The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-25
CUSTOM HOUSE SECRETS.
A MINE ExPLoDED Nv TIE ISsPECT.
OR'S DEPfRT MEME

ttHuf hUiu on u ttbVHuh Ftcumcf--N uct-
dents OF Custom House Lifc-A Purser
Arrestcd-His Examination Before Conn
missioner Osborn.
A phenomenon has been discovered in the
Custom House in the person OF prottgt Of Gen.
Butler, occupying the subordinate position Of an
Inspector Of Revenue. Ho has made such q com
pete revolution In the administration OF the Survey
or's Department, and refers frequently to his
friend and sponsor, that lie Is known as Major but
Ter Young.
From his revelations It would appear that the cor.
rupuon and vensity with Which he come In contact
while in the discharge Of his and prorasted
duties gave him much uneasiness. His
.ociates did not full to notice his
moodinoss and sbstracted manner. lie
decided to ease his troubled conscience, and there
fore pethought himself Of his DISTINGUISHED hacker,
to whom he wrote frequent voluminous communiea-
tons, giving in detail the many violations Of the
Revenue laws, and avowing his ability, 10 only
properly authorized, to prevent all smuggling. aud
In fact to institute thorough reform In the manner
Of dischargng vessels Of their cargoes. With the
psrsonnd OF tho Surveyors Department he expressed
himself far from being satisfied, and signiaed lis
willingness to select more intelligent body of men.
Gen. Butler, who lie in Washington, finally referred
his communication to
SECRETARY BOUTWELL,,
with the remark that tho Major was man Of heavy
parts, and could be trusted and relied upon In any
emergency. In the meantime the Major continued
to plod bis weary way while awaiting the result OF
his revelations.
the MAJoRs SHOT EFFECTIVE.
Months elapsed, when ho ascertained by letter
from the General that his tho haior's) star had
risen. Secretary Boutwell,, Gen. Butler said, had
written to Collector Grnnell concerning the alleged
abuses In the Custom House. and requested that he
would confer with Major A. IA Young. INSPECTOR Of
| Revenue, in relation to item, The Collector paid
| no attention to tue request The Collectors dlsie
gard Of such serious charges was duly reported to
the General, and few weeks aiterward, Col. Whit
ley, Chief Of the Secret Service Bureau Of the Tea-
sury Department, arrived In this city, with in,;ruc
tions from Secretary Boutwell, to thoroughly inves
| tigate the alleged abuses complained OF BY the
appear before the Chief OF the Secret Service when
they were compelled 70 testify regarding the amount
OF moneys they had received outside OF their sda-
| ries. The MAJOR was the arst Witness lie told
many secrets connected with the INSPECTION and
animation Of foreign steamers. lie stated that
1000 BOTTLES OF BRANDY
| were secretly carried on from one steamer during
the pas year that officers received from the vatious
steamship limos fN, which they called House
money!" for each vessel Under Their supervision
oil all kinds. iron silk umbrella " Chunk OF roast
| beef TIE Majors brother oneers, WHO followed
| him In their examination, were astOnshcd at what
he had reported. They little dreamed that the Major
had already been ASSIGNED for special duty as de.
tocye, aud that he was to be assisted by Col. WHIT
| ley's "penitents," some Of whom are thoroughly
acquainted with all the tricks Of countereiting and
| smuggling. Col Whitley was instructed to make
| SNUG ing dangerous by securing the imprisonment
Of TIE frst offenders that should be detected.
THE DESCENT ON The MISSOURI.
A the steamship Columbia or the Atlantic Mall
limo had already been hbeled to u amount OF $780,.
| 90 for having board 500 worth OF cigars
| which did not appear on her manifest, the MAJOR
t On 0i Inc steamer MISSOURI II the
| line, which arrived on Thursday. Previous TO the
Majors arrival, two Of the Surveyors aids, whom
| tho Major believed TO be rather yenal, had nrepdy
| been informed by the captain and purser OF the
steamer That they had reason to believe there was
that on the ast trip they had noticed two OF the
crow acting in a strange manner as they came up
Immediately discharged. and tie cigars, II any there
we're. Dad been carried back again % n,yaas The
| officers began their search. but while In the coal
| bunkers received information that
| wHIrLRY's DETECTIVES
| board. As there Is n bitter feud between
Whtey's detectives and the officers ofthe Surveyors
stories which have appeared 10 the fase-reportins
| Tribune, charging prominent Custom House officers
remained concealed until Wli;ley's force had
gone through the vessel.
| TIE PuRsER ARRESTED.
Major Youn. came aboard, and Immediately sent
| for the purscr lie said that ho had authority 10
| search his room. The purser unlocked his door,
pointed out the drawers and lockers, and returned
return to his room be was rudely grassped Gy the
arm, when the MAJOR said: -Mr. William Hemp
TIE purser, vino i. Que OF the most popular ON
GERS of the hGe gently chded the MAYOR for his vic.
| ence, and remarked hat there was no necessity
| MS being SO belliTerent. The Major pointed to
| drawer. behind which crew 400 cigars contained In
| eight boxes, and asked how they came there. lie
also seized three boxes consigned to parties in the
city. The parser Was surprised, and made Inquiries
for the waiter WHO had the care of his onice; He
could be found and aid not turn up until Satur-
day; then lac frankly confessed that ne had placed
| them there Gu the hrst day out from Havana. The
| nurser was conveyed away q prisoner, amer which
| the regular Custom House officers continued their
search, and succeeded In finding $500 cigars con
ccaed in bags. slowed In tho coab uukers. The ci-
CARS taken by the Custom hOuse officers were taken
TO the seizure room, but the cigars taken by Whit
leys force taken to the Colonels headquarters,
| In Blocker street.
THE TRIAL.
Mr.. Hampstead, the purser, who put under
bonds, appeared on Monday, before Commissioners
| Osborn, Tor examination. lie was attended by MIR.
Wheeler, Prcsdento OF tho Company and his counsel,
| Mr.. Thomas Wheeler. The hrst witness the
Major hi1scf, who, AZ he arose to give lis tcsti-
mOay, attracted much attention.
lie testified " tue facts o the seizure, and re-
| marked that ho was under specific aud definite In
struelions from tue Surveyor; that he had the
authority 70 seize ships stores and even goods which
appeared on tie manifest, lie also stated that he
VAS assisted by Messrs. Davis Anchisi, and Baker,
OF Col Mhtlcy's stat. Mr.. Auchsi enieavored to
satisfy Commissioner Osborn a. 10 the Identity OF
baker lie knew positively that Baker was QUE OF
Whiueys men. II now turns out that Baker was
and Havana line, md was arrested as a smugsler
three weeks ago, and sent 10 Edridge street Jail
lie was pressed into the secret service, and reue-
ice on the Missouri
KrELLIGEScE FOR COMMISSIONER OSBORN,
| Commissioner Osborn did not succeed in finding
out who Baker was, but will probably ascertain to-
day. For the defence, II was proved that tho pur-
sers boy secreted tho cigars believing tho purser's
room the most secure hiding place Although the
United states Courts do not grant . prisoner the
privilege Of test1inR In bis own behalf, Com.
| missioner Osborn said that lie bad and
| always should make II rule TO ac-
sept the prisoners statement. Mr.. Hampstead
made q statement regarding the finding OF the cigars
and seemed much distressed 70 and himself in such
an embarrassing position, particularly when the cap
| tain OF his steamer had given information 70 tue
regular Custom House officers which led to the hnd-
ing OF 5000 cigars Which secTeted In the coal
bnnkers. Pending the examination, Major Young
remarked TO the President OF the Atlantic Mail Steam.
slip Company that tor tl00 he would guarantee the
| company TO break M all smuggling lie said that it
| would be well worth that 10 the company. After
| hearing all the evidence, the Commissioner said he
would be compelled TO look up the statutes before
giving decision, as II was very knotty aud
one Containing a good many limo points. lie an-
nounced that lie would give his decision yesterday
at,la O'Clock. Yesterday he still in doubt and
urher adjourned the until to-day al IL O'Clock.
The Inspectors are much interested 10 the result,
and IL Is the principal topic OF conversation In every
| department OF the Custom House.