Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-09-03
The United states Government Defrauded.


Considerable excitement was created yester-
day afternoon in Inc vicinity Of the custom
house, in consequence OF the arrest Of two Ger
man dealers in Jewels, detected by Captain
Rynders deputy surveyor of the port and Gus
tom-house officer Il. j. Brown, in the act Of
attempting to smuggle some fifteen thousand
dollars worth OF diamonds ashore, from the
steamship Washington, which arrived near one
o'clock, from Bremen and Southampton, The
officers boarded the steamer off quarantine, and
suspicious resting against the accused, they
Immediately searched his person, and found a
belt around his waist, wherein was concealed
package of brilliants. When the prisoner
was first accosted by the officers, he Indignantly
denied all knowledge Of the smuggied property,
but when officer Brown unbucked the buck
skin belt and took IT from his body, his courage
failed and he confessed. The property was
deposited with Collector Redfeld, and further
action in the matter will be taken to-day.
Our reporters obtained additional particulars
last evening respecting this important seizure,
which arc as follows 1t seems that certain in
formation was received by Captain Rynders
the outdoor surveyor OF the port, which led him
to suspectthat there would arrive, in the steamer
Washington, on the 10th inst, two individuals,
who in all probability would bring Struggled
fact that he dispatched Mr.. Thos. j. Brown, one
of the day inspectors Of the customs, to the
Quarantine at Staten Island, to await the arri-
val OF the steamer, and keep bright lookout
for the smugglers. Mr.. Brown performed his
duty TO the very letter; and it was not long
after he boarded the ship that lie became con-
hdent that two German Jews, who were passen-
gers in the Washington, were the men he was
on the lookout for. He Immediately accused
them OF having contraband goods in their pos.
session which they most strenuously denied,
and endeavored to make it appear that they
would not be guilty Of committing such a Grim
inal act. Their assertions were not, however.
credited by the officer; he at once perceiying
from the nervous and anxious appearance of
these men, that he had Shit the RIGHT nail on
the head" insisted on searching them and
which he proceeded to do; they of course find.
themselves in trouble, commenced 10 remon-
strate, and at last offered considerable resist.
ance; but the officer, nothing daunted, went to
work in good earnest.
de at first discovered in the vest-pocket of
one OF them four costly gold watches and a
number OF diamonds, which the smuggler re-
presented to him to be merely common glass
stones. Under his clothes was belt made of
cotton cloth, very similar in form to a life
PicseINer, auu WHICH WIS DIeu with all de-
scrptions Of the most valuable watches, dia-
mond, ruby, and enameled rings, and about
three hundred carrots, weight of unset diamonds.
On searching his companion, large amount
OF jewelry was taken from the legs Of his boots.
These valuables were taken charge of by officer
Brown; and on the arrival Of the steamer at the
wharf yesterday afternoon, about l24 o'clock,
he called upon Mr.. William Miner, also at
tached TO the revenue department, and they
arrested one of the parties.
The Struggled property was conveyed to the
custom.hou and deposited in the hands of
Surveyor Cochrane. The value Of the articles
seized is estimated at from twelve to fifteen
thousand dollars.
We refrain from publishing the names Of the
parties at present. as in all probability other
seizures will be be made, and this very import.
ant one may lead to some new developments.
Captain Rynders and inspector Brown de.
serve great credit for the manner in which this
business was accomplished, and it is to be
hoped that their efforts will tend to put an
efiectual bar to the many and extensive frauds
which have for so long time been perpetrated
on the revenue.-Neio York Times, Isl.