New-York tribune., 1872-01-30

tho goods admitted FREQ OF duty Mclbln CO. resteh
similar outrage. aud, taking tho case into cour DO
fcoted the Special Agents
IMroRTERs AT THE MERCY or THE SPECIAL
AGENTS.
william Redmond. q dealer in Irish linons. testified
"My books wcre without prctense OF legal authority
SEIZED carried off, and retained Mt the Customh0uso for
three months; goods of any kind were taken, but
was informed that was charged with entering goods
100000 which were worth $4,000 and TINT had paid
short duty 10 the amount OF 500 tho difference In the
value OF tho goods from entering thoin nt ther
brown instead Of their beached values" The case
was dismissed upon investigation, but there was no
means afforded br Redmond against the false
affidavit Of the Special Agent Tho desire seemed TO be
to get possession OF the private letters OF thc esSn
mcnt.
HAVE IMrORTERs NO RIGHTS THAT SPECIAL
AGENTS ARE BOUND TO RESPECT.
Francis Payson tesHos: During February last seven
CustOmhouse officers entered the store OF Hoeneman,
Payson & Moore with warrant from Judge BntcDlofu
for the seizure of our books and papers With view to
investigating alleged failure to pay proper dnty upon
an Importation Of WOOL the weight OF tho wool had
been received by tho firm on the statement OF her own
and the City Wogher, and request was repeeay sgn
TO the Custom house for "a u. b. Welgncri aiicr
several days delay, order having been IN the mean
time received for the article, tho wool was soi1 anu 'qr
warded TO the buyer immediately aftorward tne de-
scent was made upon Office aud all the books r 1902
during which time II was claimed tho importation had
upon undervaluation; although bitteryt feeling tho
need Of the books refused to pay Special AGENT jayne
$4,000 but that could be compromised for so The
books were returned otter some tne ana 70 the case
stands to-day"
THE ILLEGALrrY OF COMPROMISES BI SPECIAL
AGENTS.
The legal opinion OF exJudgc Noah Davis u 5. Dis
trictAttorney, Is. that Especial Agents cannot when
holding the books OF hrm make offers Of settlement
(as Col Howe did to Mr. Hoyi. In the Of Naylor
Col In behalf Of the Government nor have they any
right 70 receive any money for the Treasury Depart
ment." Detectives cannot legally take money:
There have been many cases In which smuggiois
detected with the goods In their possession nave been
permitted escape criminal prosecution upon the ior
eituro I the goods upon the payment Of money Ex
Judge Davis istanced the OF diamond smuggier,
against whom a criminal suit was begun. but upon a
compromise tho legal proceedings were dropped " Is
the opinion. Judge Davis that tho settlement or
civil claim does not do away with GRIM
inai proceeding" Deputy y-Colector Clarke states:
az have always understood that when n merchant Is
liable 10 indictment, the payment of an agrcedupon sum
into court the proper hands practically prevents the
indictment from pursuing him havo never Known VI
case 10 tho contrary the of Diamond IAlly III
yOlvng about $4,000, compromised iol sfOuO'
an Investigation was made into the Affairs of the nr'
aud t was decided that this amount w0nld DO acceptcu
the firm willing, have understood 10 pay s'ooo