The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-30


it.
now JAYNE OBTAINED INFORMATION.
Mr.. James f.. Caldwell of Philadelphia
testified that about II year ago a coniiden
tial book-keeper in the firm with which he
is connected suueptitiously took from the
establishment invoices, slips of invoices
and other documents and put them into the
hands Of b. G. Jayne, the government spe-
cial agent at New York. This clerk after
ward sought an opportunity to be discharg-
Ell by having quarrel with the junior
partter. In the latter part of May, 1913,
a letter was received from their custom
house brokers at New York, Alexander
Murphy & Co., saying one of the firm was
desired to come to New York on important
business \ telegram was soon aftcrward
received stating that Mr.. Caldwell would
be preferred. The witness then gave a
ciicumstantial account of his visit to New
York. On visiting the office of b. G..
Jayne, Mr.. Jane Immediately opened the
business and. having the stolen papers be-
fore him. said that this was the most com
pletc case of fraud he had ever had. Mr..
Jayne said the invoices were correct. but
there was violation Of law, three instead
of five per cent. commission having been
added on invoices of canoes and Jewels,
the difference in favor of the government
being 1921, and the whole amount of. the
invoices $4,000. Mr.. Caldwell explained
to Jayne how the matter occurred, and
claimed that the firm had certainly no in
tcntion to dcfraud the government. Jayne
said he could settle the case in two minutes.
He could take the case into court or COM
promise. The witness and the other mem
bers of his firm preferred compromise
rather than incur the large expenses Of
court. Finally it was agreed to compro-
mise for $780, 900, as the best that could be
done. The firm was to pay $4,000 on
application to the secretary of the treasury
to accept.
THE COMPROMISE,
S17, 800 when the compromise was ac-
cepted, and S17,500 to be paid sixty days
thereafter. The firm paid the two sums
first named, making s'32 800 Thinking
they had paid money enough they returnoJ
to Mr. Bliss, with Il view that he might
recommend that the money already paid
was enough, and that the remaining %17,-
500 need not therefore be paid. Mr.. Bliss
said an arrangement might be made by re-
ducing the sum to $1,000. This Mr.. Cald-
well, on behalf of his firm, accepted, but
the money has not yet been paid. They
have made an application to the secretary
OF the treasury to reopen the case.
NJ. 5. j, Conley, collector of customs
It Philadelphia, being present. was asked
his opinion of moieties. He said rs the
superior custom house officers were judges
in cases of alleged fraud they should have
no part in moieties On the other hand he
questioned very much whether the interests
of the country would be promoted by the
entire abolition of moietes. To do so
,rnnlI tbrnw thn ,1oor 10 I
was to the interest of the honest merchant
to prevent frauds by dishonest importers.
During the two years and a half he had
been in office his share of moietes amount
ed to $1,000 only.
RESISTING DLACKMAIL.
John Field, of the firm of Young, Smith,
Field & Co. of Philadelphia, gave a cir
cumstantial account of the visit to their
store in October, 1878, of Augusts A. Brush
treasury agent in New York, who al
legged the firm had been guilty of frauds by
false invoices. The partners in the house
held n private consultation, and as they
were not aware they had done anything
wrong, they firmly resolved to spill the
last drop of blood and spend the last dol
lar in defence Of their rights. The wit
ness was informed that if he had gone to
see Mr.. Brush the matter might have been
settled. Brush was accompanied on his
visit to their store by ID, f. Houston of
Philadelphia, treasury agent IN that city.
Some of their books and papers were ia
! ken away, and they have not yet been re-
turned. The firm do not know the details
of the charges against them. The allega-
ton was that during five years the govern
ment had lost $3.50 of duties, for which the
penalty was TGS,O0O or $4,000. The diff
ficulty arose about cartons. Some of the
manufacturers of little things include the
boxes with the invoice, and others do not
One invoice, which was or 50 80, forfeited
$1,000 worth of goods. The witness stated
| that the case was now in court.
CASES SETTLED.
Mr. ID + Houston testified in relation to
he case of Roberts & Co., which was one
# false weight in iron. The treasury set
'ed it by their payment of Sl2 200, although
lie penalty they incurred was $4,000
The government fraudulent wcighers were
discharged. Witness did not know of any
Official ever having been punished for such
practices. lie received SO 900 as his share
of the money. With reference to the case
of Young, Smith 4 Co., he said Mr. Brush
discovered the irregularities of the house in
New York. Mt which part of their goods
were imported and came to Philadelphia to
look into the case. The witness never heard
of the case till Mr. Brush brought it to his
attention. Suit has been commenced
against them. In reply to part of Mr.
Fields testimony, the witness said he re-
membered of sending only one message to
the firm. Mr. Bickel, who is connected
with it, asked him what troubles there was
between the government and the firm. The
witness replied II Mr. Field had come to
Mr. Brush and explained, as the latter re-
quested, perhaps the matter could have