LOST PEARL NECKLACE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1920, Page 4

LOST PEARL NECKLACE

• £26,000 JEWEL CHARGE. WARRANT TOR SON-IN-LAW OF MILLIONAIRE. LONDON, Sept. 20. A story of the alleged appropriation of jewels valued at £25,000, ■ entrusted by a woman .16 the son-in-law. of an American millionaire for the purposes of insurance and renovation, is disclosed by the issuing of a. warrant by the London police for the arrest of Mr William Barra,tt, who married Miss Alice Rrexcl, daughter' of Mr John R. Drexel. The woman is Mrs John Spreckles, the daughter-in-law of Mr Spreckles, the Californian sugar-king, and she has known Mr William JJarratt for more than eight years. Mrs Spreckhls, who tin;, spent the 'past fourteen months touring the world with her little daughter, Geraldine,-arrived in England last March and has since been staying at a West End hotel. At the races at Sundown Park recently she casually met Mr Barrett. They were friends in the United States, arid she accepted his offer to show her round London, as she had very few friends over here. Mr Barratt, who is about 30, is well known on both sides of the Atlantic, and his influential connections in the | United States, combined with his good i looks, made him a favorite among bis London acquaintances. He lived the life of a wealthy man and was welcomed everywhere. £1(5,000 NECKLACE. Some weeks ago Mrs Sprcckels mentioned that she wanted her pearl ncck--1 lace, valued at £16,000, insured. There ! was also a diamond ring worth £2OOO and other gems valued at £7OOO which ! she wanted cleaned and reset. Mr ! Barratt volunteered to transact this business for her, and the valuables were hajuled over to his care. Mrs Sprcckels heard nothing for some days, and when she asked Mr Barratt j ior the jewels, it is alleged that he con- ! tirually put her off. Eventually the police were communicated with on the j arrival of her husband, wlioMmd been ■ summoned from California. | ft was then discovered that the jewels ! had been sold by someone, and the law j wa- set in motion. Further inquiries elicited the information that Mr 13arj ratt had left the country and was be- : lieved to he in Canada.