European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 30, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Daily Magazine by Donald Finley of a scoff writer grief killed Wilheim fals. Marie Antoinette lost her head to the Guil Lotine. French trader Jean Baptist Tavernier died insane. A revolutionary s Blade felled russian Prince Ivan Kani toys Fri. Catherine the great died of apoplexy. The common link in this 300-year trial of misery misfortune and splendor gone sour is the Hope Diamond 44.5 carats n weight and the world s largest deep Blue disaster has not struck the staid smithsonian institution in the decade it has had the Hope under Glass and new York Gem dealer Harry Winston the donor says he experienced no mis Fortune. Does this mean the curse if there was one has been ended As far As we Are concerned Saidur. George Switzer it has lost its curse. Realty though 1 Don t believe it Ever had a Switzer is chairman of the department of Mineral science at the smithsonian. The recent puzzling death of an unexplained malady of 25-year-old Evalyn Mclean at her ranch near piano tex., raised the old Specter she was one of seven grandchildren of the late Evalyn Walsh Mclean Washington socialite whose family suffered great personal tragedy during the 40 years she owned the Hope Diamond. Her marriage broke up her husband later died in a mental institution her oldest son was killed by a car a Daugh Ter do d from an overdose of sleeping pills. Nonetheless a Stepsister mrs. Rich Ard l. Jones of Dallas said the family considered the legendary curse just so much baloney i us smithsonian b e 1 i e v e s the Hope u part of the 112.5-Carat frenc Blue Diamond that originated in the Kolluru mines of India. According to legend it was pried from the forehead of a hindu idol by a Brahman priest who was later tortured to death. The entire history of the Diamond after that in not known but enough is known to Trace a Long line of mishaps to its it showed up in the hands of French Diamond trader Jean Baume Taver birr who Sui a u it out of India mfg-12 and sold it to French Monarch Lotus Xiv. Louis had the Stone Cut to 67.5carats, lie loaned in to a French gov i Ranum official who was later the Kim. Louis his rein m disgrace died Ofin incurable disease the Hope diamond44 i carats of deep Blue glitter. i he Vav. � re 1si in if it i t e 1 wdo.0 death at a Alyn Mclean Uii sed anew curse question. To n Shauh Mclean. She wore Diamond to Musket Ball game. A descendant Princess de Labelle wore the Diamond and was killed by a mob in the French stole the Stone from King Louis Xvi and his Queen Man Antoinette who later died at the Guil Lotine. It was put in storage but stolen in1792 by burglars and next appeared Sev eral years later in the hands of Wil Helm fals a dutch Diamond Cutter who reduced it to its present size. He die heartbroken after his son Hendrik stole the Diamond from him. Many year Slater the son committed suicide. The next known owner. French broker Francois Beaulieu destitute sold the Diamond for a fraction of its Worth to an English broker who apparently escaped any ill Luck. He sold it for $90,000 to Henry Thomas Hope an Irish banker and Squire. The Hope family Lent its name to the Stone sold it but came upon ill Fortune. Within two generations the family wealth had vanished. The Diamond also came into the pos session of Jacques cell a French jew Eler who went insane and died a Prince Ivan a Amitovski once gave it to Folies Bergere dancer Loren Laduc and later was stabbed to death by revolutionaries. On the Day after she accepted the gift miss Laduc was fatally stabbed. Catherine the great of Russia another one time owner died of apoplexy. A Spanish merchant owner of the Bauble drowned in a Shipwreck. A Turk ish Sultan stabbed his wife after giving her the Diamond. New York jeweler Jacques Cartier acquired the Stone in 19u9 and sold it to the mcleans in 1911 for �154,000.cartier apparently escaped any Milfor . Mclean had it nut on a Platinum necklace with 62 smaller diamonds. Shehad a priest bless it just in case1 and forbade her children from touching wore it often sometimes Shile marketing or to baseball Mclean estate sold the Diamond to Arnmon with the stipulation the Sale was cancelled if there was a death in the family within six month. There was t. Seven years passed before the Mel cans first son Vincent was killed a an Auto Accident. Winston raised millions for Chanty by Nikitin the Diamond for nine years lie i ave it to the smithsonian in 1958, no pin it would Start a National jewel collection similar to the anti h Crown i e to it remains once a an of no Oie Man admired a . Iii perhaps Anjim eci at 30, 1968 the s1aks and stripes
