Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-12
MYSTERY OF A RUBY.
Story of a Gem Sold to a JeweIer In
Jamaica by COolie Woman.
From the New York Sim

Story of a Gem Sold to n Jeweler In
Jamaica by n COolie Woman.
From the New York Sun.
Toward the close of the year 1888 coolie
woman who had recently disembarked from
an Indian emigrant ship entered jewelers
shop IT. the seaport town of Montego Bay,
in Jamaica, and offered u large, peculiar
locking stone for sale. She was evidently
unaware that any peculiar value attached
|" II except as curiosity, and readily
parted with it for small sum.
The jeweler himself scarcely realized the
Importance OF the transaction until after
me appilcation of severe tests. he found
himself the posse OF what appeared to
be ruby OF extraordinary size and great
value. His good fortune almost overwhelm-
&c him, but he was a shrewd and cautious
man, German, and kept his secret. His
business, already a prosperous one having
lfC reaSed, he removed to Kingston, the
Chief town, and. taking his brother into
partnership, established himself there One
me morning few months later he took
a steamer TO New York ostensibly on d
business trip. The jewel went with him
Arriving there, he obtained reports from
experts on his treasure. All assured him
that the gem was genuine and of immense
value He then cautiously opened negotia
tIoaS with the dealers. The result was al
most beyond his hopes, but not entirely to
his satisfaction the highest sum offered
Tor mis- ruby Was enormous, but not equal
to what he considered to be its actual value
He sailed for London, had reports from
other experts, and obtained other offers,
but, still remaining unsatisted. he return
cd TO Jamaica. He was now keenly alive
to the value OF his possession, and was by
no means lnciined to part with it for a
sum below It's actual worth
In the meantime mis- business affairs in
jamaica had become complicated, and the
branch bank in Jamaica of the Colonial
Bank of London was threatening him with
bankruptcy proceedings on account of over
uEe bills of exchange once more he sail
ed for London with the ruby, and. in order
to stay the bankruptcy proce adings until
he could find a purchaser. and as security
Tor his debt, he deposited the stone with
the bank. 1t Is stated that, prior to the
banks taking over the ruby as security.
the stone Was once more submit tied an
expert, and his report Was satisfactory.
This, however, Is denied by the bank OIL
ciais, and in the light of subsequent events
the denial is important.
Unable to tinu purchaser willing to give
his price, the teweler applied for further
advances on the security of the stone
The bank agreed, but prior to handing over
the money decided to have another test
made. The stone was submitted to a IA
nous jeweler OF London, and the result
surprising. He pronounced the jewel
tc be merely paste and absolutely worth
less. On this report the bank returned the
ruby to the owner, refused the advance,
ard cabled Instructions to the Jamaica
ings. This was done. and the jeweler was
declared bankrupt and forced to leave the
country At the present day he is living
IL. ore of the American states. merely a
workman, and practically a ruined man.
The jewel returned by the bank was un-
doubtedly an imitation and but clumsy
imitation at that, but here the mystery Of
this case arises. The stone bought by the
jeweler was undoubtedly genuine. Experts
of the highest repute declared 1t to be So
and dealers emphasized the opinion by Of
fers of hard cash. But the stone finally
tested was merely, the expert stated
colored paste. That the original stone was
stolen and an imitation substituted appears
to be the only solution. How or by whom
the substitution was effected has never been
discovered. The bank officials were able
to exonerate themselves from all respon-
sbi]ity in the matter. and the Scotland
Yard authorities declared that the theft
could not have occurred while the stone
was in the possession of the bank If
stolen, the ruby has never reappeared on
the market. and its mystery seems as far
fl ON solution as ever.