The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-06-22
SOME ARE BOGUS
Crown Jewels of England Have
Been Tempered With.
WERE PROBABLY SOLD
By Former Kings When Hard
Up for Money.

London. June a-AH England is shock
ed at the discovery that nearly half OF
the gems in the Kings coronation regalia
are spurious.
It is plain that the sacred ernblens
of royalty. comprising more than dozen
articles. have been rifed OF their jewels.
1t is also painfully evident that the
Iooters were Kings of England who
either pawned or sold outright precious
gems that should have descended to the
present sovereign.
Edward VII. is indignant at the dis
closure, which followed an examination of
the regalia by experts with view mere
~ TO an assurance that the gems were
secure in their settings.
The King at once declared that he
would not be crowned in the false jewels,
and the spurious stones are now being
placed with genuine ones.
The gems in the regaIia in its perfect
state were valued at more than s15,0OO,-
600, so that the robbery amounts to more
than 5000 900.
His majesty does not feel pecuniarily
able at this moment to make so large
an expenditure in repairing the thefts Of
his predecessors, and the genuine stones
with which the regalia is now being
adorned have been rented for a brief
period. They will be returned to the
jewelers. after the coronation ceremonies.
1t was not intended that the facts so
humiliating to the royal family and TO
the British people should be made public,
but they leaked out in some way and
the story has gone all over Europe.
To make the circumstance all the more
unpleasant it is said that the Kings
granduncles, George ". and William ",
made away with the gems and it is sup
posed that they sold them, since there
is nothing to show that they were pawn
ed
1t is very well known that Henry III.
pawned some of the crown jewels TO tide
him over pecuniary embarrassment, and
several of his successors had to resort
to the same method of securing funds
TO escape money difficulties.
Those taken by Henry III. were return
ed, and it was never even dreamed I'M
til now that the other sovereigns had
failed 70 replace the jewels when they
were taken.
Just what articles Of the regalia were
despoiled is not definitely known outside
of the small circle most concerned, but it
is rumored that the historic crown of
ST. Edward, the official crown of England
has suffered.
This splendid emblem of high estate
was made by Sir Robert vyner. imperial
goldsmith in the time Of Charles II. ard
was patterned after an earlier crown des-
troyed in the uprising that brought about
the Commonwealth of 1919. Tie mystery
is how did William and George possess
themselves of the gems? After the scan
dial following the discovery that Henry
III. had pawned some of the jewels the
regalia was placed in the Tower of Lon
don under guard of keeping, and it has
been so kept ever since that period which
was in the thirteenth century.
The King, in moment of goodness.
himself made the order for their protec-
ton.
The crown of Edward the confessor was
not included in the articles sent to the
Tower. but was committed to Westmin-
sted Abbey for safekeeping. That has
been its resting place. and conservative
ones say that the Jewels are intact.
Nevertheless there is now the greatest
secrecy about this crown. No one is al
lowed 10 see it, and it is reported that
Edward VII. viii wear a special crown
for the occasion. thus lending color to the
story that the ancient crown has been
riHed of its gems.
These are the articles. all except the
once adorned with ma gniicent
Jewels comprising the ensigns Of royalty
and called the regalia.
Crown.
Sceptre with the cross.
Verge Of rod of equity with the dove.
Staff of Edward the confessor.
Blunt sword Of mercy of curtana.
Two sharp swords of justice. spiritual
and temporal.
Sword of state.
Golden eagle or ampulIa, the receptacle
for the coronation.
Amounting spoon.
Wedding ring.
Armiilac or bracelets.
Spurs of chivalry (St. Georges spurs.) !
Golden saltceilar
Silver wine fountain.
The orb
The vestments. richly embroidered in
gold.
In addition to these there were also |
kept IN the Tower the new state crown /
made for the coronation Of Queen Victor /
ia. the Prince of Wales crown. the Queen /
Consort's crown. Queens diadem or cir 1
clet of gold. made for the coronation Of |
Marie & Este, consort Of James II. /
Queens ivory soeptre supposed to have /
been made for Queen Mary. consort OF /
William III: Queens orb and the Kohl |
Moor diamond.
The jewels were originally kept in a 1
small building in the south side OF the /
White Tower. where they remained until /
the reign OF Charles T.. when they were 4
transferred 70 q strong chamber n the /
Martin Tower. afterward called the Jewel /
Tower
IN early times Engiand's regaIia was 1
deposited in some religious honse depend
ent on the crown most generally in the l
treasury of the Temple
Originally. when By the order Of Henry
III. the gems were sent to the Tower q 5
London. a keeper wes appointed by let T
ters patent 81 q stated salary of So a
year. which was SO largely increased 4
b. pereuisites that n The time of Henry 4
VII. It amounted 70 ABOVE S75ao
The offce had attached to it Important i
privileges. and VAS frequently held hy +
persons OF distinction At The tine q
the Restoration many q the per1uisites
were abolished. ard afte-ward the duties
II keeper were merged with that q the
Lord Chamberlain- who appointed some =
one 20 guard the Jewels n the T1we-.
IN payment OF the actual guard sor his
services Charles II permitted The exhibit
ton CT the rcgalia. th- profits accruins
49,. -. 49, - --..=rs- --f-- -. 80