HANK WILLIAMS - WILLIAMS' NOTEBOOK 'STOLEN'

A music publishing company has branded a notebook of unpublished lyrics by late country singer HANK WILLIAMS stolen property, and bosses have called on two collectors to return the artifact immediately. Sony/ATV only realised the book, worth $250,000 (GBP133,500), was missing after reading a newspaper article detailing how collectors STEPHEN SHUTTS and ROBERT REYNOLDS acquired the item. Sony/ATV filed a stolen property report on 20 September (06). Shutts and Reynolds, who run travelling exhibit the Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame, said the notebook was given to them by a Nashville, Tennessee, woman last November (05). Neither man is suspected of the theft, though it's unclear if they will face penalties for possession of stolen property. An investigation is now under way. The country singer died in 1953 from a suspected drugs overdose. The notebook features song lyrics and musings by the YOUR CHEATIN' HEART star, believed to be written between 2 May 1947 and 1949.