The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-16
FIGHT FOR A DIAMOND.
Iron the Chicago Chronicle.l

LEIO the CnlCa2Q ChrOniCIP-1
The gas was turned low in Judge CIV
gfaus court room, and even in the sub
s4ueu nght Jurlst jurors, counsel and spec
latofS shaded their eyes when they looked
IN the direction of little box which rest
ed on table near the witness stand. The
po& contained diamonds valued at $50 600
and one of them, a stone of 90 carsfs
was valued at one-fourth of the whole.
fhe old Lancaster diamond struggle was
on again, and Mrs. Bessie G. White for
merly Bessie C. Wallace, was endeaVor-
ing to prove that the gems were hers by
rod Lancaster, the South African adven-
turef whose eccentricities have interested
more me. 9,d than one continent; When Lancas
Ter went to Africa in 1871 he was an. old
man, but vigorous, and when he returned
70 Chlcago a year later he was possessed
OF diamonds values at $500 0OO
He sold the majority of his large col
lection and said he had disposed of as
many more in Europe where he gained
fame as the diamond king long before
Barney Barnato ever thought of travel.
soon after Mr.. Lancaster returned his
and six years ago, when he went to Calf
Iornla. for his health, she accompanied
vault in the First National bank and
there ne gave her the diamonds which
were IN evidence. All save the largest
We're mounted, and these tn girl took
with her leaving the unmounted stone in
The trip was taken, and a year after
ward Miss Wallace returned to Chicago
to make a short visit While she was
still in this city, June 10 1885 word vai
was received that Mr. Lancaster had died
IN San Diego The following morning
Miss Wallace went to the bank to obtain
the remaining diamond. When she en-
tered the vault William c. Phipps, an ex-
ecutor of her great-uncle's will was
Inere- Mr.. Phfpps, it is said, took charge
OF the diamond for the estate. Miss Wal
lace did not voice any complaint at the
! time. and later Mr. Phipps, who is a
ba1l1f in Judge Carriers court in Indian
OILS. began suit to replevin the six dia-
monds which Miss Wallace had in her
! possession. The suit was tried in the
/ Cook county courts a year ago and a
/ jury decided that Miss Wallace had a
right to the gems, and that her uncle had
1 given them to her for her own This
finding was sustained in the other courts
and then Miss Wallace started suit for
! the repleVin and possession of the re-
naming diamond. which weighs 20 carats
The plaintiff, who has married since the
/ suit was begun, was on the stand She
| testified that her uncle had given her the
diamond in question. and she had left it
| in the vault for safe-keeping She said
/ she would have taken the stone when, she
/ and Mr.. Phipps met in the bank five
/ years ago. but she did not know her
/ rights at that time, and was afraid that
/ she would be arrested. Others interested
/ in the estate say that the stone was never
! intended for Mrs White.
Mr.. Phipp has charge of the diamond
IN dispute He showed it in court during
/ the hearing. Each of the jurors examined
! 1t closely. Experts were put on the stand
and testified to the weight and value of
the gem. Estimates ran from 81 600 to
/ resumed today