BLUE DIAMOND MYSTERY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8909, 31 August 1907, Page 4

BLUE DIAMOND MYSTERY.

A sequel to the mysterious disappearance of a valuable blue diamond, belonging to the Count do Rodcllec du Portzic, is the suit , for damages commenced at Brest by M. Gregor, a Russian State Councillor. M. Greger claims £42,000 as compensation for libel, defamation of character, and wrongful imprisonment. While M. and Mine. Gregor were the guests of the count and countess at the Chateau Kcr-Stoars in August, 11)0(5, the countess lost the celebrated blue diamond ring, worth £2OOO, which was afterwards found bv a detective in the Russian’s dress-ing-ease, hidden Lin a tooth-paste bottle. M, Gregor was arrested, and kept in prison for some weeks. Ho was thou released on bail, and a little later the countess withdrew the charge. When the case opened the court was crowded, but neither of the defendants was present, it being explained that the countess’ mother had died suddenly during the night. Counsel for M. Gregor , in opening the case, alleged that the defendant had no right to call himself a count. His marriage, lie said, was entirely one of money, Mine. Rodolloc, who posed as the countess, being a wealthy American, and very much older than her husband. Counsel wont on to explain that the parties were 'close friend's for a time, and that M. Grcger incurred the. hatred of the count through hawing, with his wife, advised the countess to seek a separation from her husband. It was suggested that the. count had caused the famous blue diamond to bo placed in the innocent Gregor’s dressing-case so that he might be marked as a thief, and thus ruined.