The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-17
From the NsD Orleans Delta.
Extraordinary Case OF Erasure OF Judicial
Records

Our readers will remember some short time ago
the report, which appeared in this paper, of the in
vcstigaton before the United States Commissioner
of an alleged extensive smuggling case, implicat-
ing Mr.. Tricou a large importer of French hats,
who, il is said, has accumulated fortune within
few years past in that trade. On appraisement
of certain hats received by Mr. Tricou, the letters
of the importer were demanded, according to the
provisions of the act of Congress in regard TO mer
chants appraisemcnts of goods imported. In an
swer to this call, Mr.. Trcou produced his letter.
book, running from December 20, lS49, to July |,
1850, containing his directions to his correspond
ents in Paris. An examination OF this book re-
vealed an extensive and deep laid plan TO evade
| and violate the revenue laws, and showed that
smuggling had been reduced to a perfect science,
and carried on with recklessness almost unpar-
| aleled, by this bold OPERATOR These letters con-
tanned instructions to undervalue hats ordered, to
conceal costly and valuable hats in cheap ones to
make false invoices, and 10 do great many other
things the serious detrimcnt of Uncle Sam, and
the enrichment of Mr.. Trcou.
When these facts discovered everybody was
amazed at the simplicity daring OF Mr.. Tricou
in surrenderng such a record vi his own acts-acts
considered by the Government prosecutor in
volving violations of the revenue laws, the penal
ties for which would exhaust all Mr. Tricou's ac-
qusitions and condemn hun Tor nearly the rest OF
his life to Imprisonment The impression pro-
duced upon some minds WAS, that Mr.. Tricou was
not really sensible that he was committing any Sc
riuus offence against the laws though perusal of
hs letters is calculated 10 opinion that he
was not wanting in method and cunning.
On an examination of the com missioner, Joshua
Baldwin, Mr.. Trcou's attorney objected strongly
to the introduction of his letter book but it was
ruled in good cvdence--was filed, and deposited
with the clerk OF the United States District Court
and Mr.. Tricou sent before the United States
District Court for trial. on several charges of Snug
Cling and violations of the revenue laws He was
held to bail in the sum of (, 200.
he letter books remained IN the possession of the
clerk of the court, without being seen or handled
by any one but the accused until yesterday, when
officer of the customs desiring to refer to them
what his astonshment to find that al! that por
ton of the letters tending to mpcate Mr.. Trcou,
upon which the prosecution relied, had been erased
by some strong acid. These extended
from page ~ To A. of the letter book and embraced
portions Of all the letters marked for reference by
the United States commissioner and the district
attorney.
Yesterday Mr.. Robt W. Lusher, deputy clerk Of
the United States district court, appeared before
acting recorder Hale, and made affidavit against
p. Tricou for altering, defacing, and celebrating
the records of the United States district court A
warrant Immediately Issued against MIR. Tri-
cou. We understand that this act was as vain and
useless criminal, the district attorney has
pies Of the letters-and besides, the words can be
restored by chemical application.