Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-10-15
Smuggling Diamonds.

/
"There is very inportan,
traffic carried on in diamonds o
yer the various European lines ic
this country, and as the duty up
on them is ten per cent. Gd ral-
iOrem, the sharpest watch is kept
upon those suspected to be en-.
gagged in it. By means of agents
abroad the Collectors office has
often information by cable OF the
departure from the various ports
of suspected diamond smugglers,
and is prepared to interc pit them.
In nine cases out of ten the
stones are concealed upon the
persons of the passengers. When
this becomes certainty, or what
is supposed to be certainty, the
passenger is arrested and taken to
the Searcher's Bureau in the Gus
tom House. Here, if found nee
essary, the party is stripped to the
skin, and his. clothes examined
inch by inch and seam by seam;
the heels are taken from his boots,
his hair and beard is eombed, and
every means taken to discover the
hiding place of the secreted treas
ures. Once this mode of search
used to be tolerably successful,
but now it rarely serves any pur-
pose except in the case of raw re-
cruits to the smuggling ranks. An
old bird is caught with cbaff but
once. E r,frl e. ,sor-4 i,o
"a New York Jew, who was
to be in the business of
smuggling diamonds, used to cross
the wateron the Cunardline from
three to four times aseason. Two
years ago, ia the early part of
the season, he was seized upon
bis arrival and taken to the
searcher's room. Nearly thou.
sand dollars worth of precious
stones were. found secrstedr -invthe-
lining OF his boot He returned
to Liverpool by the same steamer,
and tour weeks afterward again
landed upon the eompany's
wharf on North river. He was
again seiz d and subjected to the
same rigorous search, but With nof
success. The Jew took it smil-
ingly and philosophicAlly. When
be took his leave be said, Better
Luck next time, gentlemen. /
shall go back by the same steam.
sr on business, and when / return
gou can try it again. @ 's9't
"The officers mentally deter.
mined if he did they would try
t again. Upon inquiry it was
ound that he really had engaged
! return passage, having held bis
tateroom for that purpose. Two
lonrs before The smiling of the
teamer he was driven down to
he pier in his carriage, his wife
md daughter with him to see him
IF. When they returned they
arried with them over ten thou
and dollars worth of diamonds
which had lain secreted in his
tsteroom during the whole time
he steamer had remained in port.
Before his return to New York
he collector was notified by one
# the revenue agents abroad that
Max Fischer would return by
be, which would leave Liv-
rpool, October 90, with several
housand dollars worth sof dns
nonds. In due timeithe Jew ar
ived, and for the third time was
scorted before the searcher. He
Vas evidently not prepared for
uch persistent attention. 4 He
eemed nervous and agitated, and
nalIy attempted to compromise.
lie was politely informed, that
hat was ont Of the question
Ie was again put through the
process, His pocket
oOk, which was first Investigated,
evealed a memorandum showing
he purchase, of cighteen diar
londs of various sizes and prices,
mounting mall toaDout Sl2. eco
Ehen this came to light the JezF
egged with tears to be allowed to-
,mpromiss. - "a deal = ear was :
armed to bis entreaties. His coat
-as removed and the lining ex-
mined. Nothing sthere. Then r
,e .wsistcoat.. As, the searcherI |
assed his practical fingers along I
he lining his heart gave q tre- .
lendous thump as he recognized 5
lie 'feel' of something pebbly,l 7
Ike little rows of buttons. The
was haetilyTsripped, a !
rip OF chaEnois skin withdrawn !
nd unrolled, and there they lay, :
ne, two, three eighteen! Al !
,ere; ''You can put yoR your !
,at and waistcoat again, Mr. +
iseheE said the searcher, bland.
,. tGood 1ay.' @s- r 80 !,