Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-05
Important oustOm.house Seizure. In New

Important Custom. house Seizures In New
YOrk-SuppOsed fraud Upon the Reve-
Bue-BuenOs Ayres ImpOrtatiOns-FIve
million Dollars Involved.
Tuesdays New York Evening Post re.
marks:
The Collector of this port has recently
seized a considerable quantity of merchan-
disc imported from Buenos Ayres South
America consisting Of wool horse-hair,
hides, etc, embracing the usual invoices
from that port. The goods FIRST seized were
brought by the brig Mary Wilkins, which
arrived about January l, and which, with
subsequent invoices by the bark La Plata,
amounted in value to nearly 100000. Since
then, seizures of goods brought by FIVE or six
other vessels have been made-the goods
being consigned to different. parties, and
valued at about $500, 900. 1t should be stated
that these goods are owned by, OF were CON
signed to, some of the best known and first
class houses of the city, who have done
business at the custom house for the last
twenty-five years, and have never before
had the slightest difficulty with regard to
their importatioDs.
These seizure cases are now pending in
the United States District Court. The pre-
cise theory upon which the Collector intends
to ask the Court TO condemn these goods as
forfeited to the use of the United States has
not yet been made public. 1t is believed,
however, that Mr.. Schell claims that there
has been fraud in reducing the paper cur.
rency of Buenos Ayres, in, which the in
voices were made, which the importers claim
are in strict compliance with the law, and
represent the actual cost and fair market
value Of the goods to American currency.
The law requires that where an invoice is
made out in q deprecated currency, and an
entry is made at the Custom-house, the orig
insl invoice must be accompanied by a Con-
| sular certificate, stating the value of such
| deprecated currency in American currency.
| If the importer does not produce this certif-
cate he must give bond to do so in given
time, and the entry can not be made without
| it. In these cases it is reported that the Col
lector's theory is, that the United States Con-
| sui at Buenos Ayres (Mr. VIM. H. Hudson)
has not certified correctly to the value OF the
| deprecated currency. He certifes that
twenty five Buenos Ayres paper dollars are
| equal to one American silver dollar, and il
| is said that Mr.. Schell claims that twenty
one of them are equal in value, and that by
the production of the Consurs incorrect GER
| tifcate, the importers have done an act which
the revenue laws punish, by the condemna-
| tion of the goods.
! In the cases now in court the Collector
has arrested and seized the goods, and they
| have passed into the hands of the United
! States Marshal. 1t is reported that Mr. Schell
intends to take steps to recover the value Of
previous importatioDs, by these merchants
from the same port under section sixty. six
of the act OF 1899, which authorizes the Col
lector to proceed for the value of goods after
they have been Withdrawn for consumption
and have passed beyond his Jurisdiction. In
/ this case there is large amount of property,
valued at over $5,O0O,00O, which will become
subject of litigation in the United State.
\ District Court -