Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-08-28


stable who effected the arrest His
story was brief and correct, and then
the inspector stated that Mr.. Wilson of
Grant & Sons, Ludgate Circus, would
be called Mt the next hearing, as he
the inspector-would ask for n remand
to enable inquiries to be made. Mean.
while Mr.. Isaacstein of Hatton Garden
had made it conyenient to attend that
day and would be pleased to give evi-
dence IL his worship desired to hear
Him.
Certainly" said Mr.. Abingdon, the
magistrate. "This seems to be some.
what peculiar case, and l will be glad
II Mr.. Isaacstein can throw any light
upon it."
But Mr.. Isaacstein could not do any
such thing. He wound up succinct
account of Philips visit and utterances
by declaring that there was no collec-
ton of meteoric- diamonds known to
him from which such u remarkable set
of stones could be stolen.
This emphatic statement impressed
the magistrate.
AISt LII sec lbSih, hC ooiu.
The parcel was handed up to him,
and he examined Its contents with OBJ
vious interest.
Are you quite sure of their meteor
ic origin, Mr.. fsaacstein?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Can you form any estimate of their
probable value?" a.
About 100000"
The reply startled the magistrate,
and it sent thrill through the court.
Really! So much!" Mr.. Abingdon
was almost scared.
IF, after cutting, they turn out as
well as expect, that is u moderate
estimate of their WORTH
f''I take It, from what you say, that
meteoric diamonds are rare:"
Isaacstein closed his throat with a
premonitory cough and punched up
his shoulders. A slight wabble was
steadied by his stumpy hands on the
rail Of the witness box. He was really
the greatest living authority on the
subject, and he knew it.
at is common delusion among dia-
Aiohu AAACAo Nh0L 1dlI lIoul
the skies in meteoric showers" he said
There is some sort of foundation for
this mistaken view, us the stones are
found in volcanic pipes or columns
of diamantiferous material, and the
crude idea Is that gigantic meteors fell
and plowed these deep holes, distribut-
ing diamonds in all directions as they
pissed. But the SO called pipes are
really the vents of extinct volcanoes.
Ignorant people do not realize that the
chemical composition of the earth does
not differ greatly from that Of the
bodies which surround 1t in space, SO
that the same process of manufacture
under high temperature and Mt great
pressure which creates diamond In Il
meteor has equal powers here. In
word, what has happened in the outer
universe has also happened at Kimber-
ley. Iron acts us the solvent during
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.
"There are particles of mineral
that looks like iron among these
stones?" 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 III
diameter, are scattered thousands of
masses Of metallic iron varying in
weight from half 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 III
tile earth. All mineralogists know the
place as the Canyon Diabolo, or Dew
lis gulch, md specimens of its ore are
in every collection. Ordinary tools
were spoiled. and even emery wheels
worn by some hard ingredient in tile
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-thut IS, carbon without crys-
tallization.'
II gather that the diamantiferOus
material was present In the form of
tiny particles and not In stones at all
approaching these in size?" said Mr..
Abingdon.
EXACTLY. have never either seen
or heard of specimens like those. III
lSSG meteor fell IN Russia and con-
tanned ! per cent of diamond in Il
slightly metmorphoscd state In 1916
the Ava meteorlte fell In Hungary.
and 1t held crystalline graphite In the
bright as well as the dark form. But,
again, the distribution was we'll 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
Isaacstein, having delivered his little
lecture, looked and felt important.
The magistrate bent forward. with a
pleasant smile.
ITO BE CONTINUED.