New-York tribune., 1908-05-31
hRIS favorite American Asuse
HOTEL CHATHAM.
THEFTs OF CROWN JEWELS.
Three Attempts on State Gems of England
How They Are Guarded

r.. .ror+ of IN. Crown Jewels from Dublin Castle
&c all the more remarkable when one comes TO re-
fleet upon the elaborate precautions that are m
yarfably taken. supposed to De 1nvarlaoy
taken 10 safeguard these costly gems. says Tit
Bits
In this particular case, II viii be remembered.
an armed sentry OF duty day and night out
side the apartment where was kept the safe in
which they were stored. Yet they were undouot-
.dIv stolen though when and by whom is. at the
momer.t of writing. a mystery
In like manner there disappeared. once upon a
time the Scottish regalia. preserved in Edin-
burgh Castle. These historic relies consist Of a
iewelled crown part of which. at least. encircled
the brow OF Robert Bruce; sword OF state, the
gift Of Pope Julius II 10 James "; a sceptre and
an antique silver rod of office" At the date OF
the Union these safe. Soon after they were
missing although whether stolen or simply mis-
laid nobody seemed able TO tell
Nor las the mystery been properly cleared up
TO this day All that is known for certain is that
in the year they restored TO the light OF
day having been accidentally found hidden away
in an old oak cnest In one OF the cellars OF the
There have been three attempts at least steal
the state Jewels OF England. which are kept IN tl'
low over di 0i hpnq'F, Nv cnr,a{n Colonel Blood who
actually succeeded in getting possession for time
of the crown and sc"ptre- This he dld bl oFrrpq%-
sTns az and m binding iar Ss' Erf s% M d man @ mar
aged raise an alarm and help arriving from In IN
sued and overtall"n although not iyf"rr tnty hta
clear OF the precincts OF tiI' pul'HS N'''i '
It was this affair which caused the authorities
shar.'hE ,nrbang.d M the present day.
Thcv consist in a special military guard Of picked
men the giving and receiving of a C"untrTssn
est hIishrn"nt rigid system Of visiting patrols;
rounds etc. night. supplemented by special
Besides all this the bulk cf the most valuable of
fh keWs Of which are in the possession tho Lord
Chamberain out OF whose PToms e66%r ' tbis
seeming sggcfIn s9pr of the "nttre coIiect6n by the
Irast fire which broke out i'm the Tower October
iS4I. The flames had actual liy invaded the lewGi
with the aid Of crowbar, IN forcing an aperture
wide enough admit OF his handing out the Irsas
they were promptly conveyed under military escort
More succession than Blood the clever thief.
also said be ex-arny officer, who IN '-S stole
guarded bv armed sentrics and inclosed within a
Supposedly burElarprG%f steel Erie r2r pr, a A. 4,hs &
mystery that seems insepara2le from this class 81
the robber was never properly established. the
bulk OF the gold and gems were recovered. some
being traced 70 Brooklyn while 2nothGr portion
was found hidden in cellar in Brussels
Undoubtedly. however the most successful coup
the trio Of French burglars whI In 1892 broke into
so to sneak OF the officers and OF the guard
stationed in the courtyard of the building Not
off the resaiia Including. Of course. the and
sceptre. hut they also made clean sweep OF every
taIned Among these were the jewel encrusted
golden shrine bequcHthed hy Cardinal ftichelteu -
InuIs XIII. the great PITT Regent diamond.
r-pute to b. worth half million sterling; some
six hundred other valuable diamonds. rubteS en-
eralds etc and a number OF priceless Of
gold agate amethyst and rock crystal
The excitement ocCasiOned by the robbery was
Intense not only In Paris. hut throughout France.
and as in the recent case at Dublin. the Widest
anJ rnost sensational were soon anOat re-
gerdne the identify OF the thief or thieves. the
6anes NJ high officials and people of rank and
,andinu in society being freely banded about from
mouth 10 mouth Nor this mystery ever prop
aIt a
nronartv was eventually found hidden In an alley
rway In the ChaUps Elyss~