Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-02-17
WAS SHEER LUCK.

-
Guznee reached Europe 1t created
widespread interest and took immedi-
ate rank with the historical stones of
the world, II was compared with the
nnest gems In the royal and imperial
regalla, savnnts wrote learned disqui.
sitlOns upon Its beauties, and the maya
zines and newspapers spoke of Its
value In u way that made ones mouth
water.
Among others whose envy was
aroused by the descriptions OF the
stone was a Mr., Lamorock, a gentle
man who had passed under many
aliases In his career and who had only
recently been released from Portland.
As he read of the great diamond
his eyes sparkled ut the thought of
Its worth. There II was $500, 900
and you could put II In your walstcoat
pocket.
The ex-convict, as he pondered over
the subject, knew the task was not an
easy one
without more ado he wrote short
note to ConRletOn & Co. the celebrated
diamond merchant Of Hatton Garden,
asking them II they would care to buy
some old fancy Jewels, and received
reply expressing their willingness to
inspect them. After studlously exam
lining the caligraphy OF their letter with
magnlfying lens he set himself to
practicing a number of curves and
hOurishes on sheet of paper. An
hours work seemed to satisfy him,
and he then indited the following
epistle;
"Hatton Garden. Jan. 4, 1896.
"Messrs Bonsfield Brothers.
Dear Slrs: As n client OF ours de-
sires TO inspect your pink diamond
known as The Light of Guznee,' with
view to purchase. we should feel
obliged II you would send It to us.
Our Mr.. Lamorock will call upon you
few hours after you receive this
letter, aud will bear note v0uching
for his identity. We shall be happy
to undertake all risk and responsible
ity for the stone from the time II Is
intrusted to the custody OF our repre-
sentative. and we beg to remain yours
faithfully, "Congleton a. Co"
When this production OF his pen and
brain had been carefully scrutinlZed,
he composed another short letter,
which stated that the bearer was Mr.
LamorOck, the representative Of Cong
Teton h Co. He then went out and
bought half dozen cigars, four OF
which he steamed open and unrolled.
Smearing the interior portion over
with dark, treacly liquid, he rolled
them up again with expert fingers
and put them into his case
The first letter he had written he
sent by registered post, going down to
Bristol by the same train that took
the mall. But Oh his arrival there he
waited for three hours so M to allow OF
II being delivered before calling. lie
then went to their Office and presented
his credentials. the genulneness OF
which were not for moment suspect
ed.
The Bristol firm thought II safe that
the stone should be under the custody
OF their own representative, and de
termined that one of their partners
young Harry Bonsield. should nc
company Lamorock up to London. tax
Ing II with him.
They had just seated themselves
comfortably and the train was already
In motion, when an elderly gentleman
with Jovial red face and black bushy
WHISPERS opened the door and bundled
himself In.
After the lapse OF n quarter OF an
hour he had talked their reserve away,
and proved himself so amusing com
panlon that tncy all became quite
friendly, and Lamorock, who had
grown suddenly amlablc, pressed the
others into accepting n cigar apiece.
The jolly faced Intruder was not TO
be outdone In hospitality. He opened
his handbag and with merry wink
produced flask Of curacoa, which the
lat 81 A..
able to them all
LamOrock, indeed, found the liquor
so delicious that he took two glasses
Before they got half through their
cigars he noticed with suspicion that
the conversation began to slackcn. and
that his companions showed n dispose
ton to go to sleep.
BOnsfeld was the first TO succumb to
sOmnOlence. and LamorOck even began
To feel sleepy himself.
The intruder also began to look as II
he would soon follow Bonsfield's ex-
ample. He vainly tried to look wide
awake, but his lids would dr00p heaVi-
ly, his head would sink down upon
his chin and he would then pull him
self together by n supreme effort and
try to sit up straight.
When the tfhlH arrived AT SWiuuOH
Junction the guard discovered them all
asleep. and after trying In vain to
rouse them up, the conviction dawned
upon him that II was ease of foul
play. The three patients were taken
out and removed to the hospital, AR
rangements being made by the police
that on their recovery all three should
be detained In custody pending inves.
tgatlOn.s
Harry Bonsfeld easily established
his Identity, and was set at liberty,
but the information that the police
obtained about his companions, tho
TevOlvers they found In both their
overcOats, two telltale cigars and two
equally damning cigar stumps, the
remnants OF curacoa In the flask and
n very suspicious false beard, all these
incidents led to their arrest, trial and
subsequent conviction.
Scotland yard keeps the flask as
curiosity, for II has two compartments
from which the contents can be drawn
at the will OF the owner by slight
pressure on secret spring. Both