The Washington herald., 1911-03-10

Cartier brought it to Washington and
| met Mr.. and Mrs. Mclean at the Walsh
residence in Massachusetts, avenue
After some conversation Mr.. Cartier was
asked to return to the New Willard
where he was registered, and await the
! arrival Of Wilton J. Lambert Mr.
| McLean's attorney, who would confer
with him in regard to a plan upon which
| the diamond was to be paid for by in
stallments. Mr.. Cartier was also told
that Mr.. Lambert would reduce the
agreement to writing and that Mr.. Nc
Lean would then call to sign it.
| The meeting at the hotel took place as
agreed upon, and a plan of payment
was drawn up. Accompanied by Mr.
Lambert, Mr.. Cartier went to the once
of the Washington Post, where the
: agreement was prepared by Mr.. Lambert.
signed by Mr.. Mclean in the presence
OF witnesses, and delivered to Mr.. Car
tier.
Provisions of the Agreement.
This agreement, according to Mr.. De-
knight, fixed the price of the Hope dia-
mond at s1sO,OO0. 1t provided that an
emerald and pearl pendant valued at
$26,0oO. should be given to Mr.. Cartier
as part payment, and that $4,000 should
be paid in cash The balance, $4,000,
was to be paid in three annual INSTALL
ments, without interest. payable BIZ
monthly. viz, S.T7.T in bimonthly pay
ments for three years
After the agreement had been signed,
the change of ownership of the stone was
celebrated. Champagne was sent for and
in the presence Of some of the members
of the editorial staff a hearty health
was drunk to the new owner. The news
Of the purchase was then communicated
to the press and was made known
throughout the world.
Did Not Want to Keep 1t.
No cash payment was made at the
time the agreement was signed, but Mr.
Cartier returned to New York, Mr.. De-
Knight says, with the understanding
that a check would follow On Monday
morning-the agreement having been
signed Saturday night-Mr. Cartier re-
ccived a dispatch, the text of which is
Incorporated in his affidavit, asking him
to send a man to Washington at once
to set the diamond in order that 1t might
be worn at White House reception.
When Mr.. Cartier reached Washington
he learned that Mr.. Mclean had recon
sidered the matter and did not want to
keep the diamond, and he was asked to
take it back. This he declined to do,
upon the ground that the sale was
definite one, Mr.. McLean's desire to sur
render the stone, on the one hand, and
Mr.. Carriers refusal to accept it, upon
the other, led to the filing of the suit.
VIII Contest the Suit.
L. NEnI
day at the Office of Wilton ]. Lam
bert, his lawyer, who has been intrusted
with the task Of Strengthening out the
tangle into which Mr.. Mclean has been
ensnared by the alleged purchase of this
giittering celebrity.
Although declining to discuss their
conference in the matter, it has been
ascertaineo that Mr.. Mclean and Mr..
Lambert considered the advisability of
inducing Cartier to take back the
stone, in consideration Of a bonus Of S.
So0 It has been learned Mr.. Mclean
has made an offer to the firm to nuIlify
the agreement and contract and take
back the gem. previous to the filing Of
the suit, but they refused to listen.
Mr.. Mclean was served with a COPY
Of the declaration On Wednesday, at his
business Office Attorney Lambert ap-
peared yesterday at the office of the
clerk Of the District Supreme Court, and
in the name OF Mrs. Mclean accepted
service for her. Beyond stating that his
clients have defense to the action. Mr..
Lambert declined to discuss the matter.
Public to Get Details.
He said the answer of the defendants
would be fled within the legal period
OF twenty days. when the public would
learn the details OF the transaction from
the standpoint Of his clients
Attorneys for Cartier yesterday de.
clared they are certain the stone is ir1
the possession of Mr.. and Mrs. Mclean.
unless they intrusted its custody and
safekeeping to other parties since II was
delivered TO them by their clients. They
also said the gem is the genuine Hope
diamond. although there does not any
where In the agreement appear q guar
antee on the part Of the sellers to that
effect.
It Is said that the stone 5 now in the
safe deposit vaults OF the American
security s1d Trust Company.