The evening times., 1898-11-15
FORTUNE In GEMS
CONTESTED IN COURT
STORY OFF THE LAsAR DIAMONDS
VIII Determine the Ownership of
Sixty Thousand Dollars Worth
Jewels.


New York, Nov. 15.-Oficially, the case
which engaged the attention of the Unit
ed States District Court yesterday is
known as The United States against GER
tain diamonds claimed by Max j. Lasar.
Government agents have said these jew
els, which are worth nearly $4,000, were
smuggled, and this suit, in deciding their
ownership. as between the United States
and Max ]. Lasar, will decide that ques-
ton also.
This Lasar case is one of the most i'm
portant in the annals of the New York
custom house. Many complaints by jew
elers that the market was flooded with
diamonds offered below cost, with duty
added, led to an investigation last year,
and on December / Emanuel j. Lasar
a saloonkeeper, of No. 176 Chambers
Street, and his wife were arrested by
Z Treasury agents on a charge of diamond
smuggling, and held in 5000 bail each.
Special agents visited the store of Max
j. Lasar. at No "a Maiden Lane, and
seized $50. 600 worth of unset stones, which
the authorities say the jewelers. brother
and sister-in-law smuggled They say the
Illegal entry was obtained by way of
Canada. Max Lasar was not found until
two days later, when he had 10 furnish
a bond of the same amount as the others.
Government detectives spent months
thereafter in gathering evidence in this
, case. rather sensational event drew
renewed attention to ii only three weeks
ago. William Theobald had visited Eng
land and brought hither Miss Ivy Cru
rede, who, the authorities say accompan-
..v r-s. faE lfs.ss.4
smuggling was done. Theobald and w.
j. Flynn, another detective, took this
young woman and a chaperon 10 various
: summer resorts, lest she should be ap-
preached.
They noticed that a man was following
them everywhere, and on October %
caused his arrest He was George w.
Mayers, a detective employed in a pri-
/ vate agency. and said he had been paid
to keep Miss Crurede in sight. His diary
. showed that he had followed her for
three weeks. Charges of attempted hrib-
! cry were talked of, but Mayors was re-
/ leased next day. Miss Crurede is one of
! the Governments most important wit
| nesses.
/ That the case will be bitterly fought
was shown by the lawyers tactics when
/ il came up yesterday before Judge Addi-
son Brown. United States district Attor-
ney Addison Burnett, with two assistants,
appeared as prosecutor, while former
/ Judge Dittenhoefer. Abraham Levy and
former Police Commissioner Murray
We're there for Lasar, Every possible
technicality was stubbornly fought over.
Seated together on one of the specta :
/ tors benches We're f. J. Lasar and his
wife and Max Lasar. Though not ap-
pearing personally in the civil suit they
are. OF course. yitaIly interested, and
they listened closely to the proceedings.
( Not ten feet away sat Miss Crurede.
wearing becoming hat OF dark blue
/ felt.
only two witnesses were called. Theo-
! bald told the circumstances of the seiz-
ure of the jewels from safe in Max
Lasar's office The line of defense show
ed that every effort will be made To pre-
vent proof that the diamonds seized are
/ identical ones that did mot pay duty
George w Minded an examiner at the
/ Government stores. identified his report
/ on the consignment, the total value be-
ing $52. .7l2.1S. To which 10 per cent should
be added for duty.