Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-11-27
Bold Operation in the Custom
House--A Conspiracy to Defraud
the Government Discovered.
From inc New York Tribuno.l

Some of the boldest fraudulent transac-
tions that have come to light for long
time have just been discovered in the New
York Custom House, involving number
Of clerks in the employ OF the Government,
and some importers The frauds have been
conducted in such manner as to leave no
DOUBT in the minds OF any person that a
thorough conspiracy had been organized,
with view to perpetrate the crime more
completely. This is evident from the fact
that the clerks in the several different de-
partments understood each other, and
worked in harmony in carrying out their
nefarious business, the operation having
gone on during several years. In the ordi-
nary business of the Custom House, it is
frequently necessary to refer to invoices,
which are kept on file. The clerk whose
duty it is to find the desired invoice few
days ago discovered that a number Of them
were missing. A search was made, which
resulted in the exposure of the whole affair.
The completely OF certain importers may
be explained thus A merchant imports
a cargo of goods from France valued at So
600 francs, but on presenting the invoice at
the Custom House, swears it is worth but
10, 900 francs The Entry Clerk, in COM
plicity with the fraudulent merchant, re-
ceives this statement as correct, and by ar
ranging it with other clerks the false invoice
duly passes through the Custom House,
and the importer pays duty on only one
fifth of the real value of his importation
An Entry Clerk can dir6sta certain bale
among dozen bales of wofsted to be exam
ined and appraised. This particular bale
may have some private mark by which he
recognizes it, and it is the only one he or
ders examined All the other bales may
contain silk, although passed like the spec
imen Such fraud could not be commit
ted without the aid of thGclerks. Of course
the difference-an amount which, although
less than said difference, is intended to re-
present it is divided among the operators.
The invoice subsequently passes through
other hands, and is subjected to the same
formalities, so as to prevent the possibility Of
detection, the other clerks not necessarily
being in the secret. The result of the dis
coveries made thus far, is The suspension Of
eleven clerks in different departments,
while others who assert their innocence are
apprehensive that they, too, may be sus
pended, as they may have passed the in
voices in the usual manner, thinking, o.
course, that, before reaching them, all pos
sibility of fraud had been duly guarded
against. ta u l.EeNsf
Mr. j. R. Van yechte&, entry clerk, who
was arrested on Thursday, was appointed
Is years ago at salary Of 900 per. an
NUN. He was in the Entry Department
under Mr.. Mudgett, Deppty Collector {
position formerly held by Michael Hoffman
recently deceased. sp
Among others who have been suspended
are: Joseph p, Beach, o1i9 Clerk at th'
amendment desk in the liqpidating depart
ment. He was appointed b 1858 at a sal
ary of 81, 400. Thomas Dsfknower, Chic
!, Clerk in the Invoice DepaStlhent, who wa
appointed in 1858, at s&lary of ef,b00
William B. Knower, Invciss sGlerks son o