Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-03
SOME FAM0USFRAUDS
KEELY MOTOR ONLY ONE OF MANY
SIMILAR IMPosITiONs.
Sailing A DIAMOND NINE.
How Fifty Pounds of Germs were
Planted in Colorndo-They bore
Rich Fruit-Adventures OF nm ABB"
tiau Ichymist.
(san Francisco Chronlcle)

Kesly motor. the promise OF whose mar
vellous powers has for a score OF years
thrilled the expectant world, turns OUT
TO have been a fraud from beginning "
end. as most people believed IT was, sus-
talned by all manner Of cunning devices
Of which the public has so far only re-
celyed an inkling, calls 10 nina numerous
/ notable receptions that have from l'hle
to time been perpetrated upon oul
shrewd, hard-headed. and astute mooerh
civilization.
The most dazzling swindle ever perpe-
trated upon a trusting public was launch-
| ed in San Francisco on the lst OF Au-
gust. 1872 when &c went literally crazy
with excitement over the announcement
made by men whose very names seemed 10
carry convincing proof of its reliaDlllty
! that diamond-helds of inconceiyable rich-
ness had been discovered in Northwestern
! Colorado at a point about forty-ilve nllles
! south OF Black Butte and near the Wyo-
| ming line That very evening a formal
meeting was solemny called at the Grand
| Hotel. 10 which members OF the press
were invited, and George d. Roberts,
| speaking for his associates, entered into
a detailed explanation of the new dlscov-
cries. stating that the tract covered not
less than 1900 acres, and that mere sur
face prospecting with pan In the hands
Of two men had resulted in the recovery
OF between $4,000 and 100000 worth or
precious stones, comprising diamonds OF
the purest water, rubies, garnets, sap
phires, amethysts, and emeralds.
RICH DIAMOND FIELD.
He presented report from the cele-
brated local mining expert, Henry Janin,
who had carefully examined the ground
within a limit of 160 acres and defined its
character as gem-producing 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 be utilized for
hydraulic washing the future develop
ment OF the district was almost beyond
the power of man TO compute. His as
sertions were supported by such men as
William c. Ralston, Thomas Bell, Milton
s. Latham, Albert Gansl. General David
D. Cotton William T. BabcOck, Thomas
II. Selby, Louis Sloss, William NJ. Lent,
Maurice Dore. A. Harpending, General
Dodge, and S. L. NJ. Barlow. and George
b. Mcclellan. OF New York, all OF whom
were directly interested in the San Fran
cisco and New York Mining and CONNER
cial Company, which had been incorpo-
L
all Of whom had sincere faith in the
discovery. Fifteen thousand shares of
stock were issued, at a par value Of $40.
and In less than twenty-four hours all
had beon subscribed for and people were
crying for more. RalstOn accepted the
/ office Of treasurer on the condition that
| all the stock should remain in his hands
/ until the presence Of the precious stones
should be verified by the high
est authority, and this fact saved
many of San Franclsco's first citizens
! from hopeless ruin. Clarence King was
called upon to make a searching exami-
nation Of the field, and simultaneously j.
+. Berry a well-known mining expert
and operator Of San Francisco, undertook
| a personal inspection Of the ground on
his own account. Berry, who was some
! what OF the connolsseur I'm gems, at once
| pronounced the diamonds to be gems from
I the Cape of Good Hope. with a few Rio
/ Janeiro stones, and Clarence Kings OFF,
cial report, offered a few days later, con-
firmed the growing apprehension that the
| whole scheme was a swindle, perpetrated
by Arnold and Slack. the alleged original
discoverers, who had all this time KEEP
quietly and wisely In the background
The swindlers fled 10 parts unknown.
HOW IT WAS DONE.
Afterward J. 3. Cooper, Of San Fran
cisco. made full confession OF the whole
swinde duplicating himself. Slack, and
Arnold, and relating the manner in which
Rubery, Roberts, Harpending. and Gene
raj Dodge had been victimized Arnold
acting for the trio, had bought fifty
pounds of spinelle rubies garnets, sap
phres, and other stones from the Indians
at Fort Defiance, A. T.. and, with 81, OK
worth of rough diamonds and other pre-
cious stones previously purchased in Lon
don had carefully selected the Colorado
field with a view 10 its favorable geologi
cal conditions, and spent several days II
sailing the tract after most plausible
and scientific plan.
Then they decoyed Louis Janln, Mr.
Harpending, and General Dodge to tn,
fields artfully demonstrated the presence
Of the gems. surveyed the ground, elect
ed General Dodge recorder of the Col
conda District, and the most picturesque
swlndle Of the century was artisticall!
launched.
ALSATIAN CHEMIST.
Foremost in the ranks of the world
swindlers probably stands Alfred Paraf
native Of Alsace, handsome, polished
well educated, noted for his keen intelli
gence and ready wit, as well as his mani.
qualities. He was remarkably proficien
in chemistry, taking a genuine delight il
the study in his youth. and following hi
early education with a series of chemica
experiments in his own laboratory. AT
ter he left school he set out upon hi
travels, and, having exhausted the fund
allowed him by his father in prohigat
expenditure, he found himself strande
in Glasgow. This incident may be SAT-
10 have launched the clever young fellow
upon the career he afterwards pursued
TO his eventual disgrace and downfall
He engaged the most elegant suite o
rooms in the most fashionable hotel, visit
ed a firm OF wealthy manufacturers, ant
announced himself as the discoyerer OF
new and cheap dye for calico printing
Plungng into the laboratory Of the es
adjustment, the brilliant young felloN
actually succeeded In supporting his as
sertions, and was rewarded with Ei@
in gold for the right to the use OF HI
! new coloring process. This sum was 500
dissipated in new extravagances, and
again reduced 10 sore straits, he com
pounded a new color and sold the secre
of the dye TO his uncle, a rich manufac
turer in Paris for 5000 francs.
OPERATING IN NEW YORK.
Before this sum was entirely scattere
TO the winds he landed In New York
, made himself known as a dstinguishe
/ chemist. and cleared $4,000 by the sal
Of a new "analne black" succeeding i
, escaping with his spoils before the rea
and r,atantaa Of the urOCpcS ar