Evening star., 1950-12-26
British Block Roads
On Border in Search
For Stone Of Scone
BY the Associoied Press


roadblockS divided England and
Scotland today as Scotland Yard
pressed nationwide search for
Britain's priceless Stone of Scone
stolen from Westminster Abbey
yesterday.
Working on the theory that
extreme Scottish nationalists were
behind the theft of the fiat, rec
tangular stone on which British
and Scottish kings have been
crowned since the days of the
Celts, police in England's northern
counties searched automobiles
heading north.
The historical royal symbol was
sneaked out of the musty old
abbey in the darkness of early
morning. The thieves broke a
large splinter off one leg of the
ancient wooden coronation chair,
itself priceless national possess
sion, when they dragged the 1885,
pound slab from its shelf under
the seat.
Police surmised the thieves at
tended Christmas eve service in
the abbey, concealed themselves
in side chapel. then removed the
stone. So skillful was their get
away that police were without a
clue after an intensive days hunt.
Searchers were asked particu-
larly to be on the lookout for
small British car containing a man
and a woman said to speak with
a Scottish accent.
Police described the woman as
about Is years of age, with long
dark hair, a long pointed nose,
dark eyes and a fresh complexion.
Her companion, a man of about
20, had a mop of uncombed hair,
officers said.
Scratched Initials Found.
Police noted that the initials
J. F. S. had been scratched in the
gliding along the front of the
throne. There was speculation
this might have been done by the
thieves.
Although there are other initials
and names carved on the throne.
Abbey officials said as far as they
knew all the other carvings were
old
Brought to the abbey by Ed
ward I in 1896 from the little
Perthshire (Scotland parish of
Scone pronounced Scoon), the
stone represented the 18th CEN
tury union between the crowns of
England and Scotland.
Whether or not the exploit was
the work of nationalist Scots, it
served to dramatize their demands
for more self f-rule-demands long
aired in Scotland and in Parlia-
ment.
Covenant Signed by 2 Million.
Though expressing complete
loyalty to the King, almost 2 mil
ion Scots last year signed the
Scottish covenant asking govern
ing privileges similar to those held
by Northern Ireland.
The Scots call the stone the
"Stone of Destiny" 1t was
brought to Scone by Scotland's
first king. Kenneth I, in the 9th
Century. He got it from the Celts,
who already had worn it smooth
as coronation seat.
Twenty-seven British monarchs
have been crowned on it, including
the present ruler, George VI.
A cloud of fact and fiction sur
rounds the sandstone slab, which
measures 2612 by 1912 by IL inches,
with large rectangle roughly out
lined on the top.
Supposed to Groan.
One Scottish legend says Jacob
pillowed his head on it when the
angel appeared before him. An
other legend has it that the stone
groans when rightful sovereign
sits on it but remains silent be-
meath conqueror
The historic relic had left the
abbey only once in the 654 years
since it was first brought there.
In 1857 it was taken to Westmin-
ster Hall for the installation of
Oliver Cromwell as Lord Protector.
Both Scots and Celts sat di-
rectly on the stones cold surface
to receive their crowns. But Eng
lish kings have been spared this
chilly ordeal. They sit on it SYM
bolically, with the thrones wood
en- seat interposing.
Miss Wendy Wood, 57-year-old
leader of the Scottish Patriots AS
sociation, was visited by police last
night at her cottage at Salen,
Ar0VllShire Cho cold eba Lnau,