AN INSANE DIAMOND MERCHANT'S FREAKS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2635, 1 June 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN INSANE DIAMOND MERCHANT'S FREAKS.

An extraordinary story is reported from the Lake of Como. A well-dressed elderly gcutleman took passage at Como on one of the steamers for Colieo. During the voyage ho presented to one of the waiters :i neatly folded rnper packet which contained some diamonds, telling the man it was a " tip," The recipient, on reaching shore, threw 1113 present away, believing the diamonds were only fragments of glass. The strange passenger, before landing, made several similar presents to other persons. This becoming known, lie was questioned at Colieo by the police, and stated that his name was Leopold Laudauer, and that lie was a Berlin diamond merchant. " I live," he said, " upon diamonds, and 1 pay witli diamond?.'' Tlier;upon he pro-i-ecded to swallow several of these gem, which he had in his i ossession. The police communicated with the German Consul, at whose request Kerr Landauer was relegated to a lunatic asylum until tieanivalo his friends. He had upon his person 102 brilliants, valued at over C:J,000. On learning that the waiter !ad tin own away his diamonds, the peopl ■ of the place instituted an immediate search for them.