WORE £1738 IN JEWELS

Shannon News, 17 July 1928, Page 4

WORE £1738 IN JEWELS

THIEF, SELLS THEM FOR £4.

The theft of jewels worth £1738 from a Kensington hotel and their subsequent sale by the thief for £4 was described in an action in the King’s Bench Division. Mr. Fred Chamier, a textile manufacturer, of Budapest, the owner ?of the jewellery, claimed : damages from the De Vere Hotel, Kensington, alleging that he lost the articles through the negligence. of the hotel servants. This the hotel company denied. All the jewellery, it was stated, consisted of personal articles worn by Mr. Chamier, and included: —Two pearl studs worth £1165. Two pearls which bad formed part of studs, worth £335. Black onyx sleeve links, worth £2lO. ‘‘l had this jewellery continually tin use for my evening wear, ’’ Mr. Chamier told the' judge. "During the day I hid the jewels in various plaees in the bedroom and among my luggage, as there were no keys -for any of the locks of the drawers." Evidence was given by the man who stole the jewels, a painter named Fred erick John Joseph Parker, who had been bound over for the theft in view of his good character and unfortunate circumstances at home. "I had been working on the door of Mr. Chamier’s room," Parker said, "and as I wanted a smoke and had no match I looked in the top drawer of the dressing table. "I saw the jewel-case, opened it, but put it back. "Next day I was all the time thinking of that jewel-case. "I made an excuse to.the chambermaid that I wanted to wash the win dow-sill in the room, and she opened the door for me and then left." Parker said he took the jewels, and, at the corner of Charles Street, Hatton Garden, saw a foreign-looking man. He asked the man if he knew anyone who bought jewellery. : The man took him to a cafe three other men arrived. " Parker said he asked for £5 for the, jewellery, then agreed to accept £4. Mr. Justice Salter gave judgment for the hotel company with costs.