Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-12-18
Mistcltanu.
The Diamond SwindIe
INTERFERING PARTICULARS oP THE LATE E
CLEMENT.

INTERESTING PARTICULARS oP THE LATE Elk
CLEMENT.
Messrs. HarpendiDg, Rubery and Mau-
rice Dore have testified IN San francisco
before the Executive Committee of the
Mining Company, Investigating the diamond
swiDdle. Harpendlng said he went to
London in 1871, thence to Paris H.
started for home iD April, 1872, in com
pany with Rubery, HUI Lent and Fargo.
They held a consultation with Mr. Barlow,
in New York, about the diamond fields
and 1T was decided that party should 90
from Denver to the fields. Slack and Ar
mold went, taking Janin as an expert.
At Diamond Mess, near the Dome Noun
tains, in three minutes Happening picked
up large number Of diamonds Tney
staked the ground and returned to San
Francisco, leaving Rubery in the field
A man named Cooper is said to have
made a full C, Dfe>son of the >wndle Mr.
Janin seems to be exoneratcd from all sus-
picion of collusion, as it is reported that
Slack and Arnold realized about $4,000
from their operations, with which they
bought more rough gems ia Europe. After
''saltiDg" the ground with these, Janiu
was taken to the fields and made his first
report in good faith.
The San Francisco Bulletin says that
Arnold who made the first alleged dscov.
cry, sold it TO Harpendlng for 100000
MIR. Lent advancing the money, and pay
ing altogether about $4,000 Other
interests were sold to various parties 50
that Arnold and his confederates. whoever
they were, netted about S950,000. b.
subsequent sale of a portion of Lent's III
terest he got back a part OF his money, and
ia now loser of about 100000.
The San Francisco Chronicle gives still
further particulars. 1t says that the
trustees of the New York and San Fran
cisco Mining Company held meeting on
Wednesday of last week, and engaged
counsel to discover and prosecte the orlgi-
majors Of the scheme. The proceedings
were kept strictly private, but enough
leaked out to warrant the belief that in
mediate steps will be taken to secure the
arrest of Arnold and Slack. 1t is doubt
ed by many whether such course would
result in anything, even supposing that the
men could be found. They might simply
fall back on their dignity and defy proof
of their guilt. Unless it can be proved
that they purchased the stones of Plttar
Leverson Il Co., or of any QDe else, and
actually saited the ground, thereis really no
proof of guilt.
Both of these men formerly resided in
Yuba county, and were engaged in by.
draulic muiDg at Railroad Hull, about two
miles from CamptOnvllle. Slack was re-
garded as an upright man, while the repu-
tation Of Arnold was that he would get
the best of a trade If he could, while be
had ready tongue and could represent
any property which he desired to sell quite
as tavOrably as its merits deserved Slack
left this country about 1860, and Arnold
about 1862. The latter had about SO,
600 or $4,000 when he left, with which
be purchased a farm in Kentucky, his ma.
tive state. He remained there but few
years and then returned to California
At CsmptoDville, SIact. Arnold and Ash.
bury Harpending were quite intimate, AM
after ArDold's return from Kentucky the,
came together again aud we're mutually IN
teTested In mining ventures in Arizona
A circumstance has leaked cut In con
nectioD with Clarence Kings report whict
the friends OF JanIn have eagerly seizec
hold of as furnishing proof of his gooC
judgment after ell. 1t seems that Whel
King first went Oh the ground he prospecte,
and lou any quantity of diamonds anc
rubies. So great was his faith ID the gen
uILeDess OF the thing at that tine ii at b,
at once went and located iue mill sit,
and one hundred acres of land adjonin.
the diamond claim. He then went !,
prospecting on bis own claim. but founc
not thing. This it was that at frs
aroused gtmmer of suspicion, and tbel
he went back and gave the diamond groune
thorough overbsuliDg This the friend
of JsDin claim ls proof that King himseI
was at first deceived.
The mysteries OF the great swindle ar
still very numerous. and until there ha
been thorough investigation all partie