Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-11-23
en- in the possession of the royal family

of Persia, and it was said that after the as
sassination of Nadir Schah they, together
with other precious stones, were stolen by
common soldiers, who were ignorant of
their value. 1t was, therefore, only neces-
sary for Schafras to state what he had to
excite the interest of the amateurs.
But for long time there was no one
who seemed inclined to enter into nego-
tiations with him for the purchase of the
large diamond and the wonderful sap
phire. As, however, the Moslem was well
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.
The first serious inquiry after the price
of the Moon of the Mountains came
from Catharine H. of Russia In ST.
Petersburg where they were always well
informed with regard to what transpired
at the Persian court, they were most COM
petent to judge of the real value of the
stone
The robber and murderer demanded 50O,-
600 rubles, a life annuity of 10000 rubles,
and a patent of nobility.
Catharine H. ordered one of her minis
tiers to invite the pretended diamond mer-
chant to ST. Petersburg, that the court jew
eler might examine the diamond, and esti-
mate its value.
The minister ordered the courtjeweler
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 excesses and expenditures.
Schafras went to st. Petersburg, and
for him. Soon all his ready money was
ropa op5 bo ba6 cro6it ovarxrmhara-
it being known that he had business with
the court-it was not long before he was
lover 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.
''Tell him that Her Majesty has decided
not to accede to his eXorbitant demands !;
and then, if he must sell, pretend that you
will 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 jeweler.
This message and the offer of the jew
eler opened Schafras' eyes. 'God is good
and Mahomet is his prophet" he MUIR
INJURED. "These Christian dogs want to
cheat me out of that for which / have
periled my SOUL The fools have got me
into debt, and think now l shall be COM
PEELED to take any price they choose to of
fer me but they shall see that a follower
of the Prophet is a match for this whole
nation of rascals."
Schafras now very adroitly encouraged
the belief that he would soon be compell-
o1 To orfxx fnr hn
offered him, while he secretly disposed of
a 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
Catharine was greatly incensed 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 finally 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-
tation. 'Ask Her Majesty if she expects
to catch an old fox a second time in the
same trap % was the reply. "To save
time and words, listen to my ultimatum.
demand patent of nobility and
800, 900 rubles, which must be paid imme-
diately. l will wait here month for
your replys If my conditions are not ac-
cepted, swear by the beard of the
Prophet that Catherine IL shall never
be the possessor of the Moon of the
Mountains.
The result was that the Empress finally
acceded to these exorbitant demands, and
Schafras, the robber and murderer, who
was now Russian nobleman, returned to
his native city, Astrachan. where he mar
ried and had seven daughters.
The end of the villain was such as his
life fully merited One of his sons-in-law,
for whose convenience he lived too long,
poisoned him. Before his death he made
full confession of his crimes. The major
portion of his great wealth, amounting to
several millions, was confscated by the
Russian Government. The remainderwas
soon squandered by his heirs, and several
of his descendants are now living in eX-
treme poverty.
And this is said to be the history of the
''Moon of the Mountains" one of the Rus
sian crown diamonds.