Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-03-10
Had "A ca Gem;
Lived SquaI|or
Troubles Experienced in
America by Princess Fati-
=
ma of Afghanistan.

New York, March 9.-The ~ carat
diamond which only eight short months
ago blaZed the way for Princess Fatima
Sultana Of Kaboul into the presence Of
President Harding may delay her depar-
ture for Afghanistan, which was to have
taken place tomorrow.
Charging that the fabulous stoie was
smuggled into this country when the
princess arrived last July officials of the
United States customs department today
sought to gain possession Of it. But
Sheriff Percy Nagel, who has held the
diamond for several months as security
for numerous creditors, refused to give it
up.
After hearing arguments of counsel for
the sheriff and customs department, Su-
preme Court Justice Lehman advised the
latter to obtain a federal order directing
that the stone be turned over to them.
The agents announced they would pro-
ceed at once to do SO.
Princess Fatima whose bediarnonded
nostrils and dazzling wardrobe amazed
Broadway when she arrived in this coun-
try last July, did not express any consid-
cradle interest when she learned of the
charges that she evaded duty on her
jewel She continued packing her meagrs
effects prepared to sail for her native
land, as the guest Of the British gov
woman-an object of charity.
Her three sons will accompany her on
one of the tramp freighters sailing for
| Bombay. From there they will travel
| overland-probably afoot-to Afghanis-
| tan, where they will resume the simple
life again, in an attempt to live down the
| ignomny of their experiences in Amer
! lea.
The princess said she had tired of her
/ ell he
| United States to give her an estate be-
| fitting her rank so that she and her fam.
| lily could make this country their future
| homo When she reached New York
| last July she was the novelty of the
| year. Her jewels, her clothes, her mis-
sion and her cflildiike eccentricities
| aroused widespread interest. Mayor
Hylan welcomed her. Foreign ennis
| SarieS at Washington denied she was a
genuine-and limited to Mayor Hyian
that she would sell one Of her jewels, IA
| carats of uncut diamond for $500 900.
| At this point Stephen Weinberg, now a
prisoner charged with numerous imper-
sonations, including that of an officer of
| the United States navy, attached himself
TO the pr. .ncess as her manager He
managed her reception by President
Harding at the White House, when she
government estate, and learned that such
things weren't being done
But all Washington hau seen her nos
| tril ornament and had been visibly IN.
pressed by the -baby-biue cotton stockings
which peeped from the fr, S of her gor-
geous silk robes. So - princess re.
turned to her Kew York hotel, broke, but
still optimistic. She contracted with
Weinberg to sell her big diamond at no,
ftarT -
would buy an American estate with th<
proceeds.
jewelers. examined the famous gem bu
appeared Indifferent. Finally Weinberg
was offered S25,000 for it. The pr. .ncess
refused the offer. BY this time the
hotel men and host of other creditors
had become clamorous. AS the princess
seemed to have no other estates, theJ
attached the sparkling stone
The royal encourage in the meantime
had become desperately low in finances
until finally one of Fatima's sons nego
tiated $4,000 loan on the famous gem
and it was turned over to a trust com
pany for safe keeping. That was IL
November. Since then the fortunes o.
the Fatima household have made rapit
descent of the social scale. They moved
, from one hotel to another, gradually
; easing from life of splendor until, wher
, were living in squalor in tenement OF
. the East Side.
The burden of their support was car
ried by the Salvation Army for a time
then by the Travellers Aid society
, Finally government authorities hinteC
: to the British consulate that sine
! Afghanistah was British protectorate
that country should assume responsible
! ity for the princess and her family
. Since then she has been guest Of tn,
a British government. living in a two
rooms -wfth-bath apartment on Lexington
avenue.
The princess viii wear her nose-jewe
back to Afghanistan. But the big dia
nond will rerain in a safe deposit vaui
here to await settlement of the demand
, of her creditors and customs officials
, And her other Jewels. her wardrobe o
! gaudy silks, her staff of servants ais
} will be left in America. She win trave
! third class, a charity passenger-just
shabbfly dressed old woman with thre
grown sons
! But she still will be the Princes
! Fatima, suJtana OF Kaboul IN Afghanis
. tan.