New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-02
Fra UDS AMONG CUSToMHOUSE WEIGHERS


CATED-How TIE THING WAS DONE.
AS the Investigations of Custom House frauds
in this city proceed features present themselves and
volumes OF proof rapidly accumulate The frauds thus
far discovered chiefly confined TO the last three or
four years. period fruitful indeed OF dshonor and yena
ity and If the present Administration Accompanies no
more than correction Of the abuses OF the last VIII
have performed most acceptable servce but We believe
we have the earnest OF larger benefits.
Shortly after Surveyor Cornell came into oflco last
Spring and after taking careful view OF the situation
his attention arrested by certain pecuares OF the
way certain things had been DONE and upon closer OBJ
servaton the proprety OF investigation suggested ITSELF
Therefore, the Secretary OF the Treasury was respect
fully requested to detail competent officer OF his De-
parment to overhaul matters and Special Agent b. g.
JAYNE one of the most Trustworthy and lful detectives
I'm the service was ordered 10 report about the lst
OF June 10 the Surveyors Office, with Instructions
TO make examination OF customs affairs "a the stu
alton things might require. As the surveyors Depart
ment has immediate connection with nearly all matters
pertaining 10 the customs. 10 consequently seemed tho
proper starting point for the contemplated nyesisaon
and here indeed the clue obtained by Officer Jayne,
who has had principal or sole charge OF the nyestga
tons combination OF frauds amounting TO little less
than Wholesale robbery. few days suced to uncover
what in the light OF subsequent disclosures appears Ike
sort OF petty larceny business among certain weghers
In the issuing OF fraudulent payro OF which species OF
fraud THE TRIBUNE has heretofore made full mention,
together with the OF the weghers concerned In H.
The fact thus established that dishonesty enough had
been pratced TO warrant the belief that every advantage
inherent In vicious system Of doing business had been
improved 20 the detriment OF the Government, the in
yestlgaton was prosecuted with increased yigor and
from that time forward tho present has been at
tended with astonishing results SO rapidly indeed have
matters crowded upon officer Jayne that he has been
obliged TO ea TO his aid large number Of assistants.
Many impedments lay in the way OF the investigation,
but these have been successfully removed, that now
the situation may be regarded substantially mastered
Most OF the evidence showing fraud had 10 be
procured outside of the Custom House, the
books and papers In tho various departments
and bureaus relating TO tho particular transac.
lions In which frauds existed fashioned as 20
correspond minutest detail, and hence Invested
OF the faintest semblance OF rregularty" The
theory however, fixed a. to how frauds were be-
eyed TO have been committed, II became necessary TO
get hold OF the books and memoranda containing the
original fraudulent entries hence the buildings formerly
occupied by various weghers under suspicion were thor
oughy searched, In OF which the Identical records
bearing evidence Of things looked for found
secreted the guilty evidently having forgotten to
conceal their tracks well behind them Other books
were traced unkshOps. where they had been sold for
old paper and probably supposed to be beyond the
roach Of discovery, with tho pulptub OF some paper
mandatory In the near future.
With these the ground work securely laid. and
frauds brought TO the doors OF the perpetrators
that what lacking complete unbroken chain Of
evidence has been recently supplied by full and frank
confessions OF most Of the Government employees imp
Gated all OF whom have been retained, held secured
as witnesses for the Government.
Now to illustrate the system by which frauds for the
most part have been carried on, the OF Dymond
Lay importers No. 100 Waterst out OF which grew
arrest OF their agent John 8. Barton last week. will
serve as an example. Dymond Lally imported large
quantities OF coffee from Rio de Janero. which uni
fOrmy put up In bags OF fine Portuguese or Brazilian
arrobas EACH lGl ~ Entry thereof made by the
consignees through their Barton,
10 have been broker, agent, and shipping clerk alto
gether. at five Spanish arrobas, 126 per bag.
making difference OF IS each package against the
Government. But before such entry were made, the
weigher had TO be "secn" TO procure false Of
weight to correspond with the fraudulent entry which
effected tho transaction made complete by filing an
invoice stating the bare number but emitting TO specify
the precise kind OF arrobas, which In itself nice bit
Of deception The duty coffee baing 9 cents per 70,
gold on every bag got through after the above process
the Government lost g. TO- gold Now let the substance
OF the anidavits Of weighers T.. NJ. Carr and
A. W. Van Wrinkle, brother OF ex-senator Van
Wrinkle. and the foreman Towney, tell the balance
OF tho story These individuals swear that occa-
DymOnd Laly received by the bark PyrmOnt J7VO
bags OF coffee which they weighed short and returned
the same 900 pounds less than the actual and true
weight thereof In this transaction alone will be seen
that the Government was robbed OF about $500 gold, OF
which the wcgher received u 500 the went, as
shown by the books memoranda Of Dymond & Laly,
IN the possession OF the Government to the benefit
OF the cOHsgnses.
On another occasion, the bark Wayiarer brought $50
bags OF coffee. which returned the shOrtweight
system also and $500 paid 10 the weIgher for the Job AT
another time STILL the brig Eeda brought 500 bags which
were weighed short by 1000 or 5000 pounds aud the
weigher paid pr0portlOnaiely well "or his trouble"
Numerous other little Instances could be named, but
enough have been mentioned already TO the blush on
any honest mans cOuntenance. According 10 proofs
In possession OF those In authority this firm paid brides
Government officers amounting thousands dollars,
aud the fOrieures In this alone which include tho
value OF the goods and the duties thereon, exceed
quarter OF "a million dollars.
This 1t should be borne in mind, is ouy one OF many
similar that have come to the surface and will fol-
for prosecution IN rapid succession nye
already in court Two large tobacco houses are mixed
up n the frauds and are Involved the amount Of some
100000 The list also includes merchants engaged In the
Calcutta trade; also importers sugar spces pmenO,
NLnl " III oil. ~,