Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-05-01
DIAMOND POLICE.
Precautions Taken in Africa Againt
Theft OF these Precious Stones.


gentleman lately from the diamond
mines at Cape Colony said. "Thcy
are incoruptible, although you may
hardly believe it. John Fry their
chief, is most remarkable man and
has the best memory of any man l
have ever met. He was formerly
Judge. His present position is one
of tho greatest Importance in South
Africa. He is about 80 years Of age
and very quiet in his manner He
has under him many white detectives,
each of whom employs forty or fifty
black men and women to aid them in
discovering the theft of diamonds
from the mines"
"Arc many diamonds stolen?'
''In the thirteen years that the dia-
mond mines around the Cnpc have
been worked. more than Sl3,O00,000
worth Of diamonds have been stolen.
The miners are Caffres. who steal The
diamonds every chance they get.
Take, or..instance, the diamond mines
in Kimberley, which are two miles
in diameter. In them arc forty or fifty
mining companies and nearly 10000
miners and other employees. The
diamonds are imbcddcd in dark-col-
orcd rock, which is blasted out. The
fragments containing the gems are
spread out ON level field and left
to the action of the atmosphere. In
II few weeks the rocks crumblc away
and the diamonds are gathered. lii
blasting ont the rocks there are often
found free diamonds. which the mi
ners try to steal. The Kaiirs arc di-
vided into squads of ten or fifteen,
which are under whit oversecr, who
never turns his back on them. Ii one
of the Kafirs can pick up free dia-
mond without being seen. he imne-
diatcly swallows it. That is the only
way they can conceal it, US they arc
searched before and after they go into
the mines"
"Where are they searched?'
SIN houses built for the purpose.
When man goes to work he first
enters the searching houses, as they
are called, where he is compelled to
remove all his garments and to put on
canvas trousers and jackct which
have no pockets in them. On their
return from work they are again
searched, after which they arc allow
cd to change the canvas suit for their
own clothing. The scarchers receive
$40 Il week salary. But these precall-
tions by no means prevent the steal
ing, but these precautions keep the
stcalings down to Il very large extent.
The searching, however, il only Il
small matter compared with the other
precautions
"W hat are theyg"
'Unlcss the diamonds can be dis
posed OF after they arc stolen there il
little good III stealing them, and
to prevent the sale of stolen diamonds
tho diamond police have done mnch.
Each diamond buyer, sellers, cutter
and broker must have u license from
the Government. Tho licensed dia-
mond buyer must have Il register, in
which he is required to enter the size,
weight and appearance of each dia-
mond that he buys, the name of the
person from whom hc buys it and the
price paid. He must also enter OH
the same register each diamond that
nc sells and the namc OF the person to
whom he sells it. If he is suspected
OF buying stolen diamonds, the dia
mond police quietly seal up his plac.
and compare his stock and the records
ON the register. If they do not tally
and it is apparent he has been buying
stolen diamonds, he is sent to tho
prison to await trial. Ii he is convict
cd, he may be sentanccd anywhere
from five to twenty years imprison
ment. Ii n man buys on sells dia
Inonds without license he is subject
to the same penalty
"N hat is the cost of liccnscy'
''The license itself costs $1,000 /,
year, but in addition tho applicant
must deposit 10000 to be used as bal
for himself il arrested"
"How often are the registers exam
ined?"
"At the end of each month they IN,
sent to MIR. Fry, who examines ant
compares them. Ii some Of them up
pear suspicious even, Fry has tn,
right to close up the dealers plac,
and to examine their stock. He ha'
also the power OF Il magistrate. He i,
so sharp that he can detect a disclcp
ancy at glance
SIS it not possible to buy and sci
stolen diamonds without being founl
out Z"
"Anything is possible, but there il
Il great risk. Ii n person without /
license buys or sells single diamond
he knows that il he is found out III
may pass the next fifteen years Of Iii
life behind the prison bars. The diu
mond police have secret agents, boti
white and black. Many OF the black
are woman. III Il miner is suspected
of stealing diamonds, one or more o
these secret agents are told to watcl
, him. The agent makes the miner
acquaintance in Il casual way, guin
confidence and has him locked NJ
Any diamond broker who is suspect
cd Of buying stolen diamond il nls'
watched. The police send Il Kali
who is in their employ to him with
diamond to sell. If the broker buy
it he is Immediately arrested and tn
diamond found in his possession j
used as evidence against him on hi
, tvia1n