Treasury entered the great rooms of the Treasure House on July 4 he was astounded to discover that the edible had happened. 'Thieves had broken in and the Treasury had been despoiled of a considerable: quantity of its riches, including the Sacred Ring of St. Peter. Quickly' the whole of the Vatican and of Rome shared his amazement. and the police are busily engaged on the solution of ohe of the most daring and ambitious robberies of modern times. It was evidently the straight forward simplicity of the methods that eluded the measures, taken for safeguarding the historic and priceless ornaments of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican Treasury is housed in two huge rooms, and the sacred. Jewellery is locked in cases around the walls. Only by special permit, are the cases opened and the treasures displayed te visitors. These rooms adjoin the Sacristy of St. Peter's and access can be obtained to the Sacristy both from. the basilica proper and from a side street.
For several months many work: men have been employed in restoring and redeeers build ing vast plant for the illumination of the cupola and facade. 'The room immediately above the Treasury has been converted temporarily into a painters' and builders' store-room, For a week, to judge by the extent of the operations, certain confederates have been' digging a hole though the thick store-room floor and from day to day concealing their work with painters' tools.
It is assumed that someone lar concesied in the buildings over night, completed the hole, let down a rope ladder, seized as much of the treasure as could be easily carried off, eluded the corridor patrols, and got clear away from the soci to a waiting motor-car.
The "Missing Articles The value of the treasure stolen is estimated at from 800,000 to 8,000,000 lire. It is not consider-however, in relation to the total value of the church ornaments rome. Among the articles taken are the fellowing:—
'A Mass service in gold studde? with pearle and brilliants, gift]
the church of Cardinal Merry det Vale Three jewel-adorned gold crosses, one a gift of the Republic of Colombia, and one given to a Phpal Nuncio by the King of Sp:
A gold vase and golden.chalice enriched wit pearls and rubies, gifts of Pius IX.
A gold ring with a great emerald stone, the Ring of St. Peter.
The last represents the greatest material and moral loss of all.. In accordance with. ancient tradition every June 29, the statue the nave of St, Peter's, whose fect countless pilgrims have kissed, is clothed with raiment of purple and gold, and the index finger of the hand raised in benediction ly encicled with the Apostolic ring. By the irony of fate an imitation of the real ring was made some time ago to safeguard the true apostolic relic. against theft during exposure in public. the real ring being preserved in the Treasury.
All the workmen in the Vatican were detained for interrogation, and some arrests have been made, including those of two workmen who sleep in the Sacristy building. It appears extremely unlikely that the thieves can escape ultimate detection, 9 there must have been sever~ al concerned in the crime, and it will surely be very difficult 19 market the jewels.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.