The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-17
DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND.
NO HONOR AMONG SOUTH ARR.
CAN DIAMOND THIEVES.

Out of the Country-Spurious Stones
Play Their Part-nlicit Traffic by Out
siders.
Cope TotUn Letter an 50. Louis Globe Democrat
Illicit diamond buying has been carried
on to such an extent in South America that
it has been computed by those competent to
judge that stones TO the svalue Of not less
than 600, 900 have been lost to she conpa-
MES engaged in this industry In one year.
This, in my opinion, is low figure, as
am acquainted with one man, a Jew, who
Is now engaged not far from Hatton
Gardens, London, who was caught trying
20 smuggle a parcel Of diamonds scross the
free state border which weighed close on
four pounds and was valued at e5O,000, IL
Iremember right he got five years impris,
onment for his foolhardy attempt.
As a rule when fairly good parcel OF
stuff has been got together by those en-
gagged it is either disposed of to large buyers
on the field or run out Of the colony at the
owners risk. A family of Jews had a good
system. Father and sons carried on opera
tons in Kimberley, while the daughter
took periodical visits to England with the
stones bought during her previous absence
concealed on her person. Another large
buyer paid very handsome salary to q
man to run his property over to the free
state. This man. not being satisfied with
his pay. took 20 tamperlng with the parcels
committed to his charge, but being dis
covered was dismissed. He then volun-
teered bis services to the detective force
and trapped over a dozen people, ten Of
whom were caught, nine convicted and
sentenced to terms Of mprison ment ranging
from five TO nine years each.
The people engaged in the illicit diamond
traffic are often respected and licensed buy
ers and are not confined to any class or
nationality. Although Jews predominant,
Europe is well represented, so are India and
China, and the black and white elements of
Africa itself are not behind. Women are
particularly ready to enter into this
trade, and many of them have
been very successful. Others have
had TO pay the penalty by retir-
ing from active life for few years. There
is fascination to those engaged ia this
business that far excels all other systems OF
gambling. / have met several men who
have done long periods in the chain-g gangs
for this crime, and after being discharged
from prison can no more resist the tempta-
ton to buy than if they had never suffered
for it. The fact has been 80 apparent In the
past that the judges are empowered to pass
sentence which includes Punishment from
Griqualand West.
The mines are worked entirely by native
labor. Every ten or fifteen men have
white overseer In charge, who receiver per-
csntage of all the stones he or his men may
pick up while working the blue ground.
This system has been recently altered, the
oVerseers now receive q fixed salary.) This
Is practically a premium on his vigilance,
but in spite of the closest watching some of
the boys are so smart that they can pick up
and conceal gems about their person in che
most inconceivable manner. The ear, nos
trils and mouth form receptacles for the
gems, and sometimes they will elude the
Eeenest search by mating it into their
woolly hair.
Kaffin's countenance Is so immovable
that it Is impossible TO read 1t; looking
straight at his overseer he will work a dia-
mond between his toes and retain it there
until an opportunity offers to remove IL. A
dog has often been utilized for this purpose
II the stones Ia valuable and IL 1t is risky to
fix it am ong the wiry hair, it is rolled in a
piece of meat and the animal forced to swal-
lowed IT, At night the dog is dubbed and
the gem extracted from his stomach. In
the early days this ended the trouble.
There was no difficulty in getting rid Of
the stuff as no sooner were the natives
clear of the works than they were met by
the boys engaged by the buyers to bring
them TO their house, where bargain was
struck and the money paid. Since the com
pound system has been introduced IL is
much more difficult for the native 60 get
rid of his plumber as he is compelled to
stay within the compeny's grounds until he
has completed his engagement. Before be-
ing discharged he is very carefully searched,
Likewise every article in his possession.
A. few months ago a native was being
searched after having finished his time. On
coming into the office he threw his stick,
coat, hat and other garments on the floor In
the most careless fashion. The clef searcher
was struck by the remarkable Workmanship
OF the walking-stick, which was made OF the
skin OF a cows tail, drawn, dried, dressed
and beautifully bound round the handle
with thin copper wire. One Of the wires
bad come slightly loose. He pulled it open
and saw something that aroused his sus-
picion. He Immediately cut 1t open and
out rolled few diamonds of great beauty,
which were roughly valued at goo. IL Is
useless TO say that this boy was not dis
charged, but had be got clear The would
most likely have received about ESQ for his
parcel.
A young Irishman who was floor mama
ger 10 one Of the oompany's stores frequently
bought stones from the boys In his charge
Europeans are not always searched, but on
this particular day "Pat" was called up to
the Office to be gone through. He was in a
proper fix, as be had just bought over if
teen carats Of small stuff which had in his
mouth. There was no alternative; he must
go over; 30 after the rich mouthful he stuck
great qutd or tobacco in his mouth and
marched up to the officer. whats this"
said the searcher. tapping Pats protruding
cheek. "Sure, it's rale beauty" sal Pat,
shooting out his tongue with about an ounce
OF weed rolled around the point.
Success In the illicit trade is like almost
every other business in so far as ca pital is
concerned, but to carry it on with safety it
requires an amount OF discretion and ability
far above the average. The most important
part is to be able to value a stone correctly,
which Is undoubtedly a very hard matter,
as they vary in value from few shillings
per carat to many pounds. The next thing
is 60 be sure OF your man. Is he bona fide
seller or "trspW A question OF great i'm
portance, for IL he be trap" it means
very serious trouble; on the other hand, you
may clear or lose few pounds, according
to the correctness Of your valuation.
1t is also not unlikely that the stone Is
only an imitstion In illustration OF this
shall relate an anecdote heard about man
who was pointed out to me on the market
square at Kimberley, and known 90 his
friends as "Biddyn-qulte character In
his way, and no smarter mechanic ever
tried on shoe leather than he Unfortun-
ately, he had propensity to turn his genius
to dishonest purposes, and thereby robbed
m ~. % wahi q