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The Jagersfontein: Adamson

The stone weighed 209 1/4 carats. The way in which information of its existence and robbery was obtained, may be gathered from the evidence given before the police magistrate, by a Mr. Phillip Anthony Rivers, who related how he went into a drinking shop where Adamson and others were talking about diamonds. They openly spoke of a large stone which Kleb was going to take to Kimberley. Adamson keeps a shop opposite to the one of which Rivers is the owner. One night after the conversation referred to, he says:--"I remember a kafir coming to me one night, between nine and ten. The kafir asked me the price of a blanket. I showed him one. He said he would come some other day and buy it. I looked at him, he made sign and said, 'Baas, I want to see you.' He went out of my shop, and I followed. He said he had something, but was afraid of me. I asked him how it was he was afraid of me? 'Why, because,' he replied, 'I have been to the other shop,' pointing to Adamson's, 'and it is closed.' I told him to show me what he had got. He said it was a large diamond, and showed me the bowl of his pipe, and said it was as large as that. I told him to take it out and show it to me. He said, 'No, I am afraid.' Afterwards he said he would go and fetch the diamond, which was hidden under a stone. I was not to go to sleep; he would be back presently. As he passed Adamson's door it opened, and a kafir came out by the name of Woolwash, I think. The two talked a short time, and then went into Adamson's shop. The other side-door of the shop opened shortly afterwards. I saw the same boy that had been with me come out. I knew him by his white trowsers, which had stripes on them. Two other kafirs also came out. The first passed the dwelling-house of Adamson. I saw men going to Adamson's house. The dwelling-house is about five yards from the shop. A little time afterwards the kafir who had the stone returned to Adamson's shop. He went in at the back door. My boy (a Bushman) was with me. I told him he might go to bed. Next morning I asked my boy if he had seen the kafir who had the big diamond? He said he had seen him in Adamson's place, and saw him go to the tent where Adamson's kafirs stayed. I sent my boy to the tent to tell the kafir I wanted to see him. My boy came back and told me the kafir would not come. I stood on my stoop and watched, and saw the boy going to Adamson's shop. I called out to him 'how is it with the big diamond you did'nt bring?' He said, 'It's too late, the baas has the diamond,' pointing to Adamson's shop. I asked him if he had sold it? He replied, yes. I asked how much he got for it. He answered, it was not yet all settled. It created quite a sensation in court when it was proved that Adamson only gave pound 15 for the stone; while from further evidence it was shown that he expected to get pound 5000 for it at Kimberley.

Since the committal of the prisoners for trial, they have confessed to having sold within the last two months, diamonds of, respectively, 65, 10, and 2 1/2 carats in weight for pound 1,200; and two of 19 1/2 carats each, and one of 21 1/2 carats for pound 375 at Kimberley.

CHAPTER XA. THE ORLOFF.