The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-11-26
MISPLACED DIAMONDS.
UNEXPECTED OFFICIAL RECEPTION.
The Biggest Haul OF Struggled Diamonds
In Years-A Prize Cake OF Soap
Rioh Padding For n Fur
Lined Circular.
IN. Y. Herald.l

IN. Y. Herald.
There was jubilation yesterday In the
Special Agents. Department Of the Gus.
tom House. The biggest diamond seizure
OF many years had been made. Stones
and trinkets roughly appraised at $4,000
had been taken from Mr.. and Mrs. James
Graves, who arrived on Friday evening on
the steamer America from Europe. The
jewels were found In various unaccount-
able places about the incoming passengers.
and the officials are unkind enough to hint
that Mr.. aud Mrs. Graves were trying to
smuggle them ashore.
Mr.. Graves belongs to the diamond i'm
porting firm of w. Cox & Co., aud when
the Custom House detectives saw his name
on the Americas passenger list they OK.
changed sly winks and prepared to receive
him with all the honors. 1t Is said that q
previous enterprise of Mr.. Graves dwelt
in the official memory. Anyway, the de-
tectives gathered in force at the Barge
Office on Friday evening.
Mr.. Graves was light-hearted in look and
easy in manner as he came down the gang
plank from the steam tender to the Barge
Office landing place. He swung little
hand bag carelessly between his fingers.
Behind him tripped his wife, enveloped in
q fur.lined cloak. The couple were earn.
estly invited into the private search room.
where they were introduced to Captains
Bracket and Chalker and Officers Law.
renee and Israels.
The handbag which had been swung so
carelessly was opened and in it was found
q piece of soap. The United States has
no laws against the use OF soap outside Of
politics, but tho officers insisted upon
opening the cake. Bedded In the soft sub.
stance were found thirty.two glittering
diamonds. None of them weighed less
than q carat. Mr.. Graves got red in the
face when he found that he had drawn the
prize cake of soap and was actually under
suspicion Of an attempt TO smuggle.
The weather being somewhat oppressive
Captain Bracket gracefully assisted Mrs.
Graves to tako or her cloak. She was
very much astonished to find that some
one had concealed ten brilliants under
the:fur lining, while the fingers OF Captain
Chalker discovered a dozen or more val
liable stones which had by some strange
circumstance been misplaced in the lining
Of Mrs. Graves modest little bonnet In.
stead OF in her Jewel case. Her surprise
was further increased by tho discovery, in
the lining Of the handbag. Of a brooch In
the form Of pansy, with five petals com.
posed Of diamonds weighing one and q
half carats each. In the center was an
immense pearl surrounded by still larger
diamonds.
Evidently Mrs. Graves maid was very
forgetful person IN packing up her mis-.
tress' effects, for in the backs Of hair
brushes, tooth brushes and other articles
Of toilet were found brooch set with six
large brilliants, six rings, a scarf pin,
three sets OF earrings and several smaller
brooches. 1t seemed to relieve Mrs.
Graves mind to know that oil the jewolry
she had missed had only boon misplaced
All the jewels, Captain Bracket says,
will be confscated, but 1t Is doubtful
whether Mr.. Grav es will be prosecuted,
though both he and his wife were held in
5000 bail by United States Commissioner
Shields yes erday. The discovery of his
property In its odd hiding places has been
too much for NJ. Graves, and he was
quite Frustrated yesterday.