The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-27
TIE CUSTOM HOUSE FRAUDS.

The Result Of the Conference on Thursday
The Frauds In the Weiahers' Department.
Arrest of Custom House Broker-The
Affidavit and the Charge-Other Arrests
soon TO FoIIow-Civil suits Against the I'm
porters Contemplated.
The public informed yesterday through the
columns OF the HERALD that the Collector OF Gus
toms, the Naval Onlcer, the surveyor OF the Port,
the solicitor OF the Custom House and the United
States District Attorney held q conference at the
Custom House on Thursday afternoon. The object
OF This conference was stated TO DO to investigate
the evidence SO far collected showing frauds
in the Custom House by false returns by
the welghers Of the weight OF imported
goods, and TO come TO @ conclusion as
10 the time when, and the manner IN which, legal
proceedings, whether criminal or civil or both.
should be instituted against tire deiauting parties,
and also to submit to the judgment OF the District
Attorney whether the proofs now available in the
several cases investigated would warrant ana sus-
tain prosecution. Precisely what transpired al
this conference did not transpre, as all the officers
who took part in 1t extremely reticent about the
nature OF their proceedings But OF the results
OF this consultation became distinctly apparent yes
terday afternoon, that In way which certainly
must have been anything but pleasant and CRAFTY
ing to q Custom House broker and to a firm which
had employed him. The way In which this came
about follows:--
About noon Mr.. b. &. Jayne, an officer OF the Gus
ton House, appeared before commissioner Osborn
and made the following altdavit:-
Southern District or Neic York;. G. Jayne,
beng sworn, deposes and says as he Is informed
and believes, that one John l.. Barton, acting rs
broker or agent Tor the firm OF Dymond II Lally OF
the city OF New York, doing business at No. 100
Water street, IN tue city OF New York, did, In the
month OF August, 1865 In the city OF New York,
offer and give so one edgar NJ. Carr and Moses W.
Towney the carr .nen and there being an
officer OF the United STATES TO wit wegher In the
Custom House at the port OF New York, the sum
OF $500, as bride Tor the purpose OF procuring
false return of the eight OF quantity VI coffee
imported by said Dymond Laly, In the bark
Wayfarer by means OF which false return which
was made by procurement OF SAID Carr and Town
ley, the revenue OF The United states defrauded;
that IN the month oi October III said year. IN the city
OF New YORK, the SAID Barton, acting aforesaid,
dld ofer and give TO the SAID Iownley and one A.
W. Van Wrinkle, tue SAID Van Winkle being then and
weigner In the sald custom House-the sum of
81, as bride for the purpose OF procuring false
return OF the weight OF quantity OF coffee Imported
by SAID DyInona Lalty, IN the bark Pyrnont, by
means of which false return. which made by
said Van Mlnke, the revenue Of the United States
was then AMI there defrauded. b. G. JAYNE.
sworn 10 before me this Goth day OF November,
1863. JOHN A. OSBORN, United StatesCommlssioner.
ON presenting this alidavit to the Commissioner,
Mr.. A. Fl. Purdy, Assistant District Attorney, who
appeared for the prosecution referred TO the sixty
second section oil the act OF Congress, approved on
the 18TH day OF July, 1866 making the Offering pay
ing Of such bribe as described Ia the siidaylt a
criminal offence, and on MS application a warrant
for the arrest OF John j.. Barton was issued which
described the offence that he ibid about the
10TH day Of August, and also on or about the 18TH
day OF OCTOBER III the year 1885, al the Southern Dis
trct OF New YORK, offer and give anu cause and
cure TO be offered and given money ana a briDe
an officer OF the United states win intent TO innu-
euce such officer 10 commit ana aid aud albeit
IN committing fraud ON the revenue OF the
United states ana to connive at and collide IN, and
TO allow ana permit ana make opportunity Tor the
commission OF such q fraud" Thus warrant petng
duly made out, signed w Commissioner OSBORN and
properly endorsed, was placed IN the hands OF
Deputy United states Marshal Dowley, who forth
win proceeded TO execute It's commission.
About three O'Clock III the afternoon the Duputy
Marshal re-enereu the Court House building, In
Chambers street, with Mr. Barton IN custody. COM
missioner osnoru being other wise engaged the prs-
oner was taken before commissioner Belts, VINO
held him TO bail in the sum of $1,000, which NOT
forthcoming at the time Barton was committed In /.
default Oh IL Tor examination.
This IL the first Of these cases brought into court
and is given out Dy the authorizes that otner.
complaints ana arrests VIII soon follow, now that
the government mas commenced prosecuting these
frauds. Tne developments IN this case promise to
be 'rich and racy,h inasmuch as several wei known
importing houses are implicated, as also the pro-
teges and relatives OF prominent politicians in the
country. In the present case, for example the
name OF A. w. Van Wrinkle Is mentioned who Is q
son OF the -A.ator OF West Virginia OF that
name In none Of the other cases now pre-
pairing for acton Dy District Attorney Pierre
pont has 1t been thought advisable 10 give
the names OF the parties Implicated for publications;
but when tins Is done some startling revelations
may be expected during the course OF the examna-
uon not less astonishing, probably, than IN the re-
markabie conspiracy to delraud tue government 10y
means OF fictitious Internal Revenue drawback
claims, though II Is said that the frauds, BY the art
dce OF false weighers' returns, were neither 80
numerous nor so extensive In amount
several other werraBts were issued yesterday,
partly FOR Inc arrest OF implicated parties Others
the seizure of books or account and merchandise,
but these warrants had not been executed by sun
down last evening, the particulars oi the proposed
summary proceedings were not communicated. lt
Is the Intention of the authorities successful IN the
prosecution Tor bribery as stated IN the case against
Mr. Barton bring CIVIL Tor the recovery OF
the duty out OF when the revenue had been de-
frauded. 10 VIII thus be seen tAat the present
revenue oIicers, as well the legal representatives
OF the government In New York, strive TO do their
.tt1fy yhs