FAMOUS JEWEL ‘CROOK’ DEAD.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1923, Page 3

FAMOUS JEWEL ‘CROOK’ DEAD.

c 133,11!ID PEARL ROBBERY RECALLED. LONDON, scm. 22. The authorin'— m N.-w Sen lam) Yard were informed yesterday of iho death in London ol Joseph kainmi G rizzard, one of the most famous receivers "I stolen levels m the coulitiy Grizzard had been well known to the police for many years, and hi- name will he host, remembered in eomicetiou with ihe 11 left "I a pearl necklace worth UR'.D.W) In-longing to the late Mr .Max Mayor, of Hal ton-garden, E.C. Grizzard. who wa- a connoisseur ol diamonds, pear!-, and all precious stones, was the master-mind that conceived this historic robbery, which was committed 111 year- ago.

The pearls were senl from Paris, packed in a box which was alterwardsealed and seal by regi.-lered post. ad~ dres-ed to MY Mayer. AA hen Mr Mayer opened the package he lound it contained hits ol coal which had been substituted for the pearls. Dow the pearls were stolen remained a nivsterv till •‘-H olland A aril detectives arrested Grizzard and lour other men. 11 was then proved that Grizzard had. by means of a subterfuge, obtained the parcel from the postman, who wn« responsible for ils delivery, had broken the seals and ah.-trnctcil the’ pearl-, and after substituting piece- of coal resettled the package m cleverly a- lo make it app-nir Hint ii had not been tampered with.

After (irizzard and his fellow-crimin-als had been arrested a man to whom they had handed the pearls became alarmed and put i hem in a matchbox, which lie dropped into the .gutter af Islington. They were picked up by a plumber 1 who had mil the vaguest idea ot their value. He handed them round in various public-houses and tried to sell the Cldfi.noo worth of gems for pots of beer. Nobody. however, would purchase them. He then took them to a police-sta-tion, and the inspector on duty, alter looking at tlatn, snH. •’lhay'ro ta»t real pearls; take them away.” Eventually he spoke to a. policeman, and. acting on his advice, went to Scotland Yard, where the late Chief Inspector Ward recognised them as the stolen jewels. Ori/.znrd and two of his companions were sentenced to seven years' penal servitude and the two others received lighter sentences. (>rixr.anl was suspected ol being concerned ill receiving the proceeds of many big jewel robberies, hut he was s-, careful in his methods that the police had the greatest difficulty in conneeliiig him with them. A jewel thief would ring hint up on the telephone and 'ay: "I've god eill.ltnu wort'll of jewels; I am coining 1,, see you." (irizxurd would reply: "That’s not mv way of doing business. I’ll send one of my women clerk' to see you. Mot her at -o and so. and she'll give von mv card. 11l exchange, you will hand her the stuff ami I'll tell you in two hours what I'll pay for it.” Orizzard was a man of his word.