The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1862-11-28
Immense Frauds il the II. 7. Custom
Uouse--a1, coo, 900 taken from
Tho TYvao1urv
the Treasury.

GouSs--9I, COo, COo taken from
the Treasury.
The fiauds discovered in the New York
Custom House run back, it il is said, for
years. They were confined principally to
entry clerks. The moIas operGadi of The
defalcators, shows that several Custom
House brokers were in coilusion with the
clerks, Iennuerating them for their dis
honesty. The frauds were committed in
this wise. Invoices Of silk were changed
to those of cotton md materials which
only had insignificant duties. and on some
occasions Old invoices were preserved and
fillel with tie same object.
Some time since the suspicious OF the
Collector were aroused; and An officer put
on the track Of one of lie clerks, Mr., Van
Vechlen, which led to lis arrest, as preVi-
ously noticed. 1t was then discovered
that about nineteen Of the clerks had been
also connected with similar frauds, and
they were suspended, till proof should be
forthcoming sufficient to justify their ar
rest We have tie names Of SOME OF these
clerks, but at present omit publishing
them
! The Express gives the following list Of
hose suspended: Joseph p. Beach. 1hos.
+. KnoHer, William b knower, William
4. Lefingwel, Isaac 3 Gregg, Nr Iyers.
Mr. Beach was chief clerk at the
Amendment Des!; OF tie Liquidating De
psrtment. Mr. Thomas D. knower was
chief clerk in the Invoice Department and
Mr. VIM. B. Knower Invoice Geek.
Mr.. Lefiingwe!l was chief clerk in the
Record Office, and Mr.. Isaac 3. GREGG was
an examiner Of six in the Appraisers Of,
fee.
The Tribune explains tie modus oper-
a,,di Of he fraud
The completely Of certain importers
may be explained thus: A merchant i'm
ports q cargo Of goods from France valued
at 50, 600 francs, bat on presenting the in
voice at the Custom House swears that it
ia worth but 10000 francs. The Entry
Clerk, in completely with the fraudulent
merchant, receives this statement as cor
rect, and by arranging it with other clerks
the false invoice duly passes through the
Custom House, and tho importer pays
duty on only one-ffth of tie real value Of
bis importation. An entry clerk can di
rect q certain bale among dozen bales Of
vorsted to be examined ana appraised. =
ms '"','J''"' o",e may '"'e So'''e pa
':e man =! Nl',c" ne uses = 'i,'
All tie other bales maY contain silk, al
| though passed like the specimen. Such q
'T"u cpu'" o No. - ,.',,,',s,' "' 5ra e
-, amonnt which aItho,oh less han
said difference, is intended to represent ii
| is divided among the operatots. The
invoice subsequently passes 'iropS'' '''e
o'is '':''US' o." = 40 En-"
l,l''.', ~ ,o oaa.,a
~; uI, e;a ,,'o saora " = NV 0'''
-" w.
he Same paper says
! Mr.. }. Il. van Feah'en' entry clerk
,o;ota1 * voars aoo at saIarr &c Al 5Go
DER AMMAN. lie was in the entry depart>
ment under Mr.. Mudoett, deputy collector,
1 n posltion formerly held bv Michael Hoff
man, recently deceased.
Among others who have been suspend
ed are Josepb p. Beach, chief clerk at
the amendment desk in the Eouidatinn
department. lie was appointed in 1853
at a salary of S1.40O. Thomas D. Know
or chief clerk in the invoice depari,acnf.
who was anpointe1 in 1853 At a salary ol
$1,000, william 3. Knower. invoice
~ u II TLo,,.. n Ero,.o,. .1r