New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-04-02
SMUGGLING.
HOW THE. GOVERNMENT IS DEFRAUDED AND
HOW THE FRAUDS ARE DISCOVERED-Thb
CASE OF IsIDOR WOLFF AND MYRTLE MAY.

| Among the frauds on the CuStOnl-Ilousc IT,
Gently discovered, the case which eliminated III INC
arrest OF Isador Wolf aud Myrtle May, now under eS-
animation before the United states Commissioner fur
nishes many particulars Of special interest illustrative OF
the adroitnes Of smuggers and the difficulties that Dese
tho way OF officers in ferretng out crime ana appreheh
ing offenders 10 will be seen. from what fDeager eV'
dence "a evolved the tangible proofs OF dangerous
combination OF fraudulent designs shrewdy conceived
and successfully accomplished. The details OF TINS Dust
ness had sort of romance to tho wickedness OF the
oGense committed. and convey lesson OF warning
On the oath OF October last prominent merchant Oh
| this city received the following anonymous iet'er,
evidently written in concealed hand, ana pos'inaiA'u
| "New.York -.
wo,I ron p.y sOod round sum- say 5000 for the kncwledg'
and positive evidence fraud going on since one year
b $500 600 worth of silk goods have been smugged ihto tbe
country BY whom sndhov Is dOnebow the goods are op o.
k As the nearly there would not De more lna S
42o 600 worth ,ed: not stopped millions Will como
ne, season These addressed instead Of TO the proper
the collector because be ha already received the same In
| formation but has not given any answer
Pb,p, the letter has not reached else be does not think
worth knowing Should you the conclusion to move IN ID"
matter aud willing pay what asked for then put an ADVERTISE
men, The Herald personal csumn like this: NJ your demand
will be granted ascertain truth II that ad7ee
appears you will hear The writer's life Is ID da'Sef %
| eautious" -
s Letter was pIaced into tho hands OF surveyorCor
nell who thought that there something in Its pur-
port that deserved consideration, and he accordingly
called to his counsel skul expert OF his department
whom he ordered TO proceed at once with an hVestga
ton To obtain interview with the mysterious author
was the first object accomplish therefore on the 26th
October appeared among the Personals OF The Herald the
| following:
"a NJ; You be fairly treated personal interview desired
which shall be confidential Address L. X, Box 269 Po',ohce"
This notice brought the following reply ipostnarkeu
| oct &c:
LLK: III could know the meaning Of you shalbs
fairly eate-bow many thousand dollars rePresents-l might then
sdres, notice. But i. so vague you vi" excuse
me Ie.p little longer uoogno' Ny position trying
ones the convinced that would be mueh
safer 10 9p that altogether to incur risk ghateTer per-
bap for ang result My utmaum therefore, positive evidence
furnished BY me guilt Of the concerned that and-hst
shipped GOODS how they shpped bow mnggd V
whomi tbm BY whom they disposed Of who pays
for them By banking firm the iOrwaried etc. Tor the
consideration $500 be paid to as the Information
given correct The promise payment must be E'en
responsible officials the Government written aud signed BY the Col
or himself II these conditions are accepted then say 50 INC
| Herald n not, let the matter drop. AM
For unexplained reason no response was made TO
the foregoing second note received Oct 49, OF
| the following import:
As an necessary understanding but not
knowing where your onee Cooper Institute
reading o'clock will be there reading The Ne> York Sun
Should any from being there mark
| on he top o the paper where can meet you NJ
Delay In receipt OF this note defeated the appointment
| hence tho next day appeared another Personal:"
received too latN VIII meet you Saturday night
| at the time and place L. X
| This advertisement was, however, anticipated by
third note which read follows, and was tho means
| finally, OF bringing about the desired interview:
very likely you get 10 time to Cooper in
ue therefore, speedily Interview send letter TO
Augusta Miller Station stating where aud when can meet you
will 60 to .ny place except Custom House. having special reasons
not 10 be seen there Cooper Institute at O'CLOCK
Fit you there reading The London TIM.
| a. NJ"
Pursuant to appointment L. ]. X. went to the Cooper
| MI Tn1gs
through the readngroom, his eye fell upon sort OF wo
berope individual apparently need Of both money and
friends sitting IN front OF The London Times fast asleep
The OF the clock already indicated the hour desg
mated interview. the detective, with some mis-
givings approached the strange occupant OF the APP
pointed chair and. with gentle tapupon the shoulder
| to break his sumber. sad How are you Mr. A. MT
which s avy we MH Mr. Mutual
recognition thus secured. the two departed
a ave. Til they reacled the bible House. in the shadow
of m walls the business that called them tofether was n
former was renewed-s5OOO the price OF his secret
reached and the men separated Tor the naght On
the following day they net again at the once OF tne
guaranty for the fulhlment OF the officers agreement
with $3.50 hand the normer at last disclosed the secret
The names OF the alleged sInuggers now under arrest
their various business and personal Teatons were COM
inundated but not the positive evidence OF quit that
sne of suspicion three or four weeks we're rutessy
occupied in cropping about for something tangible; and
one day It was learned that case belonging
| Philadelphia merchant named May, reputed brother
city on an attachment in OF wilmerdng Hoguet
OF New-YOrk satisfy old debt fastening to Phlla-
deipRia the detective informed that the
property was In the possession of the Sheriff, and
| he could not It. The object OF his mission
marks and numbers by which entry was made in the
ne Of Go to
this city and obtained letter from prominent citizen
the Sheriff OF Philadelphia, requesting permission for
the detective TO inspect the case OF goods under seizure
and this time the object OF the officer effected The
package found secreted In the attic floor OF large
detective 1t bore single mark sign TO denote
its origin. 1t was foreign case but the usual marks
aud numbers had been carefully erased probably as soon
left the hands Of the Customs authorities thus show
ing what precaution was exercised to remove all traces
| OF identification.
Bafled again the officer returned to New.York and,
taking counsel how toproceed next, determined finally
by the anonymous lnformer ana obtain from them IL
possible record Of the transactions OF the persons
under suspicion Fortified with letter from the Col,
ector requesting an examination of their books and
papers the officer, accompanied by an expert In the
naval Office went to the banking house OF firm who
have also office In Paris and granted permission
to look their books and foreign correspondence
Here a last ray 81 hst broke m upon the
and subsequent Developments proved that not only
na the bankers We're vs%
| OF piece OF deception most sbrowdly
triyed, aud which might have cost them very dearly
Among Of the bankers referred to certain
marks aud numbers Of invoices discovered IN tho
name OF Alphonse Wolf, better known in New-York as
DIR. Wolff doing business In Paris IN connection with the
firm OF Isidor Wolf & Co. of this city. Corresponding
these found In the Custom House double
tricate frauds peTpetrated The D,od,s operandi
may be thus briefly described Alphonse Wolff repre-
senting the foreign business of lsdor Wolff & Co..
| nvoiced three cases OF merchandise in the OF
Isidor & Gle. with marks and numbers. A. C., to 3,
| containing lowpriced cotton goods like acantes or
chemssees that high rate OF duty IS per cent,
and valued at 2oOofs These were shipped TO Isl
dor WOl Co. here and bill of lading received there
AlulUuse u,