TREASURE IN CELLER

Grey River Argus, 20 April 1911, Page 7

TREASURE IN CELLER

HOARD OF ANTIQUE SILVER •■Thanks to a pawnbroker's smartness, the Liverpool^ police have alighted on a big hoard of antique silver articles which it is believed is part of the proceeds of a series of systematic robberies carried on over a wide area during a long period. A shabby-looking man entered a pawn shop in the south end of the city — , and asked for a small advance on a silver vinaigrette. ' The pawnbroker, seeing it was a valuablt antique specimen, consulted a list of articles stolen from the Birmingham Assay Office on .the night of January lU, when the place was entered by ourglars: This confirmed his suspicion that the vinaigrette had a history, and, engaging the man in conversation, he sent his assistant for the police. The man was taken into custody. He gave the name of William Moore,, 42, and when searched he was found in possssion of eleven silver spoons and snuff boxes. A detective then visited 'the man's house in Wavertree Vale and found a large quantity of valuable antique silver in an old •basket in the. cellar besides a quantity ot new silver articles, including combs, photograph frames, and two Doxes of gold pen nib's. Moore's wife was thereupon arrested, and when charged her husband said, "i will be thankful if you will let me take all the blame. My wife is innocent." 'ihe gold nibs were stolen, from a Liverpool- factory, and the antiques are believed to have been taken from musums in different parts of the country as well as the Birmingham Assay Office. The articles are said to be worth several thousands of poun y ds. Moore and his wife were later charged with being in unlawful possession of the articles, and were remanded. Moore asked for his wife's liberty, saying she was in Liverpool when he committed the robt'ery at Birmingham. .