A FATAL GEM.

Bruce Herald, Volume LV, Issue 65, 25 August 1919, Page 5

A FATAL GEM.

AMERICA'S RICHEST BOY THE LATEST 'VICTIM.' HOPE DIAMOND TRAGEDY. News of the latest tragedy in the sinister rocord of the "world-famous Hope diamond comes from America. Vinson Walsh M'Lcan, the ten-year-old boy who, when born, was known as the £20,000,000 baby, was killed by a motor car while crossing the road in front of his parents' house in a suburb of Washington. He was the son of Mr Edward Bcalc M'Lcan, and would ultimately have inherited the fortunes of his grandparents, John McLean, owner of tho 'Cincinatti Enquirer,' and Thomas E. Walsh, the Colorado''mining king.' The boy was surrounded by guards from the day of his birth to prevent him from being kidnapped, even his perambulator in babyhood having a steel network over the top. It was probably (says a 'Daily Mail' telegram) the guards who were indirectly responsible for his death, sis the boy was in the act of escaping for a few minutes' freedom when run down ..by a motor car.

At the time of the accident Vinson's parents were attending a race meeting at Louisville, Kentucky, whence they hurried 'back by special train. Though brain specialists, army doctors, and nurses fought for the boy's life they were unable to sate him; he died before the parents could reach his bedside. Thou'gh the boy was brought up like a prince, there was much that was pathetic in his life. Ho was practically never alone, cither nurses or guards being constantly at hand. Jewel With a Curse. ■The boy's death will be coupled with the fact that his mother is the owner of the famous Hope diamond, which has brought misfortune to each of its many possessors. The diamond was bought for £36,000 by Edward M'Lcan for his wife soon after marriage, lie presented it to her at a great ball at Washington.

She declared at the time that she intended to show that 'its Nemesis could be overcome.' But at the first crisis in the family its .malign influence seemed to work, for the death of Mr M' Lean 'n mother was due to the fact that the specialist summoned to attend her during an attack of pneumonia could not reach her until 48 hours after the crisis of the disease began/ and then'it was too-late.