The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-12-21
SOME SMART ROGUES.
CLEVER SCHEMES BY WHICH JEW
ElERS HAVE BEEN DUPED.

! One Swindlcr Who Could Make Gen.
ulnc Sapphires and Another Who
Could Produce Gold From Copper
and sllver-A Princes Present.
| Some time ago a quietly dressed man
entered the shop of famous Partisan dia.
mond merchant and requested to 500 the
proprietor. On his wish being granted, he
drew from his pocket a little packet of
| blue gems and spread them before the
jewelor, asking for candid opinion upon
their merits.
"Sapphiros!' exclaimed tho jeweler.
every fine ones. Do you wish to sell
thems"
''Do you wish to buy them and as many
others as can maker" returned the WIS.,
\ itor quietly.
/ make! don't follow you'll"
II made those sapphires, but defy you
\ to discover Jaw in Them" explained the
visitor, with somo show of pride, and he
Hent on to state no had discovered meth
cd of making, not sham gems, but real
! ores.
The jewe!or was incredulous; the gems
before him wero unquestionably genuine.
"Well, III let you have that lot for 30
francs" replied tho inventor, land can
make you airy number you like at francs
each, and you must know that they are
worth from 40 to so francs each. Tho fact
i is want you to enter into partnership
with mo for tho manufacture and sale of
these CONS. III manufacture, and you
can sell, and in this way we can work in
secret and scoop the market"
Tho bated sSeath of the dealer in precious
stones was fairly taken out of his body by
this noble offer, and he, having bought the
, sapphires at the price asked said he would
think the matter over and give his do
cision II tho inventor would call next day,
ard tho inventor departed.
No sooner had no gone than the dealer
rushed to his testing room and put his
newly acquired sapphires to every possible
test. What could it mean? They were
undoubtedly real! How could he suspect
fraud when tho seller had parted with
them for less than tenth part of their
rough value? No, his fortune was made.
A few days later he visited tho labora-
tory of his scientific visitor and had some
genuine sapphiros manufactured while he
waited That clinched the matter Thirty
hours after ho signed deed of partnership
WIN btNHOispj phAA oNSi ti' n''.i ~
5000 In hard cash as first installmeEt Of
tho $50, coo which was the price of half
the secret.
Next morning the scientist left his abode
with SO, 900 on his person, smiling grimly
rs be locked for the last time round his
ostcntatious laboratory, chuckling at the
thought Of how he had set sprat to catch
whale-that is, 500 francs worth of gen
uine sapphircs for 5000 genuine sover-
oigns!
Tho idea Of manufacturing genuine
precious stones and metals at cost which
admits of profit being made Is notion
Offering such boundless fortunes to any
ono who could invent the process that
I even tho most wary business men have
been defrauded by persons who have
claimed ability to work the wonder. Prob
ably the majority of such fraudulent
schemes have been in connection with
: either the making of gold from some other
mineral Or minerals or Of extracting gold
in paying quantities from sources where
1t exists In tho most minute quantities.
4 for example, the oceans. But ono OF the
most audacious and at tho same time
4 successful of such swiudles was perpetrated
in Austria q few years since.
A self styled scientist stated that he had
discovered process by which an admi1-
: ture Of silver and copper could DO turned
into two thirds its weight of tho purest
gold that could be discovered, and as the
4 process was remarkably Inexpensive and
! tho admiyture was az of copper with Ia
of silver tho scheme smackod of fortunes
= parallel only to national debts This mar
Z velous scheme was put before some of tho
Il wealthiest dealers in precious stones and
metals, who wero previously bound under
4 q penalty not to disclose any Of tho secrets
Of the process.
Demonstrations Of certain portions of
the process were made privately before
each of tho gentlemen who had boon gen
erously invited to become rich by the
\ scheme, and 60 cleverly were these demon
= strations made that the pseudo scientist
Il had but little difficulty in persuading eight
q men of wealth to form u secret and select
syndicate to work his process. With Il
4 view to improving his inventions, the sci
= enlist occupied in making further expert
4 ments all tho time which was necessary
y for him to get in his victims Investments,
a and then ho proved how money making
= his scheme was by clipping with nearly
d 10000
= A we'll dressed gentleman walked into a
. Vienna jewelry establishment on one
! occasion and requested tho manager to
) send an assortment If diamond necklaces
j and bracelets to Count Something or other
! at one of the best hotels in the town dur
ing the course of tho day. Tho manager,
who easily recognized in his customer the
E personality Of one CT the first princes in
s. j,1 mi ,,ri,nni nv IN inh
: might have melted the sefsamc din.
monds, that the esteemed order should be
Is complied with, Ho not unnaturally con-
cludcd that tho prince was travelling in
d cognlto, for there could be no question as
to who Count Something or other really
was
The jewels were taken to tho counts
hotel later in the day by the manager
himself, who could not do honor enough
to the royal customer. During the exami
nation of the jewels the manager let out
that no detected the counts identity,
whoreupon tho latter professed intense
annoyance and begged the manager to lie
discreet, Gs no particularly desired his
presence In Vienna to be absolutely secret.
He had come unattended with that ex-
press intention. Finally, after much in
decision, he selected 90, 600 francs worth
N " jowelry, which he directed should be
sent round to the flat Of a then famous
singer, bearing no indication Of whence II
emanated beyond being tied up In q par
n ticular way, He would DO leaving Vienna
that evening and on reaching Berlin
would forward full remittance.
In dealing with royal personagcs 1t is
4 gross mpertinence to think of the pay.
ment, so tho case of jewels was sent as d.
y pccted, and 1t was takon In and signed fol-
by one Of the servants of tho fat, who the
game evening elopcd with the prince and
s sought other climates.
The prince, whose personality tho jewel
or had SO smartly detected, was q super al
III tho theatcr whcro nightly sang the singer
who did not get tho diamonds The maid
81 who did get them was engaged to thu
n prncely super, and, as has been seen, shs
g acted up TO her engagement and likewise
n brought her husband very handsome dot
n London Tit Bits
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n A Days Do'ngs.
IN baorItf,,i 4 'l,;ut sn,varir -, /, N