Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-21
GAMBLERS GEMS.
Why Ivory Speculat Ors Invest Their Cash

Gamblers are AMONG the hes

Gamblers are among the best Gus
toners we have" said a welI~known
diamond-broker yesterday. ''They buy
better stones than most people, and
pay better prices. You see, he con-
tinued, ''they buy only when flush, and
then a thoroughbred Spectator in
worries will not stop at a few hundred
dollars"
''Whv is it that gamblers are so fond
of diamonds?' ''Well, there are many
reasons, why gamblers buy diamonds, "
was the response. You see" he con-
tinued, whenever man feels like a
four-time winner he puts what money
he can into good stones. These he
knows have a permanent value, and
can be turned into ready cash with
greater facility than any other OF his
chattels. If he puts his money into
real estate and wishes to dispose of the
latter, days must elapse before a sale
can be made and the title searched.
Horses and carriages are liable to in
jury and a depreciation in value, but
with diamonds it is different. Should
a man make loser playing bank he
can obtain ready cash at few hours
notice by selling or soaking his gems.
1t is the work of a few minutes to test
stone, and the gam soon has money
in his pocket.
Then, too, it must be remembered
the class of men of which we speak
generally have no settled habitation.
They migrate from place to place. In
moving about they can carry their
diamonds, and are thus ready for any
emergency. They could not carry
houses and lots. Then, again, they are,
as a rule, men who like to appear
wealthy, and diamonds, it must be con-
fessed, do give man the appearance
of affiuencc."
"Who that you know has the most
valuable diamond?'' was asked of Mr..
Z. M. Cattle, who was seen in his
office under the Coleman house.
Il think that Sheedy has," was the
reply. ''Mr. Sheedy has great deal
of money invested in diamonds, many
of which are large and remarkable for
their purity. Some time ago he bought
two and had them set in gold bands for
bracelets for his wife Each stone
weighed 4 carats, and the pair cost
over s., 900. He also purchased a pair
of solitaire earrings for Mrs. Sheedy
that cost 81, 500. He has a 53-carat
stone that he values at $1,000. Gus
Abel has fine large stone set in a ring
| that is valued at more than $1,000.
Dayy johnson has one weighing nearly
two carats in ring in a gypsy setting.
Larry O'Brien has cluster scarf-pin
! worth $500 and a ring valued at the
same. Matt Corbitt, who went to New
| Orleans with Pat Sheedy, wears $4,000
| worth OF first-water gems. Al Smith
| has several very fine diamonds. Ned
| Jones wears a handsome old mine stone
in heavy gold ring. Henry Morrison
has an odd and valuable diamond-set-
locket. Marty Malone has several fine
gems set in rings and scarf-pins. Bud
Kirby has large single stone in a
scarf-pin that always secures Bud a
! position as hotel clerk when his usual
vocation is dull. Sam Emery and
| George Brotherton run over from
| Philadelphia occasionally, and some
times lend the railroad company their
| scarf-pins for locomotive headlights.
Johnnie Condor leads Chicago sports
| in the diamond line. Johnnie is worth
| Sl,UOU,UOO, anu HAS mauJ LuOuSduuS
| invested in diamonds, as has also
! 'Parson" Davies.
Ridge Levien has a large diamond
| set in ring, and it never fails to at
tract attention. Little Charles Davis
sports a fine cluster scarf-pin, as does
Pete Delacy. The latter has also a
| handsome diamond ring. Pete Dawney
has two gems of the purest ray serene,
and John DAILY wears a handsome
solitaire scarf-pin.
.'Look at these" and Mr.. Cattle
drew from secret pocket q package
of unset diamonds ranking in size from
half carat to carat and half.
These will not be sold for some time.
The action of the authorities in sur
pressing gambling has, had a bad effect
on business of all kinds in this part OF
| the city. N-AelO York World.