The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-02
SMUGGLING BY MAIL.
How Diamonds and Costly I,nces are Sec
nufW

Duty Free.
Among the numerous devices for evadng the
customs laws the practice of sending dutfable
articles through the mails Is one of the most
common. The attention of the New York Gus.
toms and postal authorities has lately been
especially directed to this method of smuggling
and many cases have recently been detected
Most of the smuggled mail matter comes from
Great Britain, as the mail communication with
that kingdom is more direct and extensive than
with any other foreign country. The postal
convention between Great Britain and the
United States permits the transmission to either
country from the other, at reduced rate of
postage, of newspapers, book packages, and
patterns and samples of merchandise. While the
American postal regulations limit the sending
of samples to articles which do not possess in-
trinsic value, the British Post Office does not
make any such restriction.
The articles most frequently smuggled are
laces and diamonds, as they comprise great
value in q small compass. These can be so
securely packed that, undoubtedly, large guam
titles pass through the post Office without detec-
ton. Twenty thousand dollars worth of dia-
monds were recently received in q letter by n
merchant of this city, who Immediately notified
the customs officers and paid the duties. He
expected the jewels to be sent him in the legiti-
mate manner, and the blame for their illegal
transmission attached solely to the European
exporters. Had they been detected in the post
office, however, probably no one would have
believed in the importers innocence, and he
would have doubtless suffered the loss of his
for rdamond-smuggling by Colonel Whitley, it is
reported has received in all nearly seventy-five
thousand dollars worth through the mails.
One of the ingenious methods of sending dia-
moHds consists in puncturing small sheet of
cork and inserting diamonds in the apertures
thus made When enclosed in an envelope the
cork has exactly the appearance of an ordinary
foreign letter, while its lghtness and flexi-
bility prevent detection of its character by the
touch.
Not long ago letter reached the general post
Office from Europe, the superscrlption of which
was recognized as the ndwriting of q noto-
rious smUggler of silks and laces. 1t was de-
livered to the customs officers. By the next
steamer another letter came directed in the
same handwriting, but to another person. A
strict watch was kept, and In a short time about
dozen letters had accumulated at the custom
house, all sent by the same man, and each
addressed to q different individual. The
persons to whom they were directed re-
ceived the usual notification. and at last one
consented TO open his letter in the presence of a
customs official. The packet was found to con-
tain lace collars and handkerchiefs, with note
directing the receiver to deliver them to certain
man. The note referred to the other letters
which had been sent, and said that the same
person was to receive the contents of all. The
other letters were broken open, and each was
found to be duplicate of the one first eXa-
mined. The aggregate value of the laces was
two thousand dollars. Proceedings against the
goods were instituted by the United States
District Attorney and they were condemned.
The fact that letter cannot be legally
opened by any one save the person to whom it
is directed unless he gives his consent, is great
obstacle to the detection of illicit mail matter
and one very difficult to ohviate.
A package recently received at the post Office
was suspected to contain laces, and was deli
vered to the customs officers. The person to
whom it was directed, when informed of the
action taken, refused to be present at
the opening of the package, or to give
the consent to such opening. AS cVi-
dnnpa hnwpypr that tho pOntpntS NOT
suspected, he offered to permit the customs
officers to drill the packet full of holes
with a penknife. The facts in the case were
then laid before the Treasury Department, with
q request for instruction in the premises. Sec
retary Boutwell, has decided that the customs
authorities we're correct in refusing to give up
the package, and has directed them to retain it
until the claimant consents to its being opened
in their presence, or until further instructions
are received from the departmcnt.-N. Y Eoen-
ina Post