The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-28
THE SEIZED DIAMONDS.

Graphic Picture OF the Seizure and
the Attendant Circums stu Story
OF . Cabin Passcnger-Threc Prominent
Omcials from Washington with Sixty
Trunks-BOr1ng the Heel Of . Mans
Boot for Diamonds.
The following is the statement of a cabin passen.
ger on board the City Of Chester, which arrived
this port Sunday night, as to the recent seizure
OF diamonds and the circumstances which led to
it, n
PASSENGERS STATEMENT.
Shortly after the City OF Chester left Liverpool
Mr.. Lancaster became acquainted with o number
OF gentlemen cabin passengers. TO these he
made no secret Of the fact that he had
large quantity OF diamonds in his pos
session, the aggregate value Of which he
said, on one OCCASION in the smoking room Of the
City OF Chester amounted to little over $4,000
He also explained that twelve OF the diamonds
were small cut stones. and he had heard that any
gentleman was allowed to bring that amount into
the United States as part Of his personal property
or outfit. The remainder, ne said, were uncut
stones, and he had made inquiries OF the American
Consul in Liverpool and learned that uncut dia-
monds were not dutiable commodities In any
American port.
'When we were short time out" this gentle
man continued, 1--WE learned that we had three
prominent government officials from Washington
Second Auditor of the treasury Department..
Ma Of ne was
Washington. ana the third was gentleman named
Frazer. whose governmental capacity did not
At oil events we understood after short time
that these gentlemen had been sent to Europe in
bonds which were out standing at the other side.
qusinied witt the fact that Mr. Lancaster had this
$4,000 worth o. diamonds on board, and 1t Is pre-
Sumed knew the circumstances.
WHO GAVE THE INFORMATION?
'Whcn We arrived In port on Sunday night,n the
reporters informant continued, 1--WE were boarded
IN the regular way from tender. We were told
that we could not take any of our luggage ashore
on that night, but that any cabin passenger who
wished could go ashore personally to pier 46 North
River and the luggage could be sent Tor next day
awaited ourselves Of the opportunity and got
on board the tender. Among the rest
Off from the ship, when to astonishment, sixty
trunks, belonging 10 these three gentlemen, were
chairs and tables belonging to them also, and at
length we moved Off up the North River towards
& There a of the
to one Of the gentlemen, not him OF the dia-
wanted in the Custom House caboose on the
s Mnar damd Msrs WITH ns m e fspea s s
ne had not: He was then stripped stark naked.
The lining OF his clothes was cut, but no diamonds
were found Finally the lynx-eyed officials took
the unfortunate mans boots and with. gimlet
bored holes in several places in the heels but still
no diamonds, and finally he was released.
THE RIGHT MAN AT LAST.
Meantime the three Washington officials had
driven away to their hotel in O carriage. but one
of1cer, seeing Lancaster on the wharf
and thinking there was resemblance to the man
they wanted, Immediately seized him. He was
taken into the cabOose, and was ABOUT to be put
through the same ordeal without any questions
being asked, when he said that he mad some
diamonds round his neck in q bag. He produced
them and explained how he had brought them into
port thinking that they were not dutiabe prop
erty. The diamonds were taken from him, and he
at once said
'Tdemand, as q right, that you at once seal up
these diamonds and In that condition hand them
over to the Collector OF this port
The Custom House Official laughed and said
jeeringy:-
THAT'S all right old fellow, but we know our
business" and, In spite OF Lancaster's remon.
the diamonds were taken. The cabin
passengers OF the City OF Chester who were wit
nesses of the affair feel quite indignant about this
matter, and sympathize with Lancaster.
Such is the statement OF one OF the passengers.