St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1874-01-02

He then headed for Baldhead light
house. located at Cape FeaI, one mile
from shore and, when within sight of
the light. and under Gridiron reef, he
let go his anchors i'll eight fathoms of
water, and Immediately began to trans
fer the crew of the NirginiuS to the
Ossipee. which was effected with much
difficulty and danger, ii being i'll the
night and the sea running very heavy.
In short time after, the Nirginius
went down. total wreck.
A Great Boston Firm Accused of Rev
enue Frauds.
Boston commercial circles were great
ly excited. Saturday morning. by the
seizure of the books of the well known
firm of Jordan Marsh & Co.. one of the
two largest firms in the dry goods bust
ness, by government agents for alleged
frauds upon the revenue. Street rumor
had it once that these frauds extended
over il period of ten Years, and involved
II ,50O,OOO. perhaps double that sum.
but the facts are that the government
officers. who have for some time sus-
pected this firm, procured II warrant to
inspect and seize the books and papers
relating to their business from 1860 to
the present time, claiming that the firm
have mlawfully put money in their
pockets by il system of differentiation
of goods f;ilsifying the cost of others
making false charges neglecting to
enter the value of the boxes containing
goods: entering invoices in which iictl-
tious discounts appear: making false
tI,..lf md
ing dutiable goods Us baggage. 1t Is
said also that. since the Investigations
were begun. some private invoices.
which do not agree with the custom
house invoices. have been found. The
amount of the cheating is not stated.
but the officers say that report greatly
cNaggerate> il also that public .iudg
mrnt should he withheld. The books
and papers have been removed To the
count house. where they are undergoing
examination. and. should the suspicious
of the officers hr verified. suits will bc
commenced against the firm. Mc~~i>.
Jordan \ Marsh gave every facility for
the examination into their affairs. and
court the fullest investigation. They
pronounce the charges entirely ground
less. and their high character and nu>i-
ness standing naturally incline public
sentiment i'll their favor. Another firm.
Townsend \ Co.. doing = large com
mission business on Central wharf. Is
similarly accused of frauds. and lis
members. David and Thomas II. Town
send. have been held in $1,000 each to
answer Il charge of making false rcvrGuc
returns of CaIgnrS received 10y the Fear
less. the Arg"naut and the R"Ine"
Fl ETHFE rNETICI-L MRS al rIT ~FIZI RI.
THE CHARGES AGAINST rIIE tiEN.
Public interest in the ease ui jordan.
Marsh \ Co.. the great Boston firm of
dry goods importers. " hnS,. books we're
sized. Saturday. for alleged revenue
frauds, i Increasing. and Il lively culi-
o>ity i felt ~ to the nature ui
the charges and the prospect of THEN
ycriticatiun. beside Il tnlrlnhlc strong
resentment against the arbitrary char
artrr of the proceedings of the govern
mcnt agents. In accordance with the
provisions of the law. Collector Russell
has appointed Special Agent bingham
of the treasury department, and MrsSr~.
Kimhall. Monrchou>r and Graves. dep
utN special agents. examiners to inspect
the seized accounts and they are hu>ilN
IN.
taken transcripts of all the charges
filed against them. that they may know
of what they stand accused.
In the affidavit upon which Special
Agent bingham obtained the order tnI
the seizure it l. stated that the frauds
are of different GLASSES. which are given.
| ndcr class one. the frauds are said to
consist of false classification of goods
affecting the rates and amount
of duties: memoranda of the firms
dealings with foreign houses. giving
names and dates. in which evidence of
fraudulent invoices appear. are cited as
proofs of the charges. Class two re
late> To casc> i'll which the cost of box
c>. packing. commission and other
charges We're not added to the prime
cost al the goods. a> required 10y law of
all merchandise subject to ad valurcm
duty III many ca>cS, il Is changed.
these charges we've actually deducted.
Class three contains charges of the rX-
portati"n of merchandise in bond and
its reimportation without change of
ownership, and entries inNuiccd 10y
which the cost nt the goods Was stated p
at less than the actual cost and true I
dutiable value. Glasses four and five ;
relate To goods imported and put into ,
on which revenue charges +
We're wholly cvadrd. Classes six and
seven include the charges of goods in ,
voiced ut prices much below their cost ,
and of fictitious discounts. Papers and I
of the firm are cited i'll
almost every instance. i'll support of I
these charges; and it is alleged in the /
affidavit that documentary evidence g.
Exists showing that Jordan 4 Marsh ,
were personally cogniZlnt of these j
frauds
The wonder Is. surprising all the
charges are true. how the government
got at the facts. Jordan, Marsh x COS. /
business has been pretty closely Scru- I
inlZed 10y the treasury agents for two y
Years or more, but the members of the {
linn do not seem to have been aware of I
It until quite recently. Their custom I
house business has mostly been com l
mitted to the care of one Individual t
md 1t is rIImorcd that there are SISpi-
lions of il conspiracy" to injure them, Il
by making fraudulent entries and then e
the agents. 1t is the gener- I
Al opinion that some one in the c>tah- Il
iSlrment has assisted the officials To
most of the facts on which the CHARGES =
ire founded. Il
special dispatch to the Boston t
Herald from Washington SAYS that it is Z
earned at the treasury department that
he supervisors have been ut work for {
wo Years obtaining the evidence upon Il
which they acted in Selling the books. II
The supervising special agent himself Il
'pent some time i'll Boston, recently. g
n la, r.,- H.
dence in favor of the government i Il