Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-12-10
HISTO RVS
MYSTERIES
The $36O,OOO Necklace

TO Suei an extent tfiul siit Nho upfs
to rob him of the famous diamond
necklace which formed one OF the
causes leading up 10 the French reyo-
luton? II not. who was responsible
for the scandal which broke with ter
rife violence over the French court
and, finally. what became of the
money received for the necklace II
self?
These are questions which have ex-
cited the curiosity and speculation OF
hundreds Of historians and novelists
but which. despite the most rigid IN
vestigations. remain still unanswered
inextrieably entwined with the sordid
but spectacular story Of Louis ",
Madame Du Barry. De Rohan, Madame
Lamotte and Marie Antoinette herself
In iii Louis Ny WAS infatuated
with Madame nu Barry and, as an
evidence Of his affection, commits
stoned the court jewelers. to collect
the finest diamonds they could lay
their hands on and fashion necklace
that would be absolutely unique. The
jewellers exercised so much care In
the selection of these stones that, be-
fore the necklace was completed. the
king died. The work was 80 far adj
vanced, however. that the gorgeous
piece was finished at cost of some
1850, equivalent at the present
time to practically $1,OO0,OoO-in the
hope that 1t could be sold to Louis
XVI for his queen.
Then suddenly Jeanne de Naloise
madam Lam0tte) came upon the
scene and hoodwinked Cardinal de
Rohan-arch-enem to the Queen--into
believing that she was Marie Antoi-
nette's most intimate friend. Iamotte
even signed spurious notes with the
Queens name and worked upon the
ambition of the cardinal until De No-
han believed that she had succeeded
In overcoming Marie Antoinettes hos
tility toward him.
Finally Lamotte risked a note to
the CARDINAL communication which
was supposed TO have come directly
from the queen of France--comms-
sioning him to borrow 6n.OoO francs
| for q certain charitable purpose the
money to be transmitted to the queen
| through Madame Lamotte. The cardi-
| nal borrowed the money and turned II
/ over to tile intermediary. \ second
loan Of an equal amount was also
/ obtained and with the money the La
/ NOTES furnished one of the most mag
nifcent houses in the capital anu
financed themselves for Il round Of
ceaseless gaieties.
| The success which had attended this
scheme evidently led Jeanne Lamotte
TO believe that she could put through
one of the most daring frauds in his
| tory-the theft Of the almost priceless
| diamond necklace which had become
d white elephant on the hands OF the
court jewelers.. Jeanne therefore In
sinuated to Cardinal de Rohan that
Marie Antoinette wished TO purchase
the necklace for her own use, but thai
she particularly desired that the king
know nothing Of the transaction. add
inr that II the cardinal would attent
TO the details of the transaction y
would entirely reinstate him In roya
favor De Rohan FASTENED To fnifil
the mission and. on February |, lISJ
| the necklace passed into his hand
and his note was accepted by TIL
jewellers for the entire purchase pric'
III being understood tthanks to La
NOTES intri2ues) that the transfe
was being made With the full anproya
of the queen.
The necklace was to be delivered t
i sfHrip t11tufrfettt. by the cardinal @
queen was expected to wear ii, an
the casket containing the jewels wa
taken to the home OF the Iamotte
by whom 1t was to be handed to tn
queens messenger. Still further
dupe the cardinal. Jeanne Lamott
employed an actress to impersonal
Marie Antoinette and, because OF II
heavy veil which the substitute wor
De Rohan believed that he had a
tuallv had an interview with the qnet
herself.
Lamotte then dispatched her hu
band to London with the necklac
where Ii was broken up and the ston
sold separately. Unfortunately for Il
nlans of the adventures, however, q
trick was discovered when the jew
ers wrote to the queen, thanking h
for purchasing the diamonds. Mar
Antoinette at once demanded an c
PLANTATION Of their statement and tn
asked for the original copy of t
agreement lie Rohan was imme
ately arrested and sent to the b,
tile, to be followed shortly afterwa
n BY Madame Lanotte and a number
y her accomplices. But this by no mea
ended the case, because the actions
Marie Antoinette were so strange a
her explanations so strained that ma
historians have expressed the bel
that she herself was more or less
terested In the matter and that |
had profited directly by the sale
/. the stones abroad Regardless OF t
~ phase Of the matter, however, the
fair Of the queens necklace rema