The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-01-20
DIAMOND MAKER IS.
LOCKED Up IN
PARIS JAIL
Sir Julius Wernher Claims He
Lost $500, 900 by Fraud
SECRET IN A BANK VAULT
Frenchman Who Said Had Formula
For Manufacture Of Gems Lived
In Luxury.

of the case of Lemoine, 1.-THE diamond
maker" whom Sir julius Wernher of
the De Beers Mining company is prose
cutting for swindling him out of $780,
600, is attracting much attept1on not
only in France, but In England and
throughout Europe generally.
The case in one particular bears a
resemblance to all the recent great
swindes, such as the Humbert safe
mystery in France, the Chadwick af-
fair in America and the bruce case in
England namely, itA solution depends
upon secret beyond the reach of in
vestlgatOrs.
Lemolne's formula for the manufac-
ture of diamonds is securely locked up
in bank in London, the officials OF
which, upon Lemoines demand, re-
fuses to deliver it TO the French court,
which desires to make trial Of Its
efficacy in the presence Of experts who
are now examining specimens Of dia-
monds Lemoine claims to have manu-
featured.
Meanwhile Lemoine, who few
years ago was a canvasser for an adj
vertising firm, but who since he be-
gan his present operations has lived
luxuriously in a magnificent house In
the Rue Pigalle, languishes In jail, Of
fering If released to repeat his expert
ments and prove the legitimacy of his
invention.
While Wernher Is now convinced that
he was duped by clever legerdemain
and the public is amused at the many
curious incidents of the case, there Is
enough division of opinion in the sci
entific camp to keep up lively interest
in the affair. Scientists point out that
the substitution of a genuine diamond
in an electric furnace would be impOs-
sibe. as the temperature of the electric
arc would transform the diamond into
graphite.
Henri Moissan, winner of the Nobel
prize, who died recently, produced mi
crOscopic diamonds from iron and car
bon in an electric furnace at tent
perature of 1000 degrees, but they
were of Insignificant commercial val
ne, and the majority of scientists say
it is ridiculous to suppose that Le-
moline succeeded where Moissan failed.
Nevertheless others, like Wurtz. the
eminent chemist, are Of the opinion
that it is not impossible to produce
chemical diamonds IL the operation is
performed under sufficient pressure in
! the proper solvent Of carbon. Lemoine,
! it is known, unlike Moissan uses
chemicals and not metals. They doubt,
however, the discovery of solvent Of
carbon. They think Lemoine's crystals
are silicate Of carbon.
Lord Armstrong, who witnessed the
experiments, publicly avows his abso-
lutte faith in Lemoine's method. Dia-
mond merchants, although skeptical,
are greatly interested in the outcome
of the case.
Since Lemoine was arrested 1t has
developed that he has not confined his
operations to NJ. Wernher. He sold a
half interest In his secret to Edgar
Cohen in 1901.
1t is said he also secured $1,000 from
an American named Siegman. The
latter, who lives at Neuilly, has COM
planned to the police that mysterious
attempts have been made against him.
self and his wife since his connection
with the affair was revealed.
A strange feature of the case is that
NJ. Wernher, although he charges that
he was duped offered Lemoine $4,000
additional last week for his formula.
Several alleged formulas have been
published, the principal ingredients OF
which are carbon and sugar, but Lee
moine pronouv ces them bogus.
The latest development is the testi.
mony of a Paris jeweler that Lemoine
last year wanted him to put up $50
600 and sell De Beers short when he
should publish Wernher's contract and
oovor at an enormous urofit