The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-24
Important Decisions by the Secretary
Of the Treasury.
A Gang of Dangerous Counterfeit
ers in Florida Broken Up.
Exchange Of COurteSies Between The English
and American FreemaSOns.

levied upon the steamer ST. Louis plying between
that city and New York and touching at Havana.
tonnage dues as up0n foreign going vessel. This
has been the custom since the passage OF the act OF
July IA, 1870, but the owners OF this steamer pro-
test that the law Ia misconsrued and that American
vessels engaged In the coastwise trade and
touching at intermediate foreign ports are
exempt from the payment OF the tonnage
tax. The question has been under
sheraton at the Treasury Department and the
Collector sustained by the Department in levying
the tonnage tax upon this class OF vessels
The Secretary OF the Treasury decided upon
the question OF refunding the difference between
payment In gold coin and the United States cur
rency OF The three months wages allowed by act OF
Congress to seamen discharged In q foreign port,
that such payments could only properly be made
in gold, notwithstanding that the crew signed ar
ticles to receive payment in currency.
In reply to the inquiry whether the tonnage tax is
legally collected canal boats trading with Canada
by inland routes in case the boats are unprovided
with sails with steam power, the Secretary of the
Treasury decides that such boats are subject to the
same regulations in regard to the payment Of ton.
mage tax as other vessels OF the United States
The treasury Department to-day decided that ves-
sells ST. Croix river not required under the laws
governing the coasting trade the seaboard to be
provided with certified manlfests are not subject to
the payment OF fees To collectors OF customs for re-
ceiylng manifests.
Dangerous Gang Of Counterfeit-rs Broken
Up-A Georgia Legislator Lnplcated-At.
tempt to Rescue Frustrated.
The officers OF the secret service division of the
Treasury Department who went South about
month since on important business returned here
to-day, having accomplished the object OF the expe.
dition. They arrested Romulus Noble and Elias
Gyyqa of
engraver, at ST. Mary, Ca, charaed with manufac
turing and dealing in counterfeit i've dollar gold
and twenty-five cent and fifty cent silver coin OF the
United States A few days subsequent Thomas
Sweat, brother OF Elias Sweat, also arrested at
Tebesuvie, charged with the same OFFENCE. The
prisoners had perfected most extensive arrange
ments tor the manufacture OF the bogus stuff
which they intended for circulation In
Cuba and the West India Islands, and were
the principals OF an organized ring which
fourlshed in the vicinity Of Fernandna by frequent
and wanton violations OF the law. quantity OF
counterfeit five dollar gold coin admirably execu-
ted was found on their persons when arrested, and
there were secured, at the same time, ready for
shipment per steamer to Black Point, Ca thirteen
large cases, containing heavy machinery. German
silver lingets OF composition metal English ALLOW
"copper" used principally in the manufacture OF the
five dollar coin; gold and gold dust, galvanic bat
terry complete, seventy-ive crucibles first class ell
craving tools and other artices-al in the very best
condition. The first three named prisoners were taken
before the United States commissioners, they
were committed TO jail, Noble in default OF $4,000
aud the others s15 600 bail each. Shortly after in
the evening, mob OF men, about twenty-five in
number, masked and otherwise disguised, assem-.
bed for the purpose OF rescuing the prisoners.
Their attention was turned from the jail, however,
Inv hof fhn rviro
arrested Noble and his companions, would arrive
by train just then DUE The mob proceeded to the
depot, boarded the train, passing through each car
and scrutinzing every face using dark lanterns,
and, when necessary awaking those who were
asleep. In the meantime government officers, who
had entered the town by another conveyance, took
the prisoners from the jail and safely embarked
with them board the United states revenue
cutter, the commander OF which. in compliance with
SPECIAL telegram, conveyed the prisoners to Port
Jefferson, DRY Tortugas. Thomas Sweat was taken
TO savannah and appeared before the United states
Commissioner, who committed him to jail ia default
OF So, 900 bail. The following day, however lead
ing merchant Of that city came forward and fur.
nished the requisite bail, and large sum was also
advanced by his friends to be used in securing the
best legal talent counsel. On last Saturday
a secret service detective, in the course
OF his perambulations. arrested in Block
shear, Ca, Captain Daniel Z. Knowles a
representative OF the Legislature from Pierce county,
and rearrested Thomas Sweat taking them to Sa-
vannah. Knowles Is charged with completely IN
the gold coin counterfeitng operations OF the Noble
Sweat and Sexton gang. Sweat Is charged with
conduct regarded as forfeiture OF the bond, or
such a violation OF law to render himself again
liable, he having taken to his old ways little sus-
pecting the harm which would accrue therefrom.
hc,,c
elderly gentleman, named Johns, in BlocKsnear for
which ne paid him $780, in what was represented as
gold being In reality the counterfeit five dollar gold
coin alluded to. The bogus gold was brought back
to Sweat, who redeemed 1t and took the same back
to another party OF Lake City, Florida from whom
he had originally bought 1t.
The New York CentrnI Tax Case-ColoneI
Thomson indicated.
On the god inst. Colonel CLIFFORD Thomson, late
chief Of supervisors and detectives wrote to Horace
F. Clarke director OF the New York Central Rail.
road Company, letter with reference to the exten.
sively published statement that for consideration
he sold to the officers OF the New York Central Rail.
road Company information OF the decision OF the
Commissioner OF Internal Revenue with reference
TO what has been called scrip dividend tax OF 1865
IN advance OF its publication by the press. Having
resigned his position the Internal Revenue service
in consequence OF these statements, he asked Mr.
Clarke TO inform the Commissioner whether or
not there Is any truth in these reports
Mr.. Clarke, in q letter TO Commissioner
Pleasonton, says the statement that Colonel Thorn.
son, or any person connected with the Internal
Revenue Bureau gave information OF the decision
IN advance OF It's PRONUNCIATION through the press,
Is entirely without foundation. In fact, the FIRST
knowledge or intimaton Of the decision was re-
ceived through the daily journals The charge
against Colonel Thomson Is known by the directors
and Officers OF the New York Central Railroad Com.
pany to be untrue.
English Mas0ns to the Graf In America.
1t will be remembered that when Earl de Gray
was In Washington the Masonic fraternity OF the
District united rendering to him grand banquet
IN honor OF his being the Grand Master OF the Eng
lish Masons. As prompt acknowledgment OF the
courtesies extended on that occasion the Grand
Master OF Masons OF the District OF Columbia has