The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-07
THE DIAMOND SMUGGLING CASE.
EXTRAORDINARY DISCLOSURES
A Hunt After InfOrmers'
MOietics. a.
DETECTIVES LOCKING OUT FOR no.


with another TO defraud the government by SNUG
Cling quantity Of diamonds from England into
New Jersey. Some months ago. as already stated
IN the HERALD, young Engllshman, named Angus
tus O. Radcliffe came over to this country from
London on board the steamer Java. At Euston
square station London, Radcliffe met the defendant
Justice, who also was bound for America by
the same steamer. They formed what may
be termed a travelling acquaintance, and
on tie voyage Radcliffe opened his mind to
Justice, telling him that he was o diamond
dealer, that he had q quantity OF diamonds on his
person, and that he intended to dispose OF them In
the United States 10 the best advantage. When the
steamer reached New York, both Radcliffe and JUS
tice, and q third party named Esmond, who met the
two former on the arrival Of the steamer. drove to
an uptown boarding house, where as the testimony
shows, Radcliffe engaged Esmond to travel through
the country for HIM for the purpose OF selling the
Struggled diamonds IL appears that Radcliffe ad
vanced money to both Justice and Esmond; but
having stopped these supplies, he one fine morning
found himself IN the clutches Of Colonel
Whitley, chief OF the Secret Service Department.
upon whom botn Justice and Esmond had waited
and given all the information they possessed respect
ing Radcliffe and his alleged smuggling operations
An examination into the case was subsequently had
before Commissioner Osborn, who upon the facts
disclosed by the evidence, held Radcliffe to answer
subsequently however. Radcliffe was discharged on
small bail; all his diamonds were returned to him
on the payment OF $4,000 to the government with
the understanding that he would not be prose-
cuted Tor the offence OF smuggling charged
against him. Now the question is, how
did Justice, who upon the examination
OF Radcliffe, was the principal witness for the gov
ernment come to be arrested this recent charges
1t Is alleged that the accusation has been got up
against him by the detectives, who are reported to
be IN fear that he VIII put in an application for
'lnformers" share of the moiues' IN this transac-
ton, which certainly does not look to be clean one
and which, If the allegation made be true, reflects
the greatest dscredit the Secret Service Depart
ment, and, through that department, upon the gov
ernment Justice emphaucally states that
he is not in any sense an informer,
and that he has intention whatever of
demanding an 'lnformer's share AS the case pre-
sents many singular aspects, we report in FULL add
Ing that the testimony offered yesterday before the
Commissioners Is an extraordinary illustration of
how frequently it is sought prostitute courts Of
justice to the greedness Of aforementioned officials
VINO sometimes seek personal gain rather than the
detection and punishment oi crime.
When the case Of Justice was called on yesterday
Mr. w. +. KNITTING appeared Us counsel for the de-
fendant, and MIR. De Kay Tor the government.
TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION.
"
Mr.. DE kay:-I live IN Brooklyn: know defendant;
met him first on the oath Septenb r. 1870, at Lon
don, at EustOn square station; we took the cars,
and went through Ireland to take the boat at
Queenstown; he SAID he was miner, and that he
had come over from Colorado to sell his mines,
which were worth one million of dollars; he asked
me my business; 1 told HIM was q diamond
dealer; he said there was duty ON
him 1 did not tnat: he said /
he careful ana that nobody thought OF paving duty
on diamonds; ne said ne would nave a friend-Mr.
New York, and that he would take the diamonds
ashore for me- he said We had better think the
best way Of getting them ashore; q conversation
ensuei between Us Just as we arrived in tue narpor;
he asked me II had made up my mind TO keep the
diamonds on my person; sad yes; he asked me
IL mad any bills or papers about the diamonds that
they were founa IN my trunk they would have in
cite suspicion and cause search: then ! got my
papers together and gave them W MIN; 1 took the
diamonds ashore on my person; Esmond came
board Just as the vessel arrived IN port; Justice gave
me up the papers few days after; we came
ashore together; we Went To 81 Fortyeghth street,
10 board with Justice; boarded there two or three
months; the same night ! arrived Justice
asked me to snow HIM the diamonds aud dld so:
he introduced me to Esmond to sell the diamonds
for me- engaged him; Justice became security for
$4,000 for Esmond for the diamonds gave hun TO
sell for ive gave him the quarter portion OF tue
diamonds 10 sell; several times had some small
pecuniary transactions with Justice.
Tns was objected to by counsel Tor defendant and
ruled Out by the COMMISSIONER.
Witness-Justlce was not to derive any profit from
was no duty ON diamonds | took 1t for granted that
what ne SAID rue; believed 1t was trud;
knew 1t was wrong to smuggle the diamonds.
The witness was then cross-eXamlned as to the
charge made against him when he was held for
Trial and admitted 10 bail. lie sad ali the diamonds
which was paid by Mr. Bradley to the
government; the check was handed he believed, to
District Attorney DAVIS; witness understood that
on the payment Of that check the prosecution
against him would be dropped he did not know
In ha frial nod lna
ton with Colonel Whitley but once since he (winessl
had been arrested; MI. Newcome came Tor witness
to General Anthons oficc, but did not tell him that
II he gave evidence against Justice IT would be
benent TO him (wItnessl; he knew now that he was
government witness, but could not tell whether his
evidence would serve Justice or not
Cross-examined bv Mr. Kintzing-I am twenty
three years Of age was brought up in the old coun-
try, IN the diamond business. since was thirteen
fourteen years or age; was IN business with my
father, and travelled for him IN England. ireland
and Scotland; never in the old country was out oil
the Kingdom Of Great Britain ana Ireland the value
OF the diamonds was between $1,000 and 5000; 4
bought tnem
q. Where did you get these diamonds; from whom
did You buy them2
OoJected To by counsel for government Objection
sustained aud exception taken.
4. DO you mean to say that when you left your
country you believed this country imposed no duty
on dain0ndSY A. Yes.
q. Perfectly ignorant on that subjectp A. Yes;
when went on board the ship. with the diamonds
sccreted ON my person, IN Iocket book. knew.
nom What justice told lne coming through Ireland,
that there was a duty on diamonds IN the United
states; believed what he sald told Justice that
/ had the diamonds IN an elastic stocking which
wore Tor varico5e veins; he SAID that was good
way 10 carry them.
TO The Commlssioner-The object / had in coming
10 TINS country was To establish business IN di
inondS; as lar as Know there ia no duty on da-
monds between England and France.
Question by counsel for deiendant-Since you
have come TO this country nave you received da-
monds through the post from London from your
father f#nm"
objected to by government counsel aud objection
sustained. MN# 1
Wltness--I have received number OF letters from
my father; received letters from HIM shortly after
larfiycd here; destroyed the greater portion Of
them.
q. Did those letters that you received from your
father contain any dafnonds2
objected 10 as entirely irrelevant and as tending
to crimnate the witness 4NM.#
Counsel for defendant said the Court or Appeals
had held that when man went on the stand couu-
sci, on cross-examinatlon, had right TO 40 ia ~
into his history In order TO determine the credibity
Of his testimony. NaH
Counsel for government said, In reply, that II the
matter inquired OF HAD preceded the present Trans
action, he would not object TO the question. u
The commissioner SAID he must rule out the qile5