The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-10
TIVE LATE sulclns of 4 WEALTHY susIM MERCHANT.
Osrrupt Practices In the Custom Honse states
TO he the Cause.

~ss"Ps tue GuStOLb HtOuse STATED
TO he the Cause.
In the HERALD OF the 9Th inst. was published an
item from Boston announcing the suicide Of Mr.
Moses Williams an aged and highly respected mer-
chant o. that city Tho which led 10 this
depornblc event somewhat able being closoiy
connected with the management OF tho Custom House
affairs OF that city under tho late Collector Mr. Good
rioh. They may DO briefly stated. The unfortunate
gentleman was the partner Il the well known
zinc importing arm Of Jno. d. ~ williams Tina,
arm, which has bean In bnsins for half century
had introduced into the American market and was the
only American importer Of champagne wine known as
schroeder champagne and which had In Boston and the
New England staios the reputation which the Hodsck
wine enjoyed In this market After the tariff OF ls4e
advalorem tarir-wsnt into operation II became
necessary 10 pay duty the value Of the article At the
place OF expectation, and alter much calculation that
value was xed At thirty three francs tho basket This
was tho average between the highest and the iuwes,
brands q Heidsok, and was acquiesced in by the
Custom House administration, a. the correct estimate
The quality VI tho wine remained unvarcd that
1t had mover been necessary to change that ngurc
Custom House ofnccrs OF Boston as strictly homes,
and straightforward la all it, dealings being rrav
20 accommodate them with ts books, invoices CORES.
poDdence, &C In FACT there never breath Of
pcion entertained against some two years ago how.
over the books and paper Of the hrm were suddenly
ssxed by ordor OF the Collector who claimed thst the
urm had been paying duties on TOO low estimate OF
the foreign market value OF the wine. went back IN bis
cacnlatons To 1890, and demanded the payment nf q
hne Of $500 600 " in vain that the firm PRO
tested that had always acted iarly In s dealings with
he government and that similar brands Of vine werc
entered 10 the New York Custom House at the
leo valuation. By recent law extraordinary power
conferred on the collector, surveyor and naval ocer
81 por 10 Impose hnes on, make compromises WITH
persons violating he revenue laws; and ono half Of all
snch hne~ "a allowed 70 be- divided equally between them
Ihcsc oncefs hase therefore, direct and immediate in.
@res' IN extfung All they That power cVcr-
ched ~ them pretty rahlcssly 10 the case Of Williams
70. Iho hfm was notified 20 pay 70 this uumyrate
she round sum OF $500 oO0 with threat that delay
hesitation or refusal would lead 70 seizure OF lis store
sho closing up OF ~ business and forfeiture and sa'o
OF IL real estate, said " he worth a couple 81
million Of dollars Tue Old WAS terribly excited by
shs unforeseen calamity and ready ~ concode any.
thing rather than his business DESTROYED and All tho
fruits Of his life Of labor and enterprise finperlad rho
younger members OF the nfn, hcvcv er conscious that
no fraud was either Intended orcorm tied by the house
were disposed 70 rcst the exac0ns sought 10 Do i'm,
posed II was only when they that NE anxiety and
nervous irritation OF tie Old were a. yreat AZ 10
threaten bis lie the ngt hay pg Aspt fOf whole veesl
That they Agreed 10 fske c5Spromise A broker
named Way who had certain bus Connections win
Mr. French, the deputy collector procred his servcee
and tho result was that the Custom Houee Gentlemen
agreed 70 lower their demand 20 slO0 900 II seems thai
Mr. Edward Jordan solicitor tho Treasury vas about
this time taken into the action and his racotn
msndston the Secretary Of the Treasury authorized ,he
receipt Of ti0o,0p0 . compromise ny minor con.
ungent exactions, however, thai Increased "a
t2T 600 and besides that another equally unfoubded
r@sm IN rafsrsucs 10 sherry wne Imported from Csdy