The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-11-23
Had He Not Given Way 10 Il He Would Not
Now Be Accused Before a Court.
THE POWER THAT CAUSED ARREST
Agents Of an Association Of Diamond Dealers Who
Dohot Engage in Smuggling Precious Stones
Took The FIB, StepThs Result.


States via Canada, is likely to be known
for many long year in tho jewelry trade,
has set all the old timers among tho dia-
inond dealers of this town 20 relating their
"reminiscences
For the benefit of those who have not
kopt close tabs on this case IL may he ex-
plained that Lasar is well known in the
diamond trade and that he has long been
suspected OF being a smuggler. But while
the more reputable among the diamond
dealers as we'll as tho United States au-
thorities have been anxious 70 detect the
man and ~unish him II guilty there has
hitherto been nothing really tangible 10
bring up against him. Nor would it now
have been feasible even to formulate
charges against him were il not that he
showed too great weakness for pretty
face during the voyage 10 this country al
legged to have been undertaken for Snug
Cling purposes. This pretty face belonged
TO an English girl called Ivy Crurede. She
came TO this country in his company. She
says he promised To marry her although
he already had wife When he cast her
off, she told the story on which the charges
against him are based
unpublished Parts of the story.
This much of the story has been publish.
ed in detail by all the New York newspa-
pers and many outside but, as often hap
pens In cases OF this sort there are unpub-
lished bits which are quito as interesting
as any that have seen the light or more so.
Lasar's arrest was chiefly brought about
not by the United States authorities, but
by agents Of an association composed OF
those diamond dealers I'm New York who
pride themselves upon their perfect free
dom from completely in any smuggling
operations. II Is manifestly TO their adj
vantage to prevent the bringing in OF dia.
fnonds duty free, since sinuggled stones
can be sold much below the legitimatsly
imported ones, making tho most disas-
trous sort Of competition against honest
houses possible. So damaging to the legit-
innate dealers Is this competition that they
can well afford to keep force OF trained
private detectives constantly on the watch,
and while these do not often make as big
a haul as tho present one they are con
stantly showing up minor smugglers, and
the illegitimate trade is kept in continual
subsection by the mere fact that their de-
tectives are known to be always on duty.
Some allusion TO this has been made In
print, but ,t has not been stated, so far as
j know, that the most strenuous attempts
were made by some person or persons to
keep Ivy Cruredc from coming TO this coun-
try Mt oil to testify against I.asar. More
over, these Efforts all but succeeded. She
was ready to embark at Liverpool for
America some months ago, and those inter
ested in the prosecution were looking for
her in New York by certain steamer
When il arrived without hor vigorous
Investigation was made, and this led TO the
discovery that she had been met at Liver
pool when about to go aboard the ship by n
person who assured her that Lasar was
then in London waiting TO marry her.
Believing this, she returned 10 London,
where she was hidden 10 await Lasar.
There she remained until she had become
satisfied that he did not mean to rejoin
her, and there sho was again located by
the prosecution.
4 Real Life Drama.
Ivy Crurede is not woman OF striking
personal appearances in ordinary circun1-
stances. Those who saw her when she
first appeared on tho witness stand in
1.-The big diamond case" voted her almost
plain, but there was n transformation
when she was reused. Then her eyes be-
gan To grow deep and luminous, her
checks took on new and particularly be-
coming color, and when she turned TO de
notlpco I.asar personally she. was a yerlta-
Bio tragedy. quecn ia hppcafance, r.A
i, rt was agreed pI .iii3fc than oneof those
who witiicssed, this episode of tho trial
that II she could Simulate on tho Stage any
such dramatic feeling and fervor as that
which sho then displayed she could surely
take high place among the worlds most
noted theatrical stars,
There is not tragedy artistic any
where" said one OF the spectators in the
courtroom. "who would not have been
able 60 derive instruction from witnessing
Ivy Crurede's magnificent display OF grief,
passion. hatred and despair 40 that mo-
inent. Yet do not suppose that any one
I'm any way directly connected with tho
theater was present 10 take advantage Of
the impromptu lesson. The big diamond
case Is an exciting act In an interesting
real life drama, and Ivy Cruredes denun-
citation OF basar was one Of its most thrill
ing scenes.
Diamond Smuggling.
II Is naturally easier TO sinugglc dia.
Ironds than any other article human he.
ings use or covet They are 10 small that
stones worth $50, 900 can be hidden In the
followed out heel of ones shoe and the
profit on them is so great that smurgler
brinpinr thciu in can afford 90 travel all
sorts ot roundabout aud little Known
routes and pay toe expcnse of having
clever confedcrntcs ready at all times 60
assist in Keeping the stoiies odt OF tho
hnnds OF tho aathnrltias----
thus many smugklcrs can do ss Lasar
Is enid 60 have done-gct the diamonds
rafoly into Canada and then work thcni
across the line through the aid Of person..
entirely without the pale Of suspicion and
sometimes altogether without guilty
knowledge. Diamonds have been brought