The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-02-07


The excitement relative 10 the seizure of thu
packet ship Oxford, was intense yesterday, owinl
to the full disclosures made exclusively through
the columns of the Herald. Jacob Gates, the frs
mate of the ship, who stands charged the piinci
pal in this business, arrested yesterday after
noon about 4 o'clock, in the Office of Captain
Marshall, 3S Burling slip by Deputy Marshall
Smith and Stillwell, who had been actively il
search for him since his escape. He had wan
dered about since Monday morning, when the in
terview took place between him and officer Chris
tall TO avoid arrest, and in the act OF finishing
an affidavit showing that the captain and owner
OF the vessel were ignorant of the offence com
mitted by him, as the officers entered the counting
house. On being arrested, he said he knew hi
guilt, and, therefore, had desire to conceal an!
thing connected with the matter. He is flint
looking fellow, and is native Of Charlestown
Mass. The examination held before Commissions
Rapelje, yesterday afternoon, resulted as will b
seen below in the holding Of all the parties to bail
including Gates, who was compelledto find suretie
in the sum Of $4,000.
II is fully evident from these disclosures, tina
smuggling to an immense amount, tempted by the
high tariff, has been carried on at this port TO-
years past and that this expose is but beginning
of that which will be shortly made manifest. The
Collector has at last prlcked up his ears, awoke
from three years sleep, and avowed his intention
to protect the honest importers from the depreda-
lions of the dishonest smugglers. This may be so
hut we must see some evidence OF efficiency be
fore our eyes are opened to believe il. The dis
closures here made were the result of mere acct
dent-not the vigilance of the Collaboration had
the river not been filed with floating ice, every
bale of the smuggled goods on board Of the Oxford
would have been removed in the usual way, by
boats hauled alongside of the ship at night, while
the custom house night watch were either at home
snug in bed or engaged in their own private en-
ioyments Ithas been well known fact for years
to all who have any knowledge of the Custom
House, that the assembling at the barge Office at
roll call inthc evening, and an appearance on duty
at sunrise in the morning, has constituted the ex
tent of the labors of three fourths of the night
watch of the customs. This fact being well known
to sharp-eyed importers, and avaricious mates and
captains, has opened the gate for flood OF SNUG
gled goods that has continued to flow into city
for years past, to the detriment Of honest impor.
tiers.
The present seizure, being small haul of about
tor, and in anticipation of the presumed fact that
other packets and vessels about arriving at this
port have been and are engaged in the same bu-
sness, he has ordered one of the revenue cutters
outside to board all foreign vessels approaching the
coast, and receive their manltests, in order to de-
tect the fraud and conhscae the vessel II she con-
tains goods not entered upon them This move
ment on his part, however, would probably not
have been made had not information been convey
ed to his ears that number OF owners and import
ers had dubbed together and were on the eve of
sending several pilot boats and other fast-salllng
vessels outside to board their ships as they came
in and give warning, SO as to either cause the ma
nifests to be altered to accord with the goods on
board, or else to cast the Struggled goods over
hoard and thus prevent the vessel from being con-
fiscated.
This movement of the Collector will, therefore,
when made known this morning, create the great.
est excitement and CONSERVATION on the part OF
owners who are prlvy to acts OF smuggling, and
nearly as much among these who are not, as their
agents on board may be guilty without their know.
ledge. There is no doubt that great exposures will
follow, aud that vessel after vessel, she arrives,
will he seized and confiscated. This will not be
confined to vessels from Europe alone, as tine
frauds upon tine revenue practised by packets be.
tween this city and Havana, in the Smuggling OF
cigars is almost equal to that between thus and
uauy VI our fsrTpPtan pofls III vihef Articles OF
merchandise.
goods from the Oxford were traced by fhe officers
# Customs, was entered by orders of the Colec-
for and all the goods therein seized for examlna-
ion. This will swell the amount OF seizures to
,vef 800, O00-one- fourth OF which falls quietly
INTO the lap of our Collector.
This enormous sum will call forth the close in
1uiries of members Of Congress as to the distinct
meaning of the act o. Congress passed in 1870 that
PRESENT Attorney General disagree with the late
incumbent as TO the intention of this act it was
originally framed, combining the Collector to the
mount of 5000 confscation, the remainder pass
to pass an explanatory act that will put this ,Satter
IN true light There is no doubt that some move
ment will be Immediately made in that body as
ioon as the particulars relative to these seizures
have reached Washington.
The Examination.
BEFORE COMMISSIONERS RApELJE.
PATRICK LAUGHLIN examinedilve at 26i Water street,
am boatman; employ ed to land goods from
vessel at Peck slip on Saturday week last assisted in
hauling the goods from the boat into the wharf, and thence
carriage The goods in bales, covered with
ark cloth-there about eighteen twenty bales
rhe carriage twice in night recoiiect
he night; followed the last carrage there hour
so Of interval between the first and second trip Of the
carriages the boat went to the ship during the alb
Of the carriages was employed by Suttoni Abe
sutton they called him, think; he engaged in re
moving the gools McAuleywas also in the boat sawMr
harris; that night went to Mr.. Parkers house, but did
not see any Of the goods at the house, saw the two me
hey custom house officers: the carriage left Par
<ers house latter had entered; can't say who the
river was; they called him Curtis; when the carriage
eft the dock sutton went with it, guess when saw the
carriage at Parkers house the goods had been remov
ed; saw Parker at mis- house, but can't say wheth
.r saw him that night not ! made no Sc
cret Of the affair with Parker; | never before
saw any goods landed at Parkers Sutton employed me
early that day he said he had goods to take out
Of ship and to be ready to assist him dark when
told to be ready he has not paid me for Il yet
there only man in the boat and that was Michael
tNAauiey) !; never the boat before OF since the
boat brought two loads that nigh, knew that the good
came from the Oxford, as Sutton had told me SO wal
with Sutton two three nights before helping to
goods that night there only six bales that night
they came from the ship did not know who wal
the boat did not follow the carriage the first night
do not know where the goods were carried to the
first night this within two three nights of the Sa
turday week last No with the wharf ex.
cep the cabman it may have been about nine O'Clock
Sutton did not tell why he did not make more loads
he may have said that there some persons watch
lug us VI did not see Sutton go on board the vessel
went on board the ship and the mate
second mate think it wa, the chic
nate they called him Gates, ! think I told
the mate that MIR. Sutton had sent board to gel
goods and the mate took out the goods by the at
therp another man. hat nau,s