"MANUFACTURING" DIAMONDS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 25 March 1908, Page 5

"MANUFACTURING" DIAMONDS.

THE LEMOINE CASE. Received March 24, 31.30 p.m. LONDON, March 24. A fresh application was made by the French Government at the Bow Street Police Court to secure the release from the bank of the envelope containing the recipe for the manufacture of diamonds. The application was refused, as Leinoine objected. Lemoine is alleged to have gone to London and entered into negotiations with a member of Sir Julius Wernher's firm for the purpose of working a reported new process for the manufacture of imitation diamonds. He is said to have declared that he had discovered a chemical secret whereby he could manufacture false diamonds so perfectly that it was impossible even for an expert to tell on handling the stones that they were not real. In support of his statement he produced several stones, which he declared he had manufactured, and which, it was alleged, were in reality real diamonds. Lemoine succeeded in obtaining no less than £64,000 from the diamond magnate, but after receiving part payment the nature of his tests aroused suspicion, whereupon, feeling hurt, he departed and then disappeared. Lemoine was arrested in Paris, and charged with fraud. An experiment, it is said, took place in the presence of the magnate. A crucible was placed in a furnace made wßite hot with electricity. After some time the crucible was taken from the furnace, and Lemoine drew out a diamond. The magnate, believing (says Reuter) he was being imposed upon, did not consider the trial conclusive, and requested that it should be made again in the presence of experts. Lemoine refused the request, saying that, under those conditions, his secret would be stolen from him, as he would be obliged to reveal his formula.