LOS ANGELES TIMES

May 28, 1948

Joan Crawford’s Lost $50,000 Brooch Found

An astonished night club waiter learned yesterday that "an ordinary piece of costume jewelry" he had found was a $50,000 diamond brooch belonging to actress Joan Crawford.

Paul Bodlogar thought so little of the "bauble" that he didn't even bother to remove it from his trousers pocket yesterday morning while he worked in the garden of his home at 1115 Greenacre Ave.

Meanwhile, Miss Crawford reported the loss to her insurance agents, who notified police. She said she was wearing it on her left shoulder when she visited Slapsy Maxie's Wednesday night with Atty. Greg Bautzer.

When officers began a routine questioning of the night club's employees, Bodlogar readily admitted he had found the "bauble," they said. The officers accompanied the waiter to his home, where the brooch was found, still in a pocket of the trousers.

The brooch was described as being two diamond clips fastened together to form a brooch. One clip contains 152 baguette diamonds weighing a total of 9.06 carats and 12 brilliants weighing 12.22 carats. In the other clip are 124 baguette diamonds weighing 9.34 carats and 12 brilliants weighing 12.31 carats. Both clips are platinum.

Det. Sgt. G.B. Gourley of Wilshire Division police returned the brooch to Miss Crawford last night at the L'Aiglon Restaurant, Beverly Hills, where she again was dining with Bautzer. Insurance agents said they "think" Bodlogar will receive a reward.

[Thanks to Norman for this article.]