The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-10-23
A Sharp Diamond Smnggler.

on In diamonds in the various European
lines in this country. and a the duty upon
them i ten per cent. ad vaiorem ti,c sharp
est watch i kept upon those suspected 40 &c
engaged in il. BY means of agents abr a.
the Collectors Office has often information
by cable OF the departure from tie various
ports of suspected diamond smugelers, and
is prepared to intercept them. L. nine cases
ont Of ten the stones are concealed upon the
passengers. When this become certainty.
or what Is Supposed to be a certainty, the
passenger Is arrested and taken 10 tie
searcher's bureau in the Custom Hou-e.
Here, if found necessary, the party i strip
ped to the skin and his c.othes examined
inch by inch and seam by seam; the tee.~
are taken from his boots, his hair aud beard
are combed. and every means taken to dia-
cover the hiding place Of the treasures.
Once this mede Of search used 10 lie t,ler-
ably successful, but now il rarely 81. YES any
purpose except in the case Of rstw recruits 70
tie smuggling ranks. An old bird Is caught
with chnG hut once.
4 New York Jew. who was repute1 to be
in the business Of IN sa-iing diamonds, used
to cross the water on the Cunard me from
three to iuur times season. Tw. Years a 20.
in the early part Of the season, he was seized
upon his arrival and taken to the seareaer's
room. Nelry Thousand dollars worth Of
precious stones were ioand secre:ed in the
lining Of his boo;S lie returned 10 Liver
pool by the same steamer, and four weeks
aferward again anjei on the company 5
wharf on North River. lie was again seiz-d
and subjected to the same rigorous search,
but with no success Tie Jew took It sui =
incly and philus phicaliy When tie took
his leave he said Better luck mex TING,
gentlemen. | shall 20 back by the same
steamer on business, and wien l rotugu y0u
can try it again"
The officers mentally determined If he did
they would try it again. Upon inquiry Ii
was found that be really engaged IeturE
passage, having held hi~ sta-e-room for that
purpose. Two hours before the sailing Of
the steamer he was driven down 70 the pier
in his carriage, his wife and daug'te- "i-n
him to see him off. When they returned
they carried with them over ten thousand
dol ar~' worth Of diamonds which he had
secrcted in his stare room during the whole
time the steamer had renai:ei iu port.
Before his return to New York the Collector
was notified by one Of the revenue agents
abroad that Max Fischer would return by
the -. which would leave Liverpool
October p. with several thousand dollars
worth OF diamonds" " IN due time the jew
arrived and for the third time was escort
cd before the searcner. lie was evidently
nos prepared Tor such persistent attention.
lie seemed nervous and agtated, and finally
attempted tu compromise. lie was politely
informed tLat that was out Of tie question.
lie was again put through tie searching
process. Ills p,cket5o9k which was first
Investigated, revealed memorandum show
ing the purcaSe oi eighteen diamonds OF
various sizes and prices, amounting in all to
about sig 900. When this came to light
the Jew begged with tears to be allowed 10
compromise. \ deaf ear was turned to his
entreaticS His coat was removed aud the
lining examined. Nothing there. Then tie
waisteoat As the scarcher passed his prac-
tical finger, along the lining his heart gave
a tremendous t!fump rs he recognized tie
'sfccl" OF something pebbly. Ike little rows
of buttons TIE garment was hastily ripped,
a strip Of cIam,i~ skin Withdrawn and un-
rolled. and there they lay, one, two, three
eighteen! All there.
eH eth f9-tt VII your eu's; and rTS1i~to0a1t
again. AIr. Fischer said the sealcHer,
b.ailly. Good day"
Without word the jew departed, took
horse car home, kissed his family, ate q
rouSiug dinner, repaired 10 the bath room,
and after soaking rather capacious plaster
acraS- the small Of bis back for few min
utas ia warm water, peeled it OF, and with
it 'eirI teen diamonds, Of various sizes and
prices" WHAT the searcher and collector
NAV have said or thoaght when they found
THEN seizure to be nothing but clever glass
limitations. worth from ten to thirty cents
each. nobody knows; for Though the
seizure was loIdiy heia!del, the tiHaie was
never made public. y lady in this city,
moving in fashionable circles, wears a valu-
able diamond WI ich was imported IN the
cavity Of a doub.c tooth, said tooth being IN
the mouth of an Isaeiitish gentleman of
New York Ii was placed in it uEr mantle
bidineplace in London, and safely covered
with bone filing which was displaced after
the arrival in New York.