The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-07-24
Romantic History Of TWeed's Dia.
MGnds

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ring. 1t is stone of great beauty and
purity of color, wei Chs something over
twelve carats, and is valued at about
$4,000 in gold. 1t was imported by
a diamond dealer in New York, in
whose Office it was Seen and admired
by the leading dealers in such baubles.
At the request of dealer in this city,
whom for convenience sake we will
call g., it was brought to Boston, and
by him sold to a gentleman in this
city, who wore it as &; "solitaire" pin.
But in time the owner tired of his
trinket, and another Boston dealer M.
we will call linn offering to End him
purchaser for it in Chicago, it was
intrusted to him: NJ. did not 60 to
Chicago, but stuck the pin in his shirt
bosom and "sported" it in New York
for some days, but without success.
He accordingly returned to Boston,
surrendered the gem to its owner, and
he in turn took it to G. for safe keep
ing and sale should a buyer appear.
Now it Glanced that NJ, just preyi-
ous to his appearance in New York
with his sparkling jewel in his bosom,
had return9d from Europe with a
small invoice of gems which he had
regularly entered at the Customhouse.
The keen detectivesat that institution,
ever on the watch for fat reward fer
detective smuggling, thought they
snelt the odor of a very large-sized
rat about this affair, jumped at once at
the conclusion that the smaller stones
had been passed through the Custom
house as a "blind' merely, and that
the large one had been brought in con-
trafy to law.
Accordingly they came to Boston,
took possession of Ms premises, got
the keys of his safe, examined his
books, and comported themselves as
agents of the Government are wont to
do when fraud upon the revenue is
suspected. But they found nothing,
and were about to give up the ease,
when they learned accidentally that G..
had large diamond in his possession
whose description correspondent exact
ly with the one they had seen flashing
upon Ms breast, in Gotham.
Following up this lead, they called
upon G., and asked to see the large
diamond of which, they said, "a friend
had told them" G. courteously res
pended, when one of the pair, after
carefully examining the stone with a
glase, Informed his companion that
"that was the stone"
G.. was then told that the stone had
been struggled, and that he would
have to surrender it to them. G..
quietly remarked that he didn't know
them, shouldn't surrender the stone,
and that they couldn't have it unless
they took it by force. After some
parley it was decided that the stone
should be taken to Collector Russell,
of this port; that he should have
custody of it, and become personally
responsible for it's return in case the
charge proved to be unfounded, and
that in no case should he allow it to be
taken to New York.
Then the detectives went to work,
and SO did g., who having bought the
stone direct from the importer, could
trace it much quicker than tie Off
Gals. In three or four days he was
able to give Collector Russell the exact
page and line Of the customhouse re-
cord book of entries where it had been
entered, with its weight, description,
invoice, value, duty, ETC., as we'll as
the names of the parties who shipped
it and by whom it was received. Upon
investigation this proved to be a
straight story, and, before tue detec-
tives had fairly begun to work up the
case, Collector Russell sent polite
note to g., asking him to come and
take the stone away, as he did not
care to be responsible for so valuable
a piece Of property.
From G's store the stone went to
New York, where it was reset, and
surrounded with one caret stone, and
in this shape it was bought by Boss
Tweed, who, we believe, still wears it..
Where it came from, or how many
years or centuries it has been worn.
no one knows, nor can any one even
conjecture into whose hands it may
fall and what changes it may see in
the near and far distant future; for
though Tweed and all his followers
may fade out of the memory of men
though centuries may pass away, and
with them the names and fame of ma
tons now of first rank-tllat stone
will retain all the beauty, all the mar
yelous lustre, and ali the value it now
has-in truth. "a thing of beauty and
a joy forever Boston Bulletin.
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