Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-11-02

for real cartridges and you think nothfng
Over yon make much money and now x
home. Ny friend, say good-by, but watch
for Light Nancy, because she, TOO, il too clever
for YOU ever 70 catch, Your friend always,
Ixs SOLOMON.
The temptation, however, Of making
smother coup was too great for key, and
he returned again to Kimberley sitter Z
few years in Europe and was convicted in
1885 Of illicit diamond buying in Kim
berley and sentenced to twelve years hard
labor. He died while serving his sentence.
The most notorious character the
diamond fields have produced, however,
was Scotty Smith. His relationship to
Scotland, however, was most remote,
Scotty having distinct touch Of the tar
brush.
Scotty's chief occupations were cattle
lifting, highway robberies, gun-running
and illicit diamond trading. His first feat
was particularly simple and daring.
Hearing that large parcel Of diamonds
awaited the coach at q certain hotel,
scotty held up the manager in his ONCE
masked ct the time and was not suspected
Of the robbery. A week later he calmly
handed them over to the authorities and
obtained reward.
On another occasion . dealer in dia-
monds at Christians on the vsai river had
purchased from the diggers large num-
Der OF diamonds and incurred them for
$4,000. He then arranged with Scotty
that the latter should hold up the coach
on the agreement that he should receive q
half share OF the insurance money on de-
livering the diamonds back again to the
man who had insured them. This suited
the adventurous nature OF Scotty and he
promptly agreed. Single handed (Scotty
seldom worked well with another) he held
up the Kimberley coach ut the top OF the
rise. He recognized the driver as man
he had formerly been friendly with, and
not wishing to kill him he stampeded the
mule team by shooting the leader through
the ear.
The team stampeded down the hill and
the coach overturned. Scotty obtained
the mail bags, but search as he would he
could find no trace OF the registered par
eel Of diamonds. He then rode across
country to Kimberley and appeared that
evening in his usual haunts. He met the
coach next day, and when charged with
the holdup proved an alibi. After q
while he returned to Christiana and saw
the man he was in collision with. Each
accused the other Of bad faith. To settle
their quarrel they proceeded to the post
Office, producing the receipt for the de-
livery OF the diamonds to the postmaster.
The latter denied having seen the par
Gel, but on searching bis office discovered
the bag safe and sound in small closet,
much to the disgust of tine confederates.
Scotty's greatest haul was made in a
most original manner. He became SO
closely watched by the police eventually
that although he was in possession OF a
large number Of large ana valuable dia-
monds, scheme as he could, he saw no
chance OF running them across the border
At last he put the diamonds in Jumps OF
dough and forced them down his horse's
throat. Although searched over and over
again, the police feeling even the hide OF
his horse and accompanying him to the
border, again searching him, he eventually
arrived in the Free State, which WAS sane
tuary.