The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-10-31
TRAIL OF sALEFUL GEM
Hope Diamond Said to Have Reap
peared in Paris

Paris, Oct. S1.--The famous Hope
diamond which has brought death or
misfortune to every person who has
owned it and which was believed to
be safe at last at the bottom Of the
China sea, has reappeared in Paris.
II is now on sale in the window of a
ieweler in the Rue de la PaiX but its
evil reputation has affected its price.
Lord Francis Hope sold it for Sl4S,-
600 but 1t can be bought now for less
than 100000.
About a year ago the diamond was
bought by a Persian named Habid,
who was said to be acting for an In
dian potentate. He took passage for
india on the French steamship
Eeyne, which was rammed and sunk
in the China sea by the Onda.
1t was supposed that all on board
were lost, but by a peculiar coincid-
ence the man who has brought the
famous stone back to Paris is a Per
sion named Hamid Whether he is
the original one returned from the
dead cannot be told, but in any event
another mystery has been added to
the diamonds long list.
The diamond became well known in
America when it scintillated on the
breast Of Lady Francis Hope, once
the beautiful May Yohe, when, after
her marriage to the son Of the Earl
Of Newcastle, she returned to the
vaudeville stage. She fell a victim
to its baleful influence. After a brief
married life she eloped with Putnam
Bradiee Strong, son of ex.Mayor
Strong Of New York With him she
Travelled all over the world growing
less and less prosperous year by year.
last February she became proprle,
tor OF a cheap lodging house in Sc
attic, and then lost even that, and
was reduced to singing in the cheap
music halls in the cellars of San
Francisco. A few months ago she
was stricken by paralysis while sing
ing and is now said to be hopeless
paralytic
But long before May Yohe ever
heard Of the diamond it had sinister
history The first known of it was
when 10 was brought to Paris In the
reign Of Louis XIV by a travelling
iewe er named Tavernier, who is
said to have stolen ii from a Hindoc
idol. Then Il weighed in its rough
state ~ Carats but after II had
been recut by an Amsterdam ieweler
Il weighed G7is carats. Treverniel
lter was torn to pieces by wild dogs
| COnstan;inople.
King Lewis gave the gem to Mad
1r . de Montespan to wear. She los
hi love and he abandoned her. Mich
las Fouquet intendant of France
borrowed the diamond from the kini
and wore it. lie was disgraced an,
died in prison, Marie Antolnett,
begged for the jewel and wore It. Shl
was beheaded, as was King Louis hin
self.
The great blue stone was also worl
by the Princess de Lamballe who wa
torn to pieces by French mob Wn
Falls, the ieweler who reCut the ston
died a ruined man. His son, Hen
Dirk. who stole the jewel from hi
father, committed suicide from re
morse. Some years later it was sol
TO Francis Beauieu and ne died q
misery and want
Daniel Ellason, London iewele
got possession OF the gem and sol
IL to Henry Thomas Hope, rich Lon
dan banker just before he failed I
business The banker suffered
long series OF misfortunes, includin
the death Of his favorite son.
The stone passed 10 Lord Franc
Hope in time and he became a ban
rupt and lost his wife. He sold n
d. diamond to Simon Frankcl. a Ne
York ieweler, and it brought him
nancia difficulties. The next owue
Jacques Colet, went mad and comm
ted suicide. Prince Ivan Kanitovsl
who bought it from Coet was kill,
by Russian revolutionists and MI
adue to whom he lent IL, was mu
. dered by her sweetheart.
7 The jewel came into the posses
ion OF Simon Montharides who so
II TO Sultan Abdul Hamid and a lit
later was thrown from a preclplC
while riding with his wife and chi
A and all were killed.
rue sultan gave IL 10 Anu Sdull
polish and he was tortured and II
p prisoned Kulub Boy, who guardt
the treasure, was hanged by n Tur
ish mob. The keeper of the vault
which the diamond reposed was str,
In gled. The Sultans fayorlte, wi
wore IL, was shot by Abdul lamI
who himself was dethroned. Hab
! bought II from the Sultan and h
! fate is unknown.