The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-07-27

EXAMINATION OF PAUL TRIooU CHARGED
WITH VIOLATION OF THE REVENUE LAWS
Before Y. 5. Commissioner Bal5tcin.-The case
Of Paul Trcou, a heavy hat dealer Of this city, Of
the firm of Albert g. Tricou, came up before the
United States Commissioner yesterday L. Hun
ton the u 5, District Attorney, appeared for the
prosecution, and ], P. Benjamin for the defence
This grew out OF the following circum-
stances An invoice of hats imported by Mr., Tri-
cou, was considered by the u s. Appraiser, Mr..
Garfield, as incorrect and in the performance of his
duty he added 90 per cent. to the alledged cost.
Mr.. Iricou demurred to paying the duties this
valuation, and committee Of merchants was
selected to revise the apprasement.
The following notification was served upon Tri-
cou
W lsi we require you 70 produce 70 u.s. this day. at 10
eoek on oSh o. yogr letter book Journal and
ai1s 70 nine cases hats mared m9rs imported
by Albert Trcou in the shin Pyramid from Havre and
[signedl r. F. CAMPBELL, U. s. Appraiser
r. Grooming, App.
Upon this notice, he delivered up his letter book,
to show the value of the hats ordered, and Mr.,
Garfield, in investigating the case, found, to his
| establishment, other letters in the book showing
previous frauds. With this information, he felt il
TO be his duty as an officer Of the Government, to
| bring the present prosecution, which is founded
upon the following section of the Tariff act of '46
Ifqny person shall knowingly and wilfuy with intent to
delraud the revenue OF the United States smugge or clan
or merchandise subject to duty by law and which should
have been nyoced without paying or accounting for the
any false, forged Of fraudulent invoice every such pssoa
msemeano and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any
sum not exceeding five thousand dollars, imprisoned fol
any term time not exceeding years. BOTH at the dis
cretion of the Court
! Mr. Hunton proposed to produce the letter-book
of Mr.. T'rieOu in evidence.
Mr. Benjamin made long and ingenious argl.
| ment in opposition He considered that the u s.
| had lad I1tu i,,tf
this letter book, any further than to satisfy himself
of the correctness of the invoice in question. The
| book was only given up for that purpose, and il
| was now illegally withheld from the possession o
| his client The letters referred to in its pages
| could not be given in evidence as the confessions
of the defendant, as they were not voluntarily sur.
| rendered.
| Mr.. Hunton rejoined.
The Commissioner decided that the letters should
be read, and that then he would further decide
| whether the statement made in them could be
called voluntary one-aso, whether Mr.. Trcou
was surprised into the delivery OF the letter-bo
| or forced to gi7e it up by fear or force.
| The following were then read from the letter.
book of Mr.. Tricou:
A letter, dated the 9th December, 1s49, from
| Mr.. Irlcou to Mr.. Leduc, at Paris, in which he
acknowledged the receipt of two cases of hats
l2463 and 2466O and stated that he had passed tc
| Mr.. Leduc IS credit the of 35l4 francs. The
invoice OF these cases, as passed through the Gus
| tomhouse, sums up but 26ll francs
Another letter was read from Mr.. Tricou, direct
ing his partner, Mr.. Albert, in Paris to send GER
tain number of hats at thirteen francs and fifteen
francs, the inferior to be placed on top and the
whole to be charged at nine francs each in the in
| voice for the Customhouse Another letter stated
| that credit had been given to Mr.. Leduc for 661t
francs. The invoice for that date passed through
the Customhouse was for 3716 francs. Another
letter instructed Mr.. Albert in Paris, to always
| put in the bottom of the cases containing men
| hats, trimmings, etc. The next, dated 18th June
1S4O, to Mr. Albert, orders lot of straw hats, ant
directs him to conceal childrens sizes inside. The
next, of the 2Sth June, TO Mr. Albert, directs thai
| he can try to place dozen fiat silk hats at the
| bottom OF every case forwarded.
| The Commissioner having decided to admit these
letters in evidence, Mr.. Benjamin, after consulting
with his client, said that, under this ruling of the
Court he would ask that the case might be SEM
before the United States District Court, and tina
| Mr.. Tricou would enter bail for his appearance.
The case was so disposed of. The bond of Mr.
| Tricou is placed at Sl5, 900.