Excalibur stolen!

[Patrick Waterson]

Alas so.  Enough to know that the opposing lawyer would point out that the very same precedent requires the sword-drawer to replace and redraw the sword in front of a large audience consisting of the great and the good of the realm and that nobody else be able to do so.

[Tim]

Of course that would be subject to countless appeals from those not considered to be part of said august body but who either A) feel that they should be, or B) by third parties on behalf of mass-murderers who might be excluded and therefore are subject to discrimination...

[Patrick Waterson]

A specific list of relevant titles could doubtless be compiled for the required audience, based on the original account.  Naturally, it would help to have testimony from an expert witness if the appropriate wizard could be found.  Proceedings might however have to be held up indefinitely while Merlin was subpoenaed.

[Erpingham]

Alas so.  Enough to know that the opposing lawyer would point out that the very same precedent requires the sword-drawer to replace and redraw the sword in front of a large audience consisting of the great and the good of the realm and that nobody else be able to do so.

How about a sting operation to get the sword back?  We put it out on social media that we have arranged just such a gathering at the stone.  When the crims turn up with the sword to claim the crown, it is revealed that the crowd are all plain-clothes police officers and they nab them.

[Imperial Dave]

the very naughty amongst us might bring a large industrial sized tube of araldite 

[Patrick Waterson]

How about a sting operation to get the sword back?  We put it out on social media that we have arranged just such a gathering at the stone.  When the crims turn up with the sword to claim the crown, it is revealed that the crowd are all plain-clothes police officers and they nab them.

Could work splendidly if the crown is actually their aim.  Might not work so well if they are simply drinking away their fee from an anonymous collector.  Then again, who knows what ambitions the collector might have?

[Swampster]

I think a quick visit to Franz, Duke of Bavaria could pay off.