sandwiches 'and an extra Christmas drink before leaving, the. butler, who raised the alarm,- would have disturbed the intruders when He, went to prepare Sir, Felix's room. A length of coconut matting, which they had brought with them, was found tied to a bed and hangingl from a window. It had apparently • been'■ used as a quick means-of escape.

When one of Sir :Felix's sons took his bloodhound for : a c walk.. at. 10.30 p.m., it suddenly made.a dash for the lf-.ne as if hot on a scent. ■ It was later •recalled that a car had been heard to start up in'the lane and move off a few minutes earlier.

Most of the jewellery stolen belonged to Sir Felix's sister, Mrs. A. E. Jenkins, and his wife, Lady Helen Cassel, sister of the Earl of Verulam.

The articles taken included an emerald and diamond brooch, an oval ruby and diamond ring, a diamond, ruby, and enamel flower brooch, a diamond and pearl flower brooch, a diamond and ruby necklet, a necklace of 143 pearls with a diamond clasp, a fancy diamond tassel, a bracelet set with three Cabochon emeralds and six diamonds, and a square-cut single-stone emerald ring of 34 carats. A silver fox fur was also included in the stolen property. A reward of £750 has been offered for information leading to the recovery of the property.

An extensive police search has so far failed to reveal any trace of the thieves or the jewellery.

King George V and his father, Edward VII, were both frequent guests at Putteridge Bury, which has some of the finest partridge shooting in

England,