Deming graphic., 1920-07-13

pectors TO tell everyone that the stones
had proven OF no value. for the news
OF the alleged diamond discovery had
circulated widely, Roberts secretly ad-
vanced 10 the prospectors about $4,000
and fitted them out with animals, guns
and provisions for a three-months' ex-
peiition to the diamond field They |
apparently set out on the perilous jour
ney through the desert and Indian
country. IL Is surmised that they went
to ST. Louis and thence to London and
purchased lot Of genuine diamond
stones.
Anyhow, at the end OF three months
the prospectors returned, and present.
ed themselves before Roberts in the
most pitiable and woe-begone condition
ragged, dirty and miserable, and told
Roberts most heart-rendering story
Of many hardships endured, and OF be-
ing captured by the Apaches near the
diamond diggings; OF their escape af-
ter being robbed Of everything; and of
finally reaching the diggings. That In
this plight they had remained at the
place only two days. having no tools
to work with except a piece Of an OIL
shovel. However, they exhibited
buckskin bag or purse well filled with
diamonds OF all sizes and forms, and
also large collection Of rubles, stat
ing that these were the products Of
only two days labor.
Roberts sent the stones to New York
to be tested and the result was they
were pronounced TO be genuine and
worth at least 100000 Roberts, the
victim, was joint owner In the find
with Arnold and Slack. He went TO
New York and made n conditional sale
OF an undivided One-fourth interest IN
the find for $250,O0O to Tiffany & Co.,
subject TO an examination Of the prop
erty by their expert. To this bargain
Slack, one partner, AFFECTED. "We have
no title," he said, "as there Is no law
for locating diamond mine in the
United States, and there was no pro.
lection to the dlscoverer, and unless he
was paid down 100000 cash he would
never show the place"
Thereupon Arnold, the other part
ner. demanded $4,000 for his third in
terest. Finally, two English friends OF
Roberts becama anxious to buy out
Arnold and Slack, and said that II Ar
mold and Slack would put into his
hands the sack Of diamonds and ruhies
as a guarantee that the mines would
prove Of the charcter as represented,
he would pay them the cash demanded,
100000. They agreed, and he paid
the cash.
Roberts and the two Englismen used
to meet behind locked doors and feast
their eyes on the precious stones and
dream of becoming multimillionaires.
Their only solicitude was the laten
fear that the magnitude Of their find
when opened up might flood the mar.
ket and cause decline In the values.
But Tiffany soon allayed their fears
by stating that they would have to find
billion dollars worth Of these gems to
depreciate the market prices.
Before anything further was deemed
advisable to be DONE they employed a
lobbyist in Washington, 10 get law
passed by congress permitting the loca
ton Of the property. After considera-
BILE delay and great difficulty bill
was passed, known as "Sargents Min
ing Bill" and approved May 10, 1872,
in which the following Language is in
serted, purposely to cover the ground
Of this discovery Of precious stones
Including all form Of deposits ex-
cept veins OF quarts or other rock then
In place"
During this time with the Sl20,000
stake, Arnolu and Slack, who had not
located any claims, slipped secretly
over to London and purchased fresh
supply of diamond stones and dust, for
the purpose OF sailing the ground prior
to the future examination by the New
York diamond expert. Returning
from England they proceeded to the
locality which they selected to CORES
pond with what they had represented.
and did the work as nearly like what
they had represented, sowing their
diamonds and dust to the best advan-
tage to look natural. This was so
skillfully done that the diamond ex-
pert, Mr.. Janin. noted engineer whom
Tiffany had engaged, was fooled when
he made the examination.
The mining bill having been passed,