The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-02-26
From the Louisville urief-Journal.l
ShreWdly Outwitted. Pig

We understand that the great diamond case
of Lent VS.. Arnold, at Elizabethtown, has
developed another item quite characteristic
OF the whole affair. The story, as 1t was
told to us by passenger on the tram last
hhisht, Is quite an interesting chapter In The
n;sy ;s,ory OF the case. Lent and other Caliior-
mans interested in the matter had been stay
sn7t az ,ro eie Gait house since shortly after the
haS aS Was was entered, but it seemed that Arnold
fn"nS APP t himself in hiding, and could not be
CONT ",n 1ISVe I the legal notice issued by the
MED by the Cali;ornians. II hs;,,op LII,
sui there could be no forcible entry Of the
ofict RS into Arnold's house To- sarra Vi .ns
on MIN; and 1t Is said that if there had bean
1t would have failed to find him, as he was
| entertaining himself in neighborhooa" 90
Nolin Creek, into which the ssmnions os ,Ia
| law" either did not like to venture or were
convinced that it would be of no use,
In the meantime there was considerable
talk of compromise between the parties: but
some two weeks or more ago the Caliiornj-
ans went Tor at least started) back to the Pa
eifc coast. Not long afterward proposition
for compromise was forwarded after them;
but the trial came on, and still Arnold had
not been subjected to the personal service Of
notice usual in such cases. It seems, how
ever that he had been posted as to the move
ments of his adversaries, and, thinking him
self SAFE he had returned to his home, but
kent himself very closely housed. 1t was i'm
nortant' that personal service should be OBJ.
tanned in order TO get personal judgment.
Besides this advantage, Ii he should be put in
a position that would necessitate his coming
into court, in falling to do so. he would be-
come guilty of contempt, which certainly
would not tend to his advantage with that
tribunal.
Finally, a few days sirce, seedy, rusty,
rough-looking man, evidently tramper Of
some sort, such as is often seen wandering
through the country, doing job OF work
here and there, and not unfrequently picking
up stray rifles left around loose, was seen
prowling suspiciously about the yard Of Ar
nold's residence. His movements were calcu-
lated to attract the attention of any one IN
the vicinity, and yet were not apparently in
tended to excite observation. He might have
been looking at the place, but it seemed more
likely that he was looking for something to
put in his pocket Suddenly the proprietor
appeared before the intruder
"What do you want here?" asked Arnold,
sharply,
''Nuthin': Only lookin' around. Who
owns this nice place ?'' replied the stranger.
'T do,p said Arnold, relieved Of his susp.-
cions, and considerably Modified by the COM
plment to his residence. sl...-.- -..
"Wish twas mine. Feller could live here
right comfortable. What mought your name
be, stranger@'
''Arnold," said the stranger, affably. ..r
on?'
Eyes, am" was the reply, with tinge
of triumph in the tone, as if the speaker
judged that the man had heard his name in
connection with the great California diamond
speculation.
The next remark of the intruder was q
thunderbolt. .a ~
why said he cooly, putting his right
hand on his pistol and with the other draw
ing forth paper which he thrust into Ar
nold's hand-sswhy, / have a writ from the
circuit court of Hardin county to serve on
you! It's the great diamond case of Lent w.
Arnold and Slack. YOU see."
Arncld, too much surprised to think what
he was doing, mechanically took the paper,
but, recovering his presence of mind almost
Immediately, turned to 60 into the house, in
timating pretty forcibly that he was going to
get his gun. The intruder had no notion Of
waiting for fight, especially as the work for
which he had come was accomplished; and
therefore, as soon as the great diamond hunt
er's back was turned, made good his retreat
from the premises. M i
The trick was shrewd and bold. A Louis
vile detective had BEEN sent for, sworn in as
deputy sheriff, provided with the necessary
papers, and Disgusting himself, accomplished
his task about as related.
One report around Elizabethtown is to the
effect that Arnold, finding he was caught,
handed the notice back 10 the officer. asking
him to read it. The latter took IL for that
purpose, and Arnold Immediately went into
the house after his gun, when the man threw
the paper on the ground and made of. This,
Arnold's friends claim, did not constitute
personal service in the meaning of the law.
This statement of the affair, however, is con-
tradicted. -.f
Whichever may be the true story, it is al
any rate certain that the great diamond hunt
er, who took whole school of the Oldest fish
in California in his net, was outwitted BY
some bold fellow, who played sharp trick on
him which may be of use to him if he ever
again engages in speculative operations
in the far west. -'sLoat