The New York herald., 1869-05-11
NEW YORK CITY.
TIE COURTS.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT.

The Customs Drawback Frauds Exposed
The Duties of Grand Jury.
Before Judge Benedict.
The April term OF the United States Circuit Cour
was opened yesterday, Judge Benedict on the bench
The calendar Is very light. the principal and more
important cases awaiting trial being set down fol
the June term, when judge Nelson will himself
preside.
The Grand Jury having been empanelled, Judge
Benedict proceeded to deliver his charge as fol-
lows
upon this occasion to explain 70 the the
which you called on to perform show you the mpor
charge duty direct your attention 10 some pro-
visions ., ~ law ana oe OF fact which yoT VIII be
Grand jury in ouT, Of The United States many Of
shall be held 70 answer in court for the violations Of the
OF the United States Your services are made BY
clares that no man shall be held 20 answer for a
sapS of CRIME Grand ansSs u
This protection while affords citizens protection against
under provision with people Represented
by Grand Jury drawn from the mass Of eazens by lot to
courts of the United States You therefore, represent the
say what laws OF the United States have dis
o 6e Sen
wfi M the w of
the Post Once which guard the SOLDIER the sailor from mpo
which o asad a'h s
been committed; say whether any what oicers of
force The laws o the United States bavs themselves
which ans ns
VIII be more fully appreciated you consider the circum
The war, which decided the question Whether govern.
ment framed like had the ability to que BY force of
in process of solution namely whether such government,
can surely provide for the payment OF the interest upon
THE INTEREST Uros THy PUBLIC pEnr-EvAsIoNs OF
The interest upon the public deb. must be obtained by
tssaon and this m ,aIaCn under the most
If Ia to be borne by the honest and well disposed
9ther fellow citizens through fraudulent evasons Of the law
This latter and powerful both socially and
s collect ss the
ment attempted to compel their obedience b. seizures q their
act of escaping taxation forfeited and sold But the
and IN the compelled
to its last resorhe criminal jurisdiction OF its courts 1t IA
check these frauds by means Of criminal
Indictment trial. conviction and imprisonment of defraudr
OF the revenue. Inasmuch, then, can be tried
until accused BY Grand Jury the government and the
turns the Grand Juries of the land and asks
the Indictment of every whether high rich poor
me would fa me describe the form,
w Sa1 nd: Is my y Ss M m
gard to some transactions which must before end
viii expose begin with what have been designated the
drawback These have been the subject OF
this district most Of The eook place
Visions Of law which enable person who has % paid i1 taxes o
manufactures which he afterwards exports
Of goods To s @ pspe
IS necessary In every ease conssne frs Of internal
collectors certificate that the the goods has
been paid second certificate of the Collector Of Customs
custom House, as pcaay exsoe hrd an On adSv S II 's by
he shipper as to the Identity Of the goods upon the manifest
Internal revenue collector that proper bond to the
nm against any reandng Of the goods has been
Cuom st HOUSE aIS & then 80 to The department. 1
OF drawn to the the shipper upon the
Treasury returned. Numerous sets Of sps you
ase no such goods having been exported there being
fra uduen the signatures forgeres and the aldavs
lres have within space of six months time passed
through the department al wsshon and there ap
proved and corresponding checks been drawn and paid
Dne or nearly every one upon forged enlargement, until
the total probably exceeds The Of 100000 Tho fraud
been the subject OF examination In the adjoining districts is
sos aspuiea @ and the money y gone It viii be your duty to
sponsbe for the transaction Some of the parties supposed
has been brought from Florida for e SV
ernment long, others have escaped beyond the
connected the design whether present absent In
Sa 81 sa on % ays TO
dne,ed for will appear that great numbers Of bonds re-
6caon signature or OF persons and wthou. an inquiry
as to the s.cency or even existence Of the saretcs the
persons entirely worthless 1t will appear thai genu
upon certificates now claimed TO be forged and thai part
of the files Of the collectors Office being bonds required by
sons having connection whatever with the government
ass ha wn " might desire and n
features OF this case 10 you fully because win be called
ae y no: sS
,epsrmens Of the Custom House you viii md that similar
warehouse espsrmsn. 4 ha. been ossbs forceItan par
Is. 'ass s. s
~ Stoo'Uo according TO the estimate Of an Official
day well Known but unprosecued and Hnpunshss unless
Of Ps ,, Of hs ESs gss gain, to ssd
and which you win fnd fully disclosed upon the es Of this
similar result II am correctly informed Yon may think
proper to inquire into them an Frauds Ike these Of
e before
House proper to be spoken Of in this connection, which
and Of The evil effects of which the drawback win give
you painful proof.
70 s Of giving and taking srauss for The
Coeeor snemsn in any effort I op s & essy % sow ,Se
The ,, law ies Al your hands, and Il reads thus
wares merchandise the United states entrusted ~
entry OF any goods wares merchandise fee grs,uy
thereof from oce and shall be fined in any sum
% s OF be mr.'oned not exceeding two
'sroIios 6If any person who shall be engaged In the
mporaton Of goods wares or merchandise into United
"a the entry OF any goods merchandise shall any
lime make or offer TO make 10 od1cer the
gratuy present OF any money other thing value
such person shall conviction thereof be hned
not exceeding $4,000, Oe Imprisoned not exceed
Ing two years, at the discretion Of the Court"
The market price of whiskey Is still less than
he first cost OF manufacture with the added FROM
he tobacco trade honest dealers fast being driven
Much OF the income tar uncoected The fraudulent
bond marker still plies bis busy trade. Men known
rich by Illegal have escaped the
ion Of fraud and hsrn their wealth before public eye
Honest officials have been compelled TO leave the service FOR
vant of due support in the performance Of their duty
ther officers OF the who have dared
ndesvor TO protect the gOvsnmen have found the very
rnment they sought 70 turned against them and
With effect 70 accomplish their destruction and Disgrace
10 view Of Generalization such these facts DISCLOSE do
rou wonder that some men qnery whether the proper
orcement Of laws possible for such govern.
nen ours with such civil service has hitherto had
These remarks will have failed OF their intended effect "
hey have not served deepen OF the response
,tv which you and 10 strengthen decrmi
iaon To discharge yourselves OF that responsibility such
manner "a 70 satisfy the proper demands OF the community
which you i've To enable you TO d. this great powers
pven you No matter within the jurtscon OF the court 10
Iempt from your scrutiny No man. Of whatsvcr deuea
nn refuse 70 obey your summons or decline 70
effect stay your hand Within you extended sphere
ou are supreme Use them these eat powers freely kr
'nlus diligently Inquire widely but accuse With all due
are mindful always that the examination of trans
'enehs and also mindful mat such an eramina.
on often Of itself . great punishment 10
nM your province 10 try the ssssa which you may
th.t duty devovss upon tie petit juryshs cout; but
are diligently 70 inquire and true presentment make Of