The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-12-25
A g Salted Diamond Mine.

Suit has been instituted in the United
States Circuit Court at Louisville, Ky,
by Samuel l.. M. Barlow of New York,
against Mary Arnold, wife of the late
Philip Arnold, of diamond fame, and
executrix of his last will Two items
are embraced in the suit. The $780,
600 represents the cash fraudulently OBJ
tanned by Arnold from the plaintiff, and
the other $4,000 the interest on the
800, 900 from July 20, 1872. The fol
lowing facts are contained in Barlow's
petition: In October, 1871, he states
that Ashbury Harpending, VIM. r. Lent
and George l.. Dodge, under pledge
OF secresy, communicated to him that
Philip Arnold had discovered diamond
field in one of the territories of the
United States on the borders of New
Mexico and Arizona. AS proof of their
statement, they exhibited bag which
contained diamonds in the rough, to-
gether with other precious stones, inter-
mixed with sand and earth, which they
said were discovered by Arnold in the
alleged, diamond-feld, and that a large
quantity from the same field, exceeding
in value 100000, had been deposited
in the Bank of California in
San Francisco. They claimed to repre-
sent Arnold. He refused, however, to
enter into any business compact with
any one but Arnold. The three men
accordingly induced Arnold to go to
New York and call on Barlow, which he
did on November /, 1871. He then
confirmed the statements made by Har
pending and his associates, and further
stated that in crossing stream his raft
was wrecked and quantity of dia
monds obtained on his visit, which
were worth S1,OOO,OOO, were lost
Soon after Barlow telegraphed to the
Cashier of the Bank of California, in
curing about diamonds, which were
said to be deposited in that bank and
received a reply from the Cashier that a
bag of great value had been deposited
with him. This led Barlow to believe
that the story of Arnold and his pals
was true and agreed to advance $780,
600, providing they could get an act
passed by Congress to secure them in
the fruits of the discovery, and further,
on condition that a survey should be
made Of the location by a competent en-
gineer. Arnold replied that he was
perfectly willing to have the ground Sur
veyed, but it would be impossible at that
season of the year, as the ground was
covered with snow and it could not be
surveyed without great trouble and dam
ger. The result of the confab was that
eventually the Golconda Mining Com
pany was formed, and in the spring Mr..
Barlow named an engineer to 90 to the
spot and report, Arnold and his part
-ners accompanied the engineer to the
place, and it seems that every thing was
arranged to deceive him. Diamonds
were indeed found in the dirt. and the
engineer was hoodwinked by the adven-
turers into the belief that a diamond
bonanza was at last found in this eoun-
try. He went back to New York and
reported that it was bona fide mine.
Mr.. Barlow then put up his 100000.
Shortly after the rumor began to circu-
late that the whole thing was a huge
fraud Another engineer wasdispatched
to the so-called diamond field, and re-
ported the thing a grand fraud, and that
the ground had been 6 salted.' Liti-
cation was then begun in the Courts
and after a long legal fight the thing
would up in compromise; but It
seems by the filing Of the present suit
that it is not Jet settled.
.