Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-10-21


the period of creation, so to speak.
Then in the lapse of ages it oxidizes
by the action of air or water and the
diamonds remain"
The magistrate nodded.
"Thefe are particles of a mineral
that looks like iron among these
stonesT' he said.
The question gave Isaacstein time to
draw fresh supply of breath. Sure
of his audience now, he proceeded
more slowly.
THAT is certain proof of meteoric
source. A striking confirmation of the
fact is supplied by a district in Ari-
IONA. Here, on plain five miles in
diameter, are scattered thousands of
masses of metallic iron varying In
weight from half a ton to a fraction of
one ounce. An enormous meteoric
shower fell there at some period, and
near the center is a crater-like hole
which suggests the impact of some
very large body which buried itself in
the earth. All mineralogists know the
place as the Canyon Diabolo, or Dew
IFS gulch. and specimens of its ore are
in every collection. Ordinary tools
were spoiled and even emery wheels
worn by some hard ingredient in the
iron, and analysis has revealed the
presence therein of three distinct forms
of diamond-the ordinary stone, like
those now before you. both transpar-
ent and black graphite and amorphous
carbon-that is, carbon without crys-
Utilization"
II gather that the diamantiferons
material was present in the form of
tiny particles and not in stones at ali
approaching these In size?'' said Mr.
Abingdon.
Exactly. l have never either seen
or heard of specimens like those. In
1886 a meteor fell in Russia and con-
tanned ! per cent of diamond In
slightly metamorphosel state. In 1S4e
the Ava meteorite fell in Hungary
and It held crystalline graphite in the
bright as well as the dark form. But,
again, the distribution was well diff.
fused and of slight commercial value.
Sir William Crookes or any eminent
chemist will bear me out In the as
sumption that the diamonds now be-
fore your eyes are absolutely match
less by the product of any recorded
meteoric source" - sg%e
Isaacstein, having delivered his little
lecture, looked and felt important.
The magistrate bent forward, with a
pleasant smile.
II am very much obliged to you for
the highly interesting information you
have given" he said. "Cne more
question. The inevitably corollary Of
your evidence is that the boy now in
the dock has either found a meteor or
a meteoric deposit. Can you say If 1t
Is matter of recent occurrenceT
Judging by the appearance of the
accompanying scraps of iron ore,-
should say that they have been quite
recently in a state of fux from heat.
The silicates seem to be almost elimi-
mated"
The magistrate was unquestionably
puzzled. Queer incidents happen in
police courts daily, and the most I'M
expected scientific and technical points
are Calculated In the effort to secure
an accurate comprehension of matters
in dispute. But never during his long
tenancy of the court had he been called
on to deal with a case of this nature.
He smiled in his perplexity.
I'VE all remember the copyboOk
maxim, Let justice be done though
the heavens fall" he said, but here
1t is clearly shown that the ideal is not
easily reached"
OF course every one laughed, and the
reporters piled pen and pencil with re-
newed activity. Here was a sensation
with a vengeance-worth all the dis
play it demanded in the evening pa
pers. Headlines would whoop through
a quarter of a column, and Philips
meteor again run through space.
The boy himself was apparently the
most disinterested person present.
While listening to Isaacstein, he again
experienced the odd sensation of aloof-
ness, of lofty domination, amid COM
monplace and insignificant environ.
ment The man was clever, of course,
but his cleverness was that of the text
book, dry record of fact which need
ed genius to illuminate the printed
page. And these lawyers, reporters, po-
licemen, with the vacuous background
of loungers. the friends and bottle hold
ers of thieves and drunkards-the mag
istrate, even, remote in his dignity and
sense of power-what were they to
him?-of no greater import than the
| paving stones of the streets to the pull
sating life of London as it passed.
The magistrate glanced at Isaacstein
| and stroked his chin. Isaacstein gazed
intently at the packet Of diamonds and
rubbed his sinuous nose. There was a
deep silence in court, broken only by
the occasional shuttle Of feet among the
| audience at the back-a shuttle which
stopped instantly when the steely
glance OF a policeman darted In that
direction.
At last the magistrate seemed to
make up his mind to a definite course
| 0f action