River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-02-17
TRICKS OF THE DIAMOND TRADE.
A Diamond Dealer Saved by the C,rti-
hcate of an M. q.
From the piftsb,trO poet

ucate Oh We y.
From the Pittsburg Post
At the 4 o'clock hearing Yesterday
afternoon, a man giving his name as
M. G. Dixon, arrested at a pawn shop
in the Central Hotel, on suspicion of
having stolen diamonds in his pos
session, was brought before Acting
Mayor Butler.
The detectives had been put III his
trail by George Cohen, pswnbroker,
and the fact that he told different tales
ut different places where ne offered the
diamonds for sale, LED the detectives
to suspect that he was not, in plain
parlance, sail night" To some he
said he was from Georgia, and to
others from North Carolina, and that
while IN the Confederate army dying
comrade bequeathed these Jewels to
him.
When questioned closely, after his
arrest, in regard to making these state
ments, he said he did not think it was
| anybOdy's business where he came
from or how he got these diamonds.
As to denying that he had money on
his person, he thought nan would be
fool to go around telling thatihe had
$4,000 or So, 900 in his pocket. On be-
ing searched 81. 400 were found, besides
some valuable diamond ievelry, and a
pawn ticket issued in Baltimore for
81, 600, loaned on diamonds.
AT the hearing Mr.. Cohen, and De-
tectives Messner and Heron were
placed on the stand, but their testi-
mony failed to show that Dixon had
come by his property dishonesty.
His counsel, John Coyle Esq. then
read the following telegram from the
Hon. j. NJ. Leach, The scholarly
Representative of the Yadkin District,
North Carolina, a regular Joe Hunker, 2"
as he is more familiarity known
WAsHINGToN, d. c., January 20.-M
G. Dixon IS man of property and
character. My constituent.
J. N. LEACH.
4 message was also read by Mr..
Coyle from Randall, Baerman & Co, of
Nassau street, New York, to the effect
that they had frequently sold diamonds
to Nj. Z. Dixon, and that a bill of JAN
10th amounted TO over $4,000.
Mr.. Coyle presented from the firm
uamed, who are jewellers and dealers in
diamonds, bill amounting to $3,0i5,
-. He explained that Mr.. Dixon is
agent for the diamond house in New
York he spoke of Occasionally there
are flaws discovered in diamonds which
render them, of course, less valuable
/ than the perfect diamond. None but
4 good jewellers, however, can discover
/ these flaws, and it is rare case FOR a
pawn broker TO detect them. Being,
therefore unable to sell these to jewel
ers at the full value of the perfect dia-
monds, he purchases them of the firm
of which he is agent at about half the
price of the pure ones. For instance,
diamond worth $1,000 if perfectly
sound, he would get for about $500 if
/ 1t contained a flaw. He would take
this Diamond to pawn broker, who,
not discovering the flaw, would value
it at 1920 he would then pawn it for
about $1,000, and as he never re.
deemed 1t, no would make S400 by the
/ operation, having paid but 5000 for it.
MIR. Coyle then added that it would
be unnecessary TO ask for the prisoners
discharge, as nothing had been de-
veloped by the detectives to confirm
their suspicious.
Acting Mayor Butler then notified
Mr.. Dixon that he was free man. II
is stated that the latter intends bring.
ing suit against the officers making
the arrest, for false imprisonment and
damages.