The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1906-10-18

Among the possessions Of the
emperor Of Russia Is diamond OF
great value, the history of which is
as romantic as that OF the famous
Kohlnoor. II is an irregular prism IN
shape, OF the size and nearly the
length Of the finger, and Is called the
Chah.
This stone, which formerly belonged
to the Sophi, was one OF two enor
nous diamonds which adorned the
throne OF Nadlrchah and was called
by the Persians Moon OF the Noun.
tains." When Nadir was assassinat.
ed his treasures we're pillaged and his
precious stones we're divided between
come soldiers. who concealed them.
An Armenian named Shafras. who
lived with his brothers In tho town OF
Bassora, was one day accosted by an
Afghan. who offered for sale large
diamond, with a hundred other pieces
of less value, for a small sum. Saying
he had not the necessary funds for
the purchase, Shafras asked the Az
CHAN to call again. The diamond sell
er was evidently suspicious OF Shafras,
for he disappeared from the town and
could not be found for years. At last
the elder OF Shafras' brothers came
across him at Bagdad Just after he
had disposed OF his gems. The pur.
chaser, who was a Hebrew, refused
double the amount he had paid for the
stones. so the three brothers conspired
to kill him for the possession Of them.
When this had been accomplished
they followed the Afghan, poisoned
him and threw the bodies Of their
two victims into the Euphrates. Next
the brothers disagreed among them.
selves, and the eldest disposed of the
others In the same way they had rid
themselves OF the Hebrew and the Az.
chan.
Shafras next appeared at the courts
OF Europe. Offering bis great diamond
for sale Catherine Of Russia (Cath.
crime III had the man invited 20 court
and put into communication with the
court jeweler. The conditions offered
Shafras we're: Letters OF nobility. an
annuity of ten thousand rubles, Ave
hundred thousand rubles, payable In
tenths from year TO year Shafras
held out for six hundred Thousand ru
bles in cash. Count Pancin, who was
minister at the Il. =. launched the
Armenian In a 81, q OF life which
Obliged him to contract large debts
and whom he knew that Shafras hac
no longer a sou with which to NEE
them he broke OF negotiations. Ac
cording TO the laws OF the country
Shafrss could not leave the empire oil
even the town without paying hi,
debts, so his position was painfully
embarrassing. The jeweler OF thu
court was prepared to profit by the
Armenian's distress, but the man wal
too sharp for him. He secretly solo
some inferior stones TO his compatrl
OTIS. paid his debts and disappeared.
II was fully ten years before he wa,
again heard from. Then he reap
peared In Astrakhan on his way Il
Turkey. Negotiations were reopeneC
and Catherine became possessor o.
the stones. The price paid was the
letters OF nobility. six hundred thou
sand silver rubles and more than sew
enty thousand rubles in assignats
shafras, being unable to return e
his native land, settled In Astrakhar
and married. Twenty years later he
was poisoned by one OF his sons-in
law, who gained little by his death
for the immense fortune was soon dis
sipated. Several Of the grandchildren
are now living in Astrakhan In alb
iect poverty.