Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-08
SUIT OVER! HOPE GEM
Jewelers. Seek Payment Of
$4,000 for Diamond.
ACTIONS AGAINST McEEANS
Firm of Cartier Files Papers in Dis
trict Supreme Court.
TO BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS
Jewel Keeping Up Its Reputation
of Causing Hoodoo to At
tack It's Owners.
ACTIONS AGAINST McEEANS
TO BE PAID IN INSTALLMENTS

The hoodoo Of the Hope diamond, which
has followed it's successive owners since
the jewel graced the corsage of the Ill
fated Marie Antoinette, Queen Of France,
has attacked the new owners of the eX-
pensive bauble, Mrs. Evelyn w. Mclean,
daughter of the late Thomas F.. Walsh,
the multi-millonaire mine owner Of Colo
RADIO, and her husband, Edward B. Nc
and Washington.
toriety which is said to radiate from
the eXquisitely chiseled facies of the
diamond to reach its present owners Is
shown today in a suit at law filed In the
District Supreme Court by Cartier" OF
New York and Paris to recover $1SO,OOO,
the price of the gem, from MIR. and Mrs.
Mclean.
Louis j. Cartier and Pierre c. Cartier.
diamond merchants of New York, trading
as Cartier ask judgment against
Evelyn w. Mclean and Edward B. Nc
Lean for the purchase price of the cele-
brated jewel. Through Attorneys Clar-
ence w. DeKnight and Brandenburg &
Brandenhurg the Carriers say they de-
livered the Hope diamond and its Access
series to the McLeans on their promise
to pay the sum of $1SO,OOO.
Though requested to make settlement
several times, it is alleged, Mclean has
failed and refused to pay.
Terms of Sale.
The terms of sale as set out in the
declaration filed by the merchants show
that $4,000 was to be paid in cash jan
uary %, 1911, on which date Mrs. Nc
Lean was to deliver to Cartier" an
emerald and pearl pendant owned by her,
and for which the merchants had agreed
to allow her $4,000 on account Of the
Hope diamond.
The remainder Of the purchase price,
$4,000, was to be paid in installments.
the Carriers tell the court, but the
amounts and times of payment Of the
instalments are not disclosed by the
papers filed
The declaration filed in court today is
in three counts. One claims judgment
for $4,000. the cash payment claimed to
have been due January % and still I'M
paid.
The second charges the failure of the
McLeans to keep their alleged promise to
deliver to Cartier" the emerald and pearl
pendant, which was to figure IN the
transaction at valuation of $26 600. For
this alleged refusal judgment for $26.OtO
cover the entire purchase price Of
$4,000, which includes both the previ-
Gus counts and the deferred installments
amounting to $114,OOO
Say They Decided Not to Buy.
Although Mr. Mclean could not be
located this Afternoon, it is understood.
his friends say, that he had not def
nitely decided to keep the stone when
it was given into his possession by
Cartier, January % last
A few days after Cartier left the gem at
their residence. Mr.. and Mrs. Mclean de-
cided they did not desire to purchase it.
and, 1t is said, several times since then
the firm of Cartier has been requested to
take the diamond back.
Those familiar with legal procedure in
cases of this kind say that the jewellers
must produce agreements to substantiate
their claim for $4,000.
Mrs. Mclean has not worn the stone,
which weighs 44k karats, at any of the
social functions which she has attended
this winter.
The dazzling violet blue rays Of the
stone were first given prominence at
the court Of Louis XIV of France One
report has 1t that the stone was a peo-
pies ransom for the conquering arms
of Louis. Another report ascribed it
as q gift to Nine. de Pompadour from
an Asiatic potentate seeking favor at
the court Of Louis.
Later 1T was among the crown jewels
Of Louis XIV and his queen consort.
Again 1t adorned the corsage of Marie
AntOlnette.
Stolen Many Times.
In the dark days Of the reign of terror
history loses sight Of the stone. 1t was
stolen, fought for and sold many times
1t reappeared in the latter part of the
last century as the property of a fabu-
lousy wealthy English banker, Henry
Philip Hope, from whom it took the name
ii has since borne.
He passed it on to Lord Francis Hope,
who married in 1894 May Yohe, an
English actress.
Later Sultan Abdul Hamid of Turkey
coveted the jewel and paid according
to report. 100000 for it. When it re-
turned to France is not definitely
known. 1t was lately in the hands of
a French syndicate. which, in turn. sold
1T to or placed it on sale through the
Cartier firm. a transfer being effected
with great secrecy.