The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-04-05
DIAMOND SMUGGLING.
The Ease With Which Precious
Stones of Large Value May Be Con-
cealed.

The Ease With Which Precious
Stones of Large Value May Be Con-
cealed.
One of the simplest devices for SNUG
Cling diamonds is that of the hollow
heeled shoe. 1t is asserted that boots
and shoes constructed so as to leave a
small vavant space in the heels are
easily obtained in Europe, and they are
especially manufactured for the pur-
pose of supplying smugglers with a
means for escaping detection.
The porous plaster has often served
as means of secreting diamonds.
When it is understood that $4,000
worth of diamonds or more can easily
be inclosed in a paper parcel about as
wide as this column, 1-2 inches high
and about a quarter of an inch thick,
it is easy to comprehend that such
package can be kept securely in place
by means Of an innocent but highly
scrviceable porous plaster.
One Of the most ingenious methods
ever employed was the use of cake
of soap, wherein number Of diamonds
had been imbedded. It is highly pro-
bable that this plan would have proved
successful had it not been that the Of
ticers of the government had received
information that the suspected person
had diamonds with him, and searched
his effects so thoroughly that they ex-
amined even the gem-studded block Of
soap.
| The wife of this smuggler helped her
| Spouse and her plan was not less in
| geniOus than that Of her husband. Her
| hat was ornamented with punches Of
! grapes, which under ordinary circum-
! stances would only have awakened the
| envy Of other Welrers of bOnnets.
Within the grapes were diamonds and
fancy stones of great value.
Another smuggler was specially pro-
| vided by providence with q smuggling
device in the shape Of heavy covering
of thick, bushy hair, which he arrang-
ed sa that it stood up from his fore
head like an impenetrable bush. With
in this mass of heavy hair he deposited
Il goodly stock Of diamonds, and sue
ceeded for a time in escaping the 'vigi-
lance of the custom house officials
! AS these schemes have become
| known to the custom house authorities
| the ingenuity Of smugglers has been
more severely taxed. A recent discov.
cry disclosed the following elaborate
plan, which succeeded a great many
times before it was discovered.
Two smuggleIS operated in partner.
ship. The first crossed the ocean, and
before leaving The wharf reserved a re
turn berth for a certain date. The date
and the number of the berth were al
once cabte1 to his acconaplice il
America. Having purchased his dia
monds, in due time he returned to this
country in accordance with the instruc
tons previously cabled. No amour
Of examiEa ton resulted in finding any
diamonds upon his person. Meanwhile
however, his partner had secured thu
same berth.
When the day for sailing came, part
ner No. 2, accompanied by his family
entered the cabin and extracted from ;
secure hiding place several parcels o:
diamonds left there by mis- accomplish
These ne handed to his fearful family
who, after bidding h1an good-by, lef
the steamer unsuspected and brough
the diamonds into market. It took
long time to discover this scheme.--Jew
elers' Weekly.