The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-17

THE TREASURE PAVV n .]s,[-

4 Z
Tho notice 81 this city have Just re-
covered a necklace stolen from Don IN JAIME :. ~
am az Tho Spanish pretcnder Don Carlos
under somewhat extraordinary c slTsfn
stances
rho famous necklace was once worn oy Y
the unfortunate Queen, who received =
from her mother Maria Theresa Or AUS
trIu. After tho Queens execution It was
sbeoueathed to the elder branch OF the
Bourbon family--thc Spanish l5ourpoi no ~
whom Don Carlos s the present head.
1t is now tho property OF Don jaime aims
his eldest son. who has recently gone -
the war in the Far East.
Some time ago this Prince made the NC
4auaintance at Lori, near Genoa, OF o Bel.
gia,,, who gave his name as Denpas, ana
whose manners and bearing were those
OF a nobleman. Don Jaime took q Breat
liking TO the Belgian, and engaged nm az
his private secretary.
The Princes Secrets.
Dcspas gradually became ACQUAINTED
= with Ill tho private affairs OF the Prince.
and thus learned that he had deposited
4 with firm Of Paris jewellers named
Froment- AleurIce the necklace which NAG
belonged to Marie Antoinctte. The FRINGE
had several times borrowed money on INC nc
security Of the necklace, and In entrust.
Ing It to MN. Froment-Mcurlce no said
that It was worth EGi00.
."rhat,'' he said, 10 lts intrinsic Taiue
but It has a far greater historical value
4 since It has been worn by two queens
Maria Theresa OF Austria, and her daugn-
ter, the unfortunate Marie Antoinette OF
France. It is. therefore. worth gooc
deal more than the sum named. yol
can ind a purchaser Tor y please iet ms !,
& know and I will see whether may sell
this family jewel. Meanwhile keep ~ y
your establishment.
Y"If should be killed during the wal
YOU will kindly hand It over to my sister
Blanche wife OF the Archduko Leopold
Salvador Of Austrla), to whom = wish e
bequeath 1t. II ! ahould survive and re,
turn from the war, It Is probable sinai
get married, and will then offer It as
wedding present to my wlfe-that Is, u
you have not sold 1t meanwhile.
Plan to Raise Money.
Dc.pas, tho secretary. who knew the
Pr1nce's Intentions as 10 tho necklace
and where he had deposited It In Paris
g thought he would like to convert It TO MI
ii own use by raising a sum OF money on !!
and restoring It to the jewelers. before TN
Princes return from the war. He, there
fore. came to Paris. and saw the jewelers.
who. Knowing that he was the Princes
private secretary. received him very cor
daily, and handed over the necklace
without hesitation.
Tho Prince had meanwhile gone Il
Vienna, on his way to Russia. and con
suited barrister on the subject OF max
Ing his Will explaining what he had dom
with regard to the necklace.
BY the barrister's advice, the Prime
wrote to the jewelers., giving them furthe
Instructions In the matter, and was sur
priged to receive letter from the firm
stating that they had handed the necklace
over to the Princes secretary, NJ. Despas
On this becoming known, the polio
we're Immediately informed. and they dis
covered that Despas had parted with tn
Jewel to a money lender for f12oo. TIL
latter had then pawned the necklace. s.
that It should be in safekceping, all trac
being lost Of Despas, who had meanwhtl
gone to London with HIS wife.
on Sunday last, however. Despas re
turned 10 Paris, and put up under an
other name at the hotel where no wa
arrested. On his room being searched
sum OF s70o was found.