The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-14
THE OUR T S .
vsIrtO STATES DISTRICT COURT.
Continuation of the Champagne Cnses.
Before Judge Blatchiord

COMMUNICATION Of the Champagne Cases.
Before Judge Blatchord
The Upued states against s,loe Cases 81 Champagne,
n Hu,eoanr a o. Claimants -The nearng this case
was resumed yesterday
Reobep Robinson. on the stand when the court ad.
ioarned the previous day, recalled ana his
nation resumed Witness the Custom House sficer
Who appraised the wines in question. He deposed that
ihe wines OF ST. Marceaux the wines in litigation lay
70 the Custom House from June TO September, three
months
To Mr. wcbser-The cause Of that delay arose from q
wish expressed the Collector the port and the So
hector OF the Treasury to the effect that the appraise-
nent should be delayed till they had received some
definite information upon which base their appraise-
ments Of the value Of these wines. Difficulties had
arisen IN San Francisco between merchants there and
abe agents OF these Champagne vines Witness was
then examined 10 the which guided him in
apprafsing some wines valued higher and some
lower than others; the red. lac was appraised
franc less than the carte nor and blanche,
royal ST. Mareeaux lone of the brands OF dspute)
was appraised two francs more than carte and
dnche the quart bottles; the value OF the wine de-
pended principally upon the quality OF the crude or
brot wine at the Custom House fixed the value OF
the wine the rate 1t valued at the place pro-
ducuon; was not guided much in apprasements by
valuation or the wine IN this country materially by
Us reputation at the place of manufacture; the ap.
praseement was principally based the value OF the
raw wne and not tho price OF the wines here passed
champagne wine as low as eighteen francs dozen for
quarts and as high as francs the difference
~ the valuation 10 greatly owing the condition OF the
crude wlne and sbc changes apprase ments are
made according opinion of the value OF the raw
wine; II the tables were taken OF the bottles might not
know the difference OF the grades OF same quality
Of wine, but could distinguish superior from ne
nor vino, could not receive reliable information Of the
value OF these wines in the markets OF france.
BY Mr. Evarts deter shown 70 witDessl Rccollected
having the subject matter OF this letter brought 10 his
attention at the time the question fixing value
Of these wines under consideration
The letter was offered in evidence
Mr. Webster objected the ground that the letter had
not been sufficiently identified.
The Court sustained the objection and on
the point was not pressed
The Price Current OF B0ucne, Fills Co 1.-THE wines o!
this firm are also included in the iugaon) handed
70 witness-Saw this paper or something corresponding
~ IT. fac stmls of it.
the Price Current was then offered in evidence
Mr.. Webster objected, and the objection
ruled.
witness-rhey were occupied for about two months
on the apprasenent of these vines the VINES OF the
different importers were under consideration al the
same time and simultaneous action taken with
regard 10 them; propcroncd the advance according
H. the relative quality OF the wines to the best OF
Judgment
Alexander Mcleod examined by Mr. Evarts-Certi-
FED the afldavits taken before him entry Of the
several shipments OF champagne involved this suit
l. Nicol recalled for the government-Was fami-
sar with the signature Of dc ST. Marceaax, used by
them ut the Custom House; any OF the firm
write tlnvoce handed to wtnessI-Is that the sigma
,ure Of do Marceaux n 90: to that paper?
MIR. Webster objected Overruled, and exception
taken.
winess-I should say the signature TO this IL the
came that to all tue invoices OF that firm.
letter, addressed 10 K. Leuchenrath by de st. Mar
ceaux, dated November Z, 1868, read in evidence
sbject TO the objection of counsel for the claimants
The letter which WAS admitted in evidence fol-
lows;-
lE1hibnA.1
RnRims Nov. 1863
NJ, z. hrucnrrssA1r, 10 Cite Trevese. PARIS
sRc have the pleasure Of answering the letter which
You have been Kind enough TO address 70 the an
quality and that we sell but kinds nameiy:-The Care
sss # ns 81 G G 1S
.s packing Al other costs at the charge Of the buyer
xs oM Il
Se nsr a Il
yours, DE ST MARCEAUx 4 CO.
John Marshall called for the governmsnt-Resided in
London; never in the wine trade; was employed
by the United States In 1885, and consequence came
San Francisco; knew the house Of st. Marceaux Co.
~ has agency London Groves l. Co.. they have
Gs nss t 81 sae s
wines; they bought In France through agents in Lon.
don, placed fre, board at Havre the duty witness
who was engaged with Rue Pcnwick Rue was 10
Inc winss q 81 larceaax Co. there are three grades
they put their brand; they also have on which
1hey do not brand familiar with the anded
second af,ytwo, and third thirty i've francs case,
quarts delivered free board Havre; had been 10
a wine manufacturer at Rheims in the year 1866
with respect TO large quantity Of champagne he repre-
scented nc DESTROYS To purchase was told by tho
that he could only deal with him through
bs agent IN London; one firm in France offered him |
champagne wine al forty shngs English, free
board at Havre and at foryeght shiilngs In Lon
don; price Current OF ST. Narceaux hrm produced,)
received agent dc Marccaux Ia London
II IS only intended for the trade; the price list Is in
ehnngs; shilling Is taken of wines In bond
freight TO London. all the foreign houses have
agencies In London and have their Price Current and
conduct the business disposng OF
exporting their wines in the mode ~ Marceaux
the Price Current here obtained from the branch
OF Jules Mumm Co, in London. Ihe Price Current Of
Hedsick a Co. obtained by the witness In London
and another OF the firm OF Meets CnandouD were
offered evidence) Went to the mandatory OF H.
Piper a Co. aud inquired there nj what prices they
would sell free Of duty board Havre,
but was referred 10 tho agent London,
Mr. Piper declining 10 give him any information in the
matter; inquired from the agent OF Jules Mumm Co.,
that thor wines sold ut forty shil
lngs free board, at Havre and forty eight shlrgs
WAS informed by the rm Of Mocls Cnandon at Eper-
nov OF their prices and told that the wine would
ave shings moro 10 get II IN London from Eper-
ney had visited the champagne district In France and
Witnessed process Of manufacture visited the cellars
several houses arfc Is the collection OF
y,ntages has the blanche and nor Of 81
Narceaux here and in London, and the quality the
sama
This closed the direct examination OF the witness
Mr.. Webster then asked Tor adjournment for the
he said would up considerable time and as II was
late he thought loss OF time would DO incurred
by adjourning at this stage
There objection the part Of counsel for the
government
The proceedings In this case attract much interest
with she parties In litigation and their friends, and
D OF Witnesses Counsel for the goyernment
Mr. g. Courtney United states District Attorney and
Mcssrs Evarts and Losry; Tor the claimants. Messrs
Webster Craig.
uE.rrn STATfs cRcNr cnunT