The New York herald., 1872-12-08
TIE DIAMOND "sALTERs."

A Compre hensive Statement of the Ari.
xona Diamond swindle-W hat y. ID.
Cooper Knew Of the Mattes-ArnOid
Purchases Nearly $4,000 Worth OF
Gems I'm London and Scatters Them ON
the Alleged s.Findis.''
SAN FRANCISCO Dec. Z, 1872.
J. r. Cooper's statement TO the Executive Com
mittee OF the Lent, Harpending Company is to the
following efrect:-I was bOokkeeper to the Dia-
mond Drill Company, OF this city. ! have known
Arnold for six years. He knew much about dia-
monds and wanted to learn more from me about
the way in which they were deposited, the nature
and kind OF ground, &c. He said he thought he
could produce diamonds by artificial means.
told him that diamonds were generally found in
beds OF extinct rivers in tropical countries and IN
gravelly SOIL. Arnold said that in Arizona he saw
an Indian chiefs wife with a bracelet OF sparkling
stones, which he obtained from her. He said he
would go back to Arizona and look for the natural
deposits Of these stones. On mis- return ne told
Cooper that he had big thing in view, stating that
Slack and himself were the only per Sons In
the secret, and offered me great Inducements
TO JON In the scheme In 1871, with Arnold
and Slack. made trip to New Mexico, where we
collected quite number of rubies, and returned to
this city, when decided to get the large capital
overtnres be made to Harpending, gentleman OF
high standing and cOnversant with money matters.
Arnod Mo nen Wrote 70 t at Lonno a. ASK
diamond mines. Arnold and Slack then
WENT TO
and interested Barlow in the scheme. When
Lent and Harpending reached New York from
London Arnold exhibited the gems and council
was held, the result of which was that Lent and
Harpendlng came to san Francisco and formed
company. Arnold saw that he must make u bold
stroke, and taking S5O000 with him crossed the
Canadian line and sailed from Quebec for London.
After arriving at the latter city he made the ac-
qualntance OF two American sailors, to whom he
paid $500 each, and binding them with an oath OF
secrecy to conceal the business ordered them to
go TO different jewellers in London ana buy dia-
monds In that way he got $37, 600 worth, and
returned to Quebec. From thence he went to st.
Louis and thence to Arizona, where he bought "a
large quantity OF rubies garnets and sapphres.
lie then returned to san Francisco, where he
counseed with himself, Roberts ana Slack the
result OF which was that Lent, Barpending, Arnold
and Dodge went TO New York to interest the capl-
tasts there.
BUT THE WALL STREET MEN
were shy and they did not meet with mucn success
there. They wanted expert IN wnom
New York men would place confidence Janin was
suggested. The latter gentleman accordingly
consulted and permitted to test some OF the
diamonds He accepted the offers TO go ana ex-
Denver, from which place they were TO pilot
Janin to the 1ekis. From there they went
to Denver Mountain, which they
selected a lew acres and scattered diamonds and
other precious stones with reckless profuSiOD
They then went back to Denver, whence they
hunted for diamonds. At the close OF each day
Arnold told Janin the vaue OF the gems found,
and Janin made his report accordingly. After
searching and examining for some time the whole
party, with the exception OF Slack and Rubery,
who remained to watch the claims, returned 10
San Francisco.
The above is all that is elected thus far from
COOper