GOLD INGOTS STOLEN.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8808, 9 May 1907, Page 4

GOLD INGOTS STOLEN.

A skilfully planned and daringly executed robbery has been ' perpetrated at the South African Exhibition which was recently held in London.

Late one night, shortly before the closing of the exhibition, a gang of thieves managed to steal two gold ingots of the value of rather more than £ISOO, the most valuable of the many interesting exhibits belonging to the Madibi Goldmiuiug Company, of Kimberley. The success of the raid was all the more remarkable in view of the elaborate 'precautions which had been taken in safeguarding the gold. The two bars which weighed respectively 287 ounces and 148 ounces, were placed in a glass case, measuring 20iu. x 18in, on a stand in the Cape section. The exhibit was specially interesting, as this was the first gold wlrch had reached England as the result of the newly established mining operations in British Bechuanalaud.

When first, brought to the exhibition the gold was in a uon-lock-up case, but Mr Atkinson, the manager, fearful of the clangor of robbery, himself had a lock-up case made, and each night this was placed in a 'Chubb’s safe. Hut the exhibition authorities took further precautions. A uniformed policeman and a detective were always on duty in the hall, aiid another man was appointed whose special duty it was to keep a watch on the gold. These precautions availed nothing agaius the skill and daring of the theives. At half-past !) one night the baud was playing and the hall was well filled with visitors. In the Cape section, within a few yards of the case, wero four attendants. At that hour the bars wore safe in their case. Thou the gang of experts set to work. Au attendant who was standing by the case was approached by a well-dressed man and asked for information about the exhibit, which was on the other side of the passage, throe- yards away. And the other throe attendants at the same moment wero. questioned by other 1 visitors about exhibits which were | baud mg also some yards away from the case. At tiiis moment a man about sft. !)iu. in height, with a black moustache, medium build, wearing a cloth cap, and a brown mackintosh with a cape, walked quietly away from the spot. So hurriedly did lie move that he, with apparent rudeness, knocked against three ladies, who then noticed that ho was carry ing a glass case under his capo. At the time they thought he was some one attached to the exhibition. The man walked to the emergency exit about 15 yards away, which leads to Elvorton street, a side turning. At the main exit, which loads to Vincent Square, there arc always attendants on duty. At the Elverton street emergency exit no one is placed. Within two minutes of the disappearance of the thief the caso was missed. An immediate alarm was raised, and urgent messages wero sent to Rochester Row Police Station, which is within 100 yards of the hall, and to Scotland Yard, hut by the time the detectives arrived all trace of the actual thief and of his supposed confederates was lost. Mr Macuaghtou, the head of the Criminal Investigation Department, of Scotland Yard, who lias taken charge of the caso, visited the scene of the robbery, and a number of the most expert detective officers were scouring Loudon in search of the thief.

The police fear tliat within an hoar of the robbery the ingots wore meitod “down, thus destroying their identity. The larger of the two had the figure ‘ 90” stamped on it. Tho gold mining company had taken the precaution of insuring' the gold against burglary.