The San Francisco call., 1913-07-29
Owner Doubts It, However,
but Believes He'll Get
Them Back Singly and
in Pairs
EXPERTS SAY SUEZ
CLOSES GATE OF HOPE
Jewels That Reach India
Quickly Marketed Because
of Country's Wealth

LONDON. July 2S.-Some hopes are
entertained by Lloyd's that the reward
of $4,000 offered win lead to the re-
covery of the pink pearl necklace in
sured for s675.00O which was mysteri
ously lost in transit by mail from
Paris to London. but it is known that
there are markets where not many
questions are asked and memories are
conveniently short.
The owner. Meyer, has expressed con
ndence that he will regain possession
of the pearls in course of time either
singly or in twos and threes when the
thieves attempt to dispose of them. but
his coincidence is not shared by most
experts. who have little doubt that if
the pearls are not retrieved shortly
they viii sooner or later pass through
the Suez canal, and it is proverbial that
once Jewels are taken east of Suez they
are; never seen again by European
OWNERS.
The wealth of India offers vast
field for the disposal of jewels of
superlative quality. but if the Meyer
pearls go east it will not be in the col
lective state as necklace. Apart from
the possibilities of the India market
there is China. where in the last few
years European buyers have sought
bargains. Some are inclined to think
the pearls Will find their way to South
America
The export of Jewels fro4l Argen-
tina and Brazil is running to enor-
nous figures annually. The Argen-
tine trade. however, is in very few
hands. making it extremely difficult
TO dispose of identified pearls at
Buenos Aires.
Experts are unanimous that the
necklace will never be offered for sale
entire. The Meyer pearls are as well
known to European dealers in gems
a the Mona Lisa is to art connoiseurs.
MAY BE THEFT FOR GLORY
The theory is advanced that the
theft was committed just for the
glory OF the thing and the purloiner
viii be ranked among the artists of
whom till now the litter of the Ascot
gold cup was the most brilliant orna-
ment
The pearls may, it Is said have been
stolen for decking a woman, as were
the Duchess Of Sutherland's famous
gems. Harry the Valet" one of the
cleverest thieves the police ever
hunted. stole the memorable jewels
Just to please q woman. IN ex-Gaity
girl Harry camly walked into the
the jewel case from under the eyes of
her maid. 1T was long before the po-
lice found tie Gaity favorite softly
sleeping in a daintily furnished bed
room with the lost diamond and ruby
necklace round her throat.
Very soon there followed the rob-
berry of the marquis of Angiesey's jew
els at a London hotel. The marquis
was easy game. He had passion for
extrava gances of all kinds. but most
of all for dressing gowns. neckties and
jewels.
Ffis collection of jewels included one
huge pearl pin OF immense value. A
rascalIy valet was the villain, as in
the case of the duchess, and here, too.
there was a woman in the case and
q gain the jewels. or most of them, in
cluding the fabulous pearl were re-
covered by the police. Indeed. there
have been few robberies of valuable
gems in London, at any rate, which
have not been followed by complete
or partial recovery of the lost prop
erty sooner or later.
TRANSPORTATION METHODS
1t is held by some thai new method
Of transporting gems should have
been devised. Until about six months
ago registered post was considered SAT-
est, but since then jewel thieves have
been active in this direction, and some
s150,000 worth of gems have been sto-
len in transit by registered post.
IN order to steal the necklace from
q mail bag between Paris and Calais.
the thief would have had to overhaul
and search 300 sacks of mail matter
Formerly va1uables sent through the
French post were placed in special
: canvas bags colored red. This was a
sure incentive to enterprising thieves
and facilitated their task Now valu-
ables are sealed in smaller bags, and
these are distributed among ordinary
la IS containing general mail matter
and are therefore well hidden from all
vrz-fpv