Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-09
STORY OF FAMOUS FRAUDS
The KeeIy Motor But One of
Many.
Sailing n Diamond, Mine How Fifty
Pounds of d: ems Planted ia Color
ado Boro Rich Fruit--Advcnturcs
Ofan AIastian AIchenist.
(san Francisco chroniclc.)

(San Francisco Clfroniclc)
The sensational announcement that
the Keely motor, the promise OF whose
marvellous powers has for Il score of
years thrilled the eHpectant world.
turns out to have been II fraud from
beginning to end, as most people be-
lieved it was, sustained by all manner
of cunning devices. of which the public
has so far only received an inkling,
calls to mind numerous notable decep-
tons that have from time to time been
perpetrated upon our shrewd hard
headed and astute modern civilization.
The most dazzling swindle ever per-
pctrated upon Il trusting public was
launched in san Francisco on the LIST
OF August. 1872. when it went literally
crazy with excitement over the an
nouncement made by men whose very
names seemed to carry convincing
proof OF its reliability that diamond
iields of inconceivable richness had
been discovered in Northwestern Colu-
RADIO at Il point about forty-five miles
south of Black Butte, ana near the
Wyoming line. That very evening i
formal meeting was solemnly called at
the Grand Hotel, to which members of
the press were Invited, and George ID.
Roberts. speaking for his associates.
entered into a detailed explanation of
the new discoveries, stating that the
tract covered not less than 1000 acres
ana that mere eurfacc prospecting
with II pan in the hands of two men
hau resulted in the recovery Of between
$4,000 and 100000 worth OF precious
stones, comprising diamonds of the
pureSt water. rubies, garnetS, sap
pnifc5, amethyStS and emeralds.
RICH DIAMOND FIELD.
lie presented Il report from tho celc-
brated local mining expert. Henry Ja-
Mn, who had carefully examined the
ground with n limit of $50 acres and
defined its character as u gcm-produc-
lnS region in glowing terms. Roberts
added that he would decline to give
private reports which he had received
as to its richness, but that with two
mountain streams close by whose
waters could he utilized for hydraulic
washing. the future development OF
the district was almost beyond the
power OF man to compute. His asscr-
lions were supported, by such men as
William G. ltalston, Thomas Bell, Mil
Ton >. Latham. Albert Gansi General
David II. Cotton. William T.. BabcoclI.
Thomas IL. Sclby, Louis Sloss. William
NJ Lent, Maurice Dorc. a. Harpcnding
General Dodge and S. L. NJ Barlow
ana George Il. Mcclellan, Of New York
the san Francisco and New York Min
ing and Commercial Company. which
had been incorporated to devotion tho
diamonds fields, and all of whom had
sincere faith in the discovery Fifteen
thousand shares Of tho stock were is
sued at II par value OF $40 and in less
than twenty-four hours all had been
subscribed for and people were CRYING
for more.
Ralston accepted The Office Of treas
urer on the condition that all the stock
should remain in his hands until the
presence of the precious stones should
be verified by the highest authority.
ana this fact saved many of San Fran
cisco'S first citizens from hopeless ruin
Clarence King was called upon to make
searching examination of the field
and simultaneously J. T. Berry. n we'll
known mining expert and operator of
san Francisco. undertook n pcrsonul
Inspection of The ground on his own ac-
count. Berry. who was somewhat of
connoisscur in gems, ut once pro-
nounced the diamonds to be gems; from
inc cape of Good Hope. with u few Rio
Ianeiro stones. and Clarence KINGS
oiilclai report. offered a few DAYS later
confirmed the growing apprehension
thIt the whole scheme was n swindlc
rcrpetraied by Arnold and Slack. the
alleged original dscovcrers. who had
all This time kent quietly ana wisely
.'' '''c pdthSiouni. The SWtndlcrS fled
to parts unknown
M, Afterward J. T. Cooper, of san Fran
cisco, made n fun confession of tia
whole sWindle, duplicating himself.
SLACK ana Arnold. and relating the
manner in which Rubery. Roberts
ifarpending and General Dodge had
beer yictimnized. Arnold. acting for
inc trio. had bought fifty pounds of
sniheIle rubes garnets. sapphires ana
Other stones from the Indians at Fort
Defiance. y. T.. ana with $il 900 worth
OF rough diamond and other precious
Stones previously purchased in London.
had carefully selected the Colorado
held with Wow OF It's favorable geo
logical conditions. ana spent several
days in sailing the tract after most
plausible and scientific plan.
Then they decoyed Louis Janin AR
Iiarpendinf and General Dodge To thc
heids' artfuny demonstrated the pres-
ence OF the gems. surveyed the ground
elected General Dodge recorder Of The
Golconda district and the most pic
amresque swindle of the century was
ALsArIAN CHEMIST.
Foremost in tl,, ranks ne tt, ,.o,,,.