JEWELS AND RELICS STOLEN

Shannon News, 5 January 1926, Page 1

JEWELS AND RELICS STOLEN

ROBBERS IN ST. PETER'S, ROME Details have arrived by mail of the daring robbery of priceless relics from St. Peter's, Rome, and the sensational details in connection therewith. * ■ Forty, arrests were made following the discovery of the \ theft of precious church 1 ornaments and vessels from the treasury of St Peter's. A complete list of the objects stolen brings the loss to over two million lire (£80,000). A solid gold church service studded with pearls and diamonds, the gift of the late Pope Pius X to Cardinal Merry del Val, who donated it to the Treasury of St. Peter's, is worth a million lire alone. Objects stolen include a ring belonging to the statue of St. Peter. For the past few years this has never been taken out of the treasury, as an exact copy is placed yearly at the feast'of St.;Peter on the bronze statue in the Basilica. ' ~ Among other priceless treasures missing are:—Crucifix studded with emeralds and rubioSi the gift of the Columbian Republic to the late Pope Pius X. Sacred vessels studded with jewels. Massive ring, the gift of Cardinal Delia Volpi. These bring the loss to over another million lire. The : thieves were familiar with the surroundings, as 'well as experts in choosing only gems of priceless value. On the pavement was found a beautiful wrought silver gilt chalice, which they had smashed to discover whether it was really gold. Finding that it was only silver gilt, it was ruthelessly cast on to the ground. Church, thefts in Italy have been very frequent during the past three years. Hitherto the robbers specialised in ancient masterpieces, and antiques,, the police watch antiquarian shops so closely that jit is hard now to dispose of the, objects. For this reason the thieves at St. Peter's confined themselves to gold and jewels, and many priceless historical objects Were spared. These include; — A crystal cross, the gift of the Cardinal of York, the last of the Stuarts. Altar cross and two candelabra designed, in the time of Michelangelo by Gentill. Cross of the Emperor Justinian. Crucifix' and candelsticks of solid gold by Benvenuto Cellini. Dalmatica of ancient embroidery worn by Charlemagne when he -was crowned Emperor in Rome. No effort was made to force the cases where these relics are kept. The thieves evidently knew that special burglar alarms had been placed on the doors of the cases some few years ago, when Cardinal Merry Del Val became patron of the Basilica. The police, reconstructing _ the theft, ascertained that clever experts with a chisel had spent many hours making a large liole in the floor above the treasury. In order to do this they must, it is thought .have had accomplices among the painters and workmen who for the 'past few; months had been repairing t,he rooms. Owing to the thickness of the floor, at least three nights' work must have been required.., '

Besides wearing gloves to obviate finger prints, the thieves used perfect burglar tools, including a saw which cut masonry like cheese. Several tools were left behind, also a miniature "parachute," which, placed under the saw, noiselessly caught the pieces of masonry as they fell. It is said that painters working in this room, when ordered to remove a huge box in which the paints were held, refused, saying the work was unfinished. It is exactly at this spot that the pavement was removed. The only clue the police worked on was that given by a housemaid, who went to the fountain in the square for a jug of water at 11 o'clock. She saw near the canon's house a motor car with three "desperate-looking individuals, who glared at her." The caretaker also heard a motor car rush through the square in the early morning. Military police on duty heard nothing. The Minister of the Interior sent a special representative to Cardinal Merry del Val, notifying that no stone would be left unturned to find the thieves. Frontiers were watched, and jewellers warned not to buy precious stones or gold. Special detectives were also employed by Cardinal Merry del Val. The result of all this police activity was that no less than forty suspects were arrested, and eventually the culprits were discovered, the stolen jewels and relics recovered, much to the delight of the ecclesiastical heads. A "Te Deum" was sung in St. Peter's. In future all the jewels will be housed in steel cases.