Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1874-07-07

PRINCIPALS AND THEIR CONfEDEhATEb ALL CAP
TuRED-A BuAIBoAT CoNFIscATED-PARTIcULARs
OF THE AFFAIR.
Especial to the Commercially
On BOARD THE ''HAMILToN,"
In THE DELAWARE Bay July 6.
On Sunday evening last United States Marshal
John NJ. Dunn, accompanied by his Deputies,
I. NJ. Culbert Samuel II. Kemp, Thomas v.
Tighe, and James Dandy, with representatives
of the press, left Wilmington for Lewes on the
steamer Hamilton, of the Revenue Marine Ser
vice, which had been placed at his disposal by
the Secretary Of the Treasury. The object of
the visit was to break up band OF snugglars,
who were known to exist at the Breakwater by
the arrest of their confederates and the melting
out to them OF that punishment which their Of
fence merits.
THE SPECIFIC OFFENCE
Alleged against these volators of the customs
laws is that on or about the nights of June LIST
and 2nd, 1874 theysfraudulenty received from
tho Bark Masonic, West India merchantmen
bound for New York, aud lying inside the Break
water, from seven to thirty barrels of sugar,
part Of which they offered to sell afterwards.
About nine days after, the transaction
was alleged to have taken place. Will
liam Ellegood, Jr., William Crosby, and Alton
Crosby were arrested ON warrant issued by U.
s. Commissioner John d. Rodney, of George
town, before whom they were examined and by
whom discharged. This examination was be-
WAS 30 unsatisfactory to the Government that
other officers were detailed to work up the case,
and the arrests made to-day were the result of
this action. The officers believe they have Sc
cured the right parties, and that the weight of
the evidence
WILL BE auFFIo1ENT TO oRInuNATE THEM.
Arriving off Lewes about o'clock this morn
ing, boat was lowered into which the Marshal,
his deputies and detail from the cutter under
charge of Lieutenant Greenway entered, and
reaching the railroad pier they first secured the
bum-boat belonging to the CrosbyS and in which
the smuggling is believed to have been princi-
pally carried on. A descent was then made up
on the residence of William Ellegood, Sr., along
the beach, known as the "PayilioD, and here
three of the prisoners were arrested-William
Ellegood, ST., William Crosby and Alton Crosby.
The party then proceeded into Lewes, sum-
moning witnesses on the way where they put
under arrest Joshua II. Ellegood and Samuel
Marshall. A deputy was dispatched to George
town to subpoena witnesses, and later in the
day William Ellegood, Jr., was found in Lewes,
although the officers had been told he was at the
county-seat. At night Andrew II. Baker was
taken in custody, a visit in the afternoon having
failed to find him at home. He departed as
soon as the other arrests were made, taking
with him, it is supposed large lot of goods
which had been obtained by other than legit-
innate means. Baker is charged not only with
smuggling but also with
DEALING IN sMUoaLED GOODS,
Ard quantity of wares of this kind were seized
upon his premises. The above is a full list of
the prisoners, but several witnesses are on board
who were brought along to testify III behalf OF
the Government.
OF these prisoners Mr. Ellegood and his two
SONS are natives of Sussex county. Years ago
the former resided at Georgetown, and was a
highly-esteemed citizen Of that town. He is a
cousin to the State Auditor. The Crosby boys
came to this State about q year ago from Cape
Cod. The younger is u boy only 14-years of age.
Mr.. Marshall is native Sussex countian, and
Mr. Baker is q German by birth.
This smuggling of goods at the Breakwater
has been in progress for many years, and it is
supposed has resulted to the government, annu-
ally, in the loss of several thousands of dollars
The work is conducted under cover of darkness,
and the goods are first secrated somewhere in
the vicinity for day OF two and then conveyed
across the bay to convenient point i'll New Jer-
sey, whence they are shipped to Philadelphia
and New York. or course this presupposes the
existence of men in those cities who make the
engagement in tlis business their avocation, but
this belief will require no difficult stretch of
credulty to comprehend it. Portions of these
goods, but in small quantities. are also sold in
the lower part of Delaware
There are grave hints of
TOO GREAT LAxITY
on the part of some of the Government officials
about Lewes and numerous instances are report
cd wherein tue exercise of the proper precau-
tions would have prevented the smuggling
ashore Of large quantities of goods. This seems
to be the prevailing opinion about Lewes, and
there was mucn qualification expressed there,
to-day at the turn affairs had taken. Ofcourse
so many arrests in so small town created much
excitement, but there was a strong sentiment
expressed in faror of the justice of the policy
pursued and in til correctness of theairests
made.
THE TRIP DOWN THE BAY
Was exceedingly pleasant and enjoyed by all
on board. The officers of the Hamilton we've
very kind and unremit ting in their attentions,
and there are none In the service more capable or
afable than they. They are II. P. Hamlin, Cap
tain L. G. Shepard, 1st. Lieut., L. A. Brooks,
I'd Lieut. G. II. Greenway and +. L. lockwood,
Sd Lieutenants @. H. Stone, Chief Engineer
j. A. Severns, and H f. Loveaire Assistants
VIM. Brown, Pilot. Their assistance to the Mar
shal was very efficient, and they at all times
seemed ready and willing to act. Special
Agent James s. Chalker, who had worked up
the case under instructions of H. e. johnson,
Commissioner of Customs, joined the cutter at
Cape May, and recrossing to the other side, he
and Lieutenant Brooks made some important
seizures at Bakers house which fasten the guilt
upon him beyond preadventure. These were
the first arrests under the new regulations, by
which the supervision of these matters comes di-
rectly under notice of Commissioner johnson.
T. M T..