A DIAMOND TRICK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20318, 28 January 1928, Page 17

A DIAMOND TRICK.

SLEIGHT-OF-HAND DODGE. Detectives in many European countries and the United States were lately oombinfng with Scotland Yard m a search for a jewel trickster. Some time ago a group of prosperous London business men were introduced to an apparently well-to-do and respectable man about 'SO years of age, who agproached them on the subject of business enterprise. The venture, he explained, required capital, but he had only, diamonds to the value of £9OOO, which ha did not wish to sell. Would they care to advance him money on such a security. A diamond expert agreed that the stones were worth £9OOO. and a transaction took place. The jewels were carefully packed and sealed under the eyes of the assembled company, and in accordance with an agreement were deposited in a bank for safe custody for six months. The business men thought as time went on that they would have their security revalued. ' The new valuation proved it to be worth no more than its value as a packet of paste stones. Th e expert who originally valued the stones and the duped business men are convinced that they handled genuine diamonds. They are trying now to imagine bv what sleight-of-hand the trickster subsisted the false stone for the real oom *.