The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-06

ANOTHER SEIZURE OF DIAMoNDs-Fo RTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH TAKEN FROM Two
OF The ApRIATIc's PAssENGERs-TnE Wos-
DERruL HISTORY OF TwELvE.THoU
DOLLAR GEM.-[New York Sm.l-Mr.
Maurice Joseph and Mr.. Frederick Jo-
seph, his son, both of London, arrived
in the steamer Adriatic on Sunday.
They engaged rooms at the st. Nicholas
Hotel. They were visited at that place yes
terduy morning by Custom-House Inspector
Bliss, who accused them of smuggling dia-
monds. He took from them eight magniti-
cent diamonds, of the size of haZel.nuts.
Seven of the gems were heavily mounted in
Etruscan gold. Two were set as studs, four
as finger-rings, and one as q shirt-pin. The
eighth was unset. Mr.. Bliss carried the
diamonds to the custom-house, and reported
TO the collector that the owners had at
tempted to sell them to Tiffany & Co. He
charged that they had landed them without
the payment of duty, and that they had
brought them here for speculative purposes.
He added that he had called on the Messrs.
Joseph previous to the seizure, and that they
offered to sell him the diamonds.
The Messrs. Joseph emphaticaly denied
to Collector Arthur that they were snug
glcrs. They said that they bought the stones
in South Africa, and had them set for their
own personal wear. "Why," said one of
them, with strong cockney accent, ave
couldn't sell 'em in this 'ere country if we
liked. You wont find such fine diamonds
worn 'ere. They ave only 'cm in Lunnun
and Paris, you know" He declared the
seizure an outrage, and threatened to write
to the London Times about it. The eight
diamonds were estimated to be worth
$4,000. There is a slight imperfection in
their color, but were otherwise perfect. The
collector ordered them held to await Il suit
for their condemnation. They are to be
officially appraised to-day by Mr.. Marsh, the
Government examiner. 1t was ascertained
that suit had been instituted against the
diamonds recently captured from Mr.. Lam
caster, of Chicago.
The most noted diamond ever Struggled
Into this port was one seized from II German
apidary some years ago. The seizure was
made by Special Treasury Agent James
Chakcr while he was serving on the Sur
yeyor's staff. The stone was of immense
size, and originally belonged to an impovcr-
i>lled German prince. 1t is now worn by il
well known belle in New York society.
his diamond mas q history.
A rich Boston lady had as family heir
loom Il diamond of unusual depth and bril-
liancy. She wore it only on State occasions.
Wishing to get another like it for 4 pair of
earrings. she commissioned Il .iewelry-bou>c
in Boston to make the match. The task Of
matching diamond; is very difficult, as only
experts are aware. a lapdary in the EN-
ploy OF the Boston firm secured Europe to
find one the exact cut, size, and brilliaEcy of
the onein the lady's possession. Aitera long
Sc'nch he found one in Il virtu0so'S col!cc-
ton in Vienna. AT the time he purchased it
there WAS duty Of GO per cent. on precious
stones. This WAS Il strong temptation for
smu@glers. The jewellers agent hoped to
bring the diamond through free, and accord
ingly had it set in Il lin"cl-riEg Of antique
fashion. lie wore it on his hand across the
Atlantic. On landing lie was astonished to
find that his plan was known. The Govern
mcnt had received the particulars OF his pur-
chase through its spies abroad. His diamond
was seized despite his protcstations that it
was his personal property. The proof Of
his guilt was fully proved by tine discovery
of Il quantity Of uncut rubies and other
gems Scwcd in his undcrshirt. The invoice,
which showed what the diamond had cost.
WIS uisb lbullu OH nun.
The stone was beauty. 1t was az large
as Il marrowfat pea, and was one Of the bllt-
i>h.tinted sort, which are so rare. 1t fairly
flashed fire. Tie gem was valued at $4,000
gold. Mr.. Hatch, the banker. tried to buy
it from the Government for $1,000. 1t was
shown TO Mr. Wichham, the diamond bro
kcr, who pronounced it the finest lie had
ever seen. The Boston firm fought to get it
back. but The court ordered it condemned.
1t was sold by auction for $4,000 currency.
The Government aucioneer was himself the
purchaser. For the last two years the sciz-
ing officers have cndcayorcd to get it back
on the ground that the sale was fraudulent.
SI%ISG WHEAT on THE SOUTH SIDE.-[F Farm
vile Commonwealth --EXpcrimcnts in the
cultivation Of spring wheat are very seldom
made in this section Of Virginia. Mr.. s. w.
Sellers, of Prince Edward, near Green Bay
post-otiice, made such an experiment in
1873, and. lis requested, he has kindly fur
nshcd the result, (which we give below. We