New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-12
THE INDICTED MERCHANTS.
H.B CLAFLIN g. co. GIVE BAIL.

THE INDICTED MERCHANTS.
II. B. CLAFLIN & co. GIVE BAIL.
FURTHER DETAILS OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST
THAT FIRM, AND AGAINST FIELD, MORRIS, FEN
NER CO.-LAw UNDER WHICH THE INDICT-
MENTs WERE FOUND STATEMENT OF DANIEL
ROBINSON OF CLAFILN a CO.
Horace b. Clafin, John Clafin, Dexter N.
Force, and Daniel Robinson Of the firm Of II. r. Clafn
4 Co. gave bail yesterday before Commissioner John A.
Shields in oach to appear for trial in the United
States Circuit Court the indictments charging them
with having "frauduently, knowingly, and unlawfully
received and concealed smugged silks Of the value OF
$3sO,OOO Their suretes arc John J. Donaldson and
Aaron Clahin Mr.. Donaldson is Q member Of the
firm Of H. b. Clanin & Co., but he came
into 1t time after it's alleged fraudulent
silk transactions, and, as he is not indicted,
he accepted surety. Aaron Clafin is. 1t Is said,
q cousin Of Horace Is. Cafiin He resides at No 143
Montaguest Brooklyn, and carries on boot and shoe
business at No ZIG Churchst., in this city. William s.
Dunn Of the firm of H. b. Claain Co., stated in
Fridays issue OF THE TRIBUNE, gave bail on Thursday
in the Of $4,000, Augustus ID. Juiliard and Dun
can f. Mckenzie being his sureties. The only members
Of firm who have given bail Horace j. Fair
child, who is In Europe, and Edward T. Eames who is
away wedding trip. There are three indictments
against II. B. Canin Co., but the $4,000 bail covers
one separately.
VIM. II. Talcott the buyer for II b. Claim & Co.,
Jointly indicted with that firm in each OF the three ndct
ments and there three against him individually for
conceans and facilitating the cOnceament OF $4,000
worth of sDuggled silks. This makes six indictments
against Tacot, and bail for all Of them was fixed at
$4,000, which he gave, John j. Donaldson and Aaron
Clan also being his suretos Charles W. Field Aaron
Field, John ]. Morris, VIM. p. Fenner and Edmund j.
Fenner composing the auction firm OF Field Norris Fen
ner Co., also gave bail before Commissioner Shields In
$4,000 each appear for trial in the United States Cir
Court the indictments, charging them with having
concealed and facilitated the concealment Of $l6O60O0
worth of struggled silks Their surctes exRecOrder
James NJ Smith. James W. Smith. who resides at No 81
eeave Brooklyn and the secretary of the Manhattan
Gas %es a GOs As e
H. b. Cafin Co., the 100000 bail required from each
member Of the firm Of Field Morris, fenner Co. covers
all Of the indictments against them.
United States DistrictAttorney Bliss ia In Washington
impossible to say when IL. b. Clain Go. and Field,
Morris, Fenner Co; will be tried When asked how
strong a he had against these firms Mr.. Purdy
Piled al do not intend 10 have the Governments case
published in advance Of the trial and in the absence OF
Mr. Bliss, must decline 10 talk furthet about the mat
ter" The law under which these indictments found
is Section 1902 OF the recently adopted Revised Statutes
Of the United States. This section provides that II any
person shall frauduleny or knowingly import or bring
into the United States or assist In SO doing any mercan
disc contrary law shall receive, conceal buy, sell or
III any manner facilitate the transportation, cOncealmen
or sale Of speh merchandise after importation knowing
merchandise shall be forfeited and the offender shall be
aned any e not less xo
both Whenever, on trial for violation OF this sec
possession OF such goods possession shall deemed
evidence sufficient TO authorize conviction, unless the de-
PENDANT shall explain the possession TO the satisfaction Of
When the members Of the indicted firms were giving
to representatives Of the press and they left
soon as their bonds had been signed They did
appear to be at all alarmed however, but acted rs
transacting ordinary business.
STATEMENT OF A PARTNER OF IT. \. CIAFLIS.
reporter of THE TRIBUNE called yesterday
at the Office Of H. B. Clan Co., in order to ascertain
II the firm had anything to in reference to the
indictments Mr.. Robinson the only member Of the
firm that could be and he said that the members Of
had resolved not to anything for few days.
in addition to card which had appeared in the
ing papers; but" he added TIE TRIBUNE hit the mark
precisely in its editorial Of Case for Hearing Both
Sides this morning, when 1t referred TO Mr.. George
Bliss. Mr. Robinson said that he spoke for all the
bcrs Of the frIn
COMMENTS ON THE CLAFLIN INDICTMENTS.
A reporter of THE TRIBUNE called upon
several Of the largest dry goods firms In the city yester
day obtain their views relative to the recent indict
ments fonnd against H. b. Clan Co., and in regard to
the Customhouse complications in general The general
sentiment seemed TO be that Mr.. Cafin could not and
would not be willing take any advantage Of the
enue Mr. Arnold Of Arnold Constable & Co. expressed
the opinion that the public sentiment strongly in
favor OF Mr. Clann. who II not presumable would
risk lfetmes reputation for patry few thousands Of
dollars
Speaking OF the recent CusOm-hOuse disclosures about
smuggling and the system Of understanding, Mr.
Arnold said: What affects in business is the
system OF underinvocng so largely INDUCED in for
several years. Smuggling, I'm the strict Of the
term does not materially nure the trade as smuggIed
goods to be offered for sale claDdestinely The
undcr-invoicng In, however different Suppose upon
bill of $4,000 actual cost the inyoiced cost were put
importing margin of 81 500 upon bin OF $4,000 be
fore he would be upon equal ground with TIE honest IN
will drive every honest American nrln from the business
of importing staple goods" ,,,
Mr.. Arnold added that his own firm would not buy
goods II there were any suspicious circumstances about
them would they buy goods when Offered at an M
Mr.. Arnold thought however, that there undoubtedly
some merchants in business who Tond not hes
TO ask questions about them
CUsTOM-HOUsE INVESTIGATIONS OF GOODS.
The Custom house authorities wish to correct
any impression which may have arisen concerning the
connection Of Alhof. Bergman Co. with the underva
uaton OF lace. The officers say that 1t
upon the recommendation Of the firm that all the
Public Store, and that they gave every as
sistlnce in Investigating the matter Althof Bergman
e Goods Having saspcicns as to the charac
Ter of the mOraun they gave their views 70 the au-
tbores. and this resulted In the detention and seizure
Of the goods.
Tie Custom-house officials pronounce the goods OF
Field Morris, Fenner Co.. all right ~ far ~ they have
and ordered the release Of about 100 out Of
lO7 cases detained.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BLIss's VISIT TO WASH
NGTON,
WASHINGTON, June 1O.-District-A Attorney
Bss of New-York at tho Treasury Department for
than four to-day business connected with
Ais Office including the Cann and other important caseA