The Washington times., 1902-03-05
FRAUD SUSPECTED IN
DIAMOND THEFT RUMOR
Nothing Known in New York
of Antwerp Panic.
VIEW TAKEN BY THE OFFICIALS
Belief That There Is Clever Scheme on
Foot to Secure the Return to Belgium
of Valuable Stones Seized at the Gus
tom House.

BRUSSELS, March 4-The panic In the
diamond trade caused by the discovery
that many thefts have occurred at Ant
werp and other places is more serious
than was thought at first.
Another dealer has just fled to New
York with diamonds of considerable value.
Leading merchants are combining to OBJ
tain a new treaty between Belgium and
the United States
The market is demoralized.
Custom House Skeptical.
NEW YORK, March 4.-Several previ-
Gus dispatches have referred to the thefts
of diamonds at Antwerp and to the fight
of the thieves to New York with the
booty. When Leinkram, alias Hochber-
ger, got here a week ago Sunday on the
kronprinz Wilhelm with lot Of dia-
monds from Antwerp. and was arrested
for smuggling. counsel for William Cold
wasser, of Antwerp, alleged that the dia-
monds had been stolen from Goldwasser
by another Antwerp dealer and were
stolen goods, recoverable by Goldwasser
and not forfeitable to the Government
About these reported thefts the GUS
tom house is skeptical- 1t proposed to
seize on arrival all goods described as
stolen in case the reputed thieves try to
get them in. duty free.
Nothing Known Here.
a reporter went down into Maiden Lane
today to enquire from some of the dia-
mond importers what all the trouble in
Antwerp was about. Not one Of half a
dozen of them could tell. So far as any
of them knew there is no demoralizatiea
of the diamond trade in Holland or any
where else, and there have been no very
great thefts.
Collector Bidweli said: ''I know of Moth
ing particular the matter with the dia-
mond trade, and know of no very start
ling thefts of diamonds on the other side.
This much, however, is true: On the day
Prince Henry arrived a man was arrest
ed on the pier, charged with smuggling
about $1,000 worth of diamonds.
Will Hold the Stones.
His arrest was cabIed to the other
side, and in day or two We received rep
reservations from Amsterdam or Antwerp
or somewhere else to the effect that the
diamonds seized had been stolen, and that,
therefore. they must be returned to the
owners and no duty collected.
I'VE hold that we cannot go back of the
returns, so to speak, and that when We
detect case of smuggling we must con-
fiscate the goods. We did that in this
case, and now hold the stones.
Suspicion of Fraud.
'Since the action Of this Office became
known on the other side the papers have
been filed with reported thefts in dia-
mond centres of Europe, and it rather
looks to me as if somebody was trying
to stir up rumpus for the purpose of
getting the diamonds we seized the other
day out of limbo without paying duty on
them.
"Of course, II somebody can get our
Government to hold that diamonds found
on a person who has not declared them
are stolen goods. and must, therefore. be
returned, it will be impossible to pre-
vent people on the other side trying to
smuggIe diamonds into this port from now
until the cows come home. Until the
courts hold that We are wrong we shall
keep these goods.
Holds the Same View.
Leopold Stern, of Stern Brothers G Co..
held the same view as Collector Bidwell.
Mr. Stern said: There have been no big
thefts on the other side. The diamonds
found on that man were undoubtedly sent
over here to be sold. Now that the man
has been caught with the goods on him
his principals want to get back their
property If they can
so far as the diamond market is con-
cerned, it was never frmer than it is at
present"
Leinkram's examination was begun be-
fore United States Commissioner Shields
today, but not concluded. He has
brother in the trade here
DELL EIIND EpAM TIE Glad