New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-10
TuTRTIETU DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

mad fron 7 WlnsIoU stating that he had the qulda-
ton Of an entry delayed six months when the delay
should not have exceeded few days, but whother tS
was puposey he could not positively say he also
called the attention of the Committee to the injustice
uorters being made correct and omissions OF
tho Cnston house officials william Whites'de OF the
firm OF whesde brothers importers and manufacturers
NJ white goods and linens No. 1877 Churehst' read tho
following statements
HOW IMPORTERS ARE PRRsECUrED.
On the 9Th OF June 1871 Lewis j. Kirk John KanksSie
and Lewis Jones' who gave their address a. the custom
house. and David H. Crowley. No. Al Chambersst''
Marshal's Office in very rough, dctatOral, unpleasant
manner exhibited specially by L. J. KirO came and
demanded books and papers refused To give thein
and told them would punish this outrage II the law
seize all books and papers relating TO the importa
ton goods by several steamers from January ioo,
70 Scptember 1870; the charge against us was uh
deryanaon OF goods made the oath OF Lewis Jones;
we sent lawyer, and he SAID the warrant author
lied them to seize the papers we then allowed them 10
he taken away nndcr protest they took away nearly AL
the books and letters they could find from about 1868 up
that date examining them into their pockets and refused
10 give any receipt or account OF them they also TOOK
the books Of our manufactory business at MOodna,
at ali; when we objected to their taking Things
their warrant did not call for. they said there
TS o U premses until one Of them go the
Judge would grant them authority to tasr al ney
pleased they also said could go TO B. G clark Nnth
division CuStom-house to about the matter at me
end OF about week did 90 and see Mr.; clark, Wno
on the 18th June returned part OF our books e1actg
written promise that we would hold them subject to
the order Of the Collector until this matter wa; settled
On On t the same terms and the correspondence he
holds vet; he furnished us with list OF 10
on Which he claimed we paid G9G99 6s IOd., making
difference IN all OF 46l los. Cd; tho duty on which
would amount about SPA 0j, and told u.s. IN very IN
suIting manner that our affairs were all wrong; ne
afcrward said that not Intentionally they were Teen
nicoIly So he afterward said were not so bau as
many others and thought would not lose our iiye.
vet; quite at loss to understah now any can
4. .f,,gf NJ he hn
were well aware that instead Of our owing them they
owed for we frequently PAD small Sums more imam
we should do rather than contest II Win thcuI'
CUsToM-HoUsE ExTORTIoN.
We now spoke of two Of our neighbors who had been
similarly dealt WITH and ascerained that they had To
pay in one $500 and in another $1,000 In brides
to John Kankskc. who got it with the knowledge OF l..
J. Kirk and they had doubt OF g. g. Clark also those
sums paid in gratutcs to kankske IN addition 10
the money they paid 10 the District Attorney we hen
broke of all communication with s. q. Clark. and went
onr story. said he would give it his attenton;
returned TO him by appointment on tho ioIh
Of July and he told he had inquired INTO the matter
and that he thought IL was persecutl0h' ana nag
stopped all annoyance to us IN the future he a'io had
had much to do in the matter as himself and asked Us
give explanation to MI Lafn men no sh, I h
satisfied; on the nth or 18th a, of of d Irly,
ton ton Of Mr.. Clark for 100000, and We under.
stand that he deliberately tod the hens co ~ 6S
price of brown thing he must hay known to be
false wished to go TO the district "A
he pleased which refused 70 do on or about the st
OF OF oSf books would Us by applying
at the DstrctAtt9rneys office as tney han an oruer
such ORDER and that the suit not discontinued put
nat they Would P se nat ~ o aed e
on about the 10th OF October 1911 | met me tol,
lector Mr. Murphy. in William-st who told me he had
showed our case to the Secretary OF the Treasury who
agreed with him that 1t was an oppression ana oy ms
consent and authority he had written to the District,
Attorney stop all proceedings against us; he also added
that those rascas trying TO make mountain ont OF
amolehl there the matter still rests we mink ourselves
seriously injured by this act, and complain
MERCHANTS GRIEVANCES
FIRST That any judge who ought to be the guardian OF
our liberties should authorize the seizure OF our books
and papers on simple oath belief Of party OF no
possibility to the great injury OF our business peace
| of mind, and character
S,rond That any law should exist giys people OF
mercenary and INSCRIPTIONS disposition power color
OF authority to annoy an honorable merchant IN MS
Third: That smuggling should not be compromised
ALL when proved, 1t has tendency 90 drive honora
| bic out OF the business.
Fourth: That presumng all they said in our case was
true word OF 1t s). and that we had under
valued 99537 lis the OF R6l 1853 3D. less
IL per cent that they should attempt TO nnidate
us with suit for 100000 many would rather compro
FIN That 8 G. Clark should misstate and msrepre.
sent our affairs the Collector and TO ourselves,
and that John Kankskie should tell us lie glad 10 find
well of VIC could better bear the loss than
any OF neghbOrs they had seized yet showing the
object OF taking our books at all was to find out what We
| could bear.
against only one was of those mentioned III tho war
| AN OUTRAGEOUS SEIZURE.
Senator Casserly-What the effect upon your bust
ness Of this seizure of your books and papers A. 1t
stopped our business for the time being almost in toto
Q. Was the matter public and notorousf A. Yes Sir,
| very.
q. Your has not yet been brought to trial A.
| O Did you give sny bail upon the writ A. No, Sir
q. Have you offered any obstruction to bringing the
Q. Who is John Kankskie, A. think he ia employed
In the seizure bureau; saw him when called on Mr.
Clark, when he said be was so glad to find that
O. Has the suit boon discontinued A. The District.
Attorney told my lawyer that 1t should proceed no
| further.
this seizure of your books and papers A. think 1t
injured us 100000
have been explained by you any officer the United
States had he called for IL . A. Nothing.
q. Did ever haze any opportunity. prior to the
seizure Of your books and papers to make an eIpana
O. II any request demand had been made upon You
by the Collector for such explanation. would you have
hesitated to comply with ~ A. Not at all
q. What amount OF duties do you pay per y0ari A.
From 500 coo to s25O,OO0
O. And upon an alleged default OF s27i in the payment
Of your duties running through a of invoices Won
were subjected to all this trouble A. Yes, Sir '''
O. What are the names OF your neighbors whom you
say were similarly dealt with A. would prefer not TO
give them az think it would be breach OF confidence
O. bid you get back all of your letters' A. No. Sir.
only part; tho remainder. including. | think some
private letters, have been withheld TO this day
O. Do you know in whose custody they arei A. Iw,s
told that they were In the DstrioAttOrney's office
O. Were they ever at the CustOm-housoi A. Yea sir
| saw them there.
O. Was any opportunity given you to make an inyen.
tory OF the books and papers taken from yOui A. No
Sir.
O. You do not know who has been reading your Letters.
whether rivals In business anybody else A. No Sir
O. Does not the seizure of The books and papers of an
importer without any notice opportunity 10 explain
the transactions alleged TO be fraudulent practically and
publicly him II he willful viostor OF the
lava dishonest man, perjurer a smugger ana
rogue 7 A. Yes, Sir fully
Senator HOwe-Have you made any application 10 tho
District Attorneys Office for your correspondence A
did. but they refused 10 gveit to me.