Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-24

been in the posEcssiou of the Tuyal family
'of PerRa and IL was said that after the as.
. sassinati0n of Nadir Selah they, together
With other href0iis stones, were stolcn by
common soldiers, who were ignorant Of
. their value. II was, therefore, only neces.
sary for Schatras 60 state what he had to
excite the interest of the amateurs. J
But for q long time thdre was no one
who seemed inclined to enter into nego-
tations with him for the purchase of the
large diamond and the wonderful sap
phire. As, however, the MOslem was wen
supplied with money, and had, besides, a
number of small stones that were easily
available, he waited patiently, feeling GER
tain that sooner or later customer would
present himself
T The first serious inquiry after the price
of the Moon of the Mountains came
from Catharnc III. of Russia. In St.
rPetcrsburg, where they were always well
informed with regard to what transpired
at the Persian court, they were most COM
petcnt to Judge of the real value of the
stone.
The rObbcr and murderer demanded 800,
600 rublcs, life annuity of 10000 rbles,
and,a patent of nobility. ve
Catharinc IT. ordered one of her minis
ters to invite the pretended diamond mcr-
chant to 81. Petersburg, that the court Jew
eler might examine the diamond, and csti-
mate its value.
Tho minister ordered the court,icwelcr
to hold out to the Armenian the hope that
the Empress would accept his proposal,
and in the mean time TO lead him into all
sorts of eXccsscs and expenditures.
Scbafras went to ST. Petersburg and
soon IGli into the trap that had been set
fDr him Sanu oil lic raaJtr ,,,Opotr ,,,.,,
gone, and, rs he had credit everywhere
il being known that he had business with
the court--it was not long before he was
" over head and ears in debt This was
what the Minister wanted. BY the Russian
law any foreigner may be prevented from
leaving the country so long as he is in
debt. The supposition was that the Arme-
nian would at last be compelled to dispose
OF his diamond for whatever price he could
get for it, -...
''Tcll him that Her Majesty has decided
not to acccde to his rxorlJitant demands /;
and then, if he stsell, pretend that YOU
viii buy it on your own account, and of
fer him one-quarter of what the stone is
worth Such were the Instructions of
the Minister TO the court iewclcr.
This message and the offer Of the Jew
eleropencd Scliafras' eyes God is good
aud Mahomct is his prophet he muir
INJURED. These Christian dogs want to
cheat me out Of that for which | have
pefiled my soul. Tho fools have got me
into debt, and think now | shall bc com
PEELED to take any price they choose to Of
Ter me but they shall see that follower
If the Prophet is match for this whole
nation of rascals "
SChafras now very adroitly encouraged
the belief that hc would soon lie coinpell-
ed to part with the diamond for the price
offered him, while he secretly disposed of
portion of his smaller jewels, paid his
debts, and left the country on board an
English vessel
When they came to look for the Moslem
he was nowhere to be found, which was
very embarrassing for the Minister, as
.Caiharine was Greatly inCcnsed at the loss
of the stone, and demanded that it should
be obtained, cost what it might
For several years every effort of the
Russian court To- find Schafras proved fu-
tile, but fiualjy they succeeded in tracking
him to smyrna They again invited him
to ST. Petersburg, and made him every
promise TO induce him to accept the invi-
tatiou. " Ask Her Majesty if she expects
to catch an old fox ~ second time in the
same trap - was the reply ITO save
time and words, listen to my ultimatun.
| demand patent of mobility and
SOO,01U ruhlCs, which must be paid imme-
dmteIv I viii wait here month for
your reply. II my conditions are not ac-
ccptcd, swear by the beard of the
Prophet that Catherine II. shall never
be the pOssessor Of the Moon of the
Mountains.
The result was that thc Empress finally
acceded TO these eHorbitant demands, and
Schafras, the rohber and murderer, who
was now Russian nobleman, returned to
his native city, Astrachan, where he mar
ricd and had seven daughters.
The end of he Villain was such as his
life fully mcritcd One of his sons-in-law,
for whose convenience he lived too long.
poisoned him. Before his death he made
u full confession of his crimes. The major
portion.of his great wealth, amounting to
several millions, was contiscated by the
Russian Government. The remainder was
soon sq1andcred by his heirs, and several
of his descendants are now living in eX-
trcmc poverty.
And this is said to be the history of the
Moon of the Mountains, y one of the Rus
sian crown diamonds