Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-15
THE SILK FRAUDS.
Credit MOBfIIer I'm the New York
CustOm-HOuse.

SuaA0AAA@AI olHEa
New York Herald.
, The readers of the Herald Will re.
member the scandal in Government
circles that occurred last January when
it was discovered that a number of
prominent attaches of the custom
house and other persons had formed a
local ring tO swindle the Government
by the importation of silks upon which
no duties were paid. The matter IN
derwent Judicial investigation by the
Treasury Department, aud as a result
e such investigation it is alleged evi-
Gence was obtained duplicating in the
transaction Charles Z. Lawrence, an
Inspector, Col. Robert Z. Des Anges,
one of the deputy collectors, who is
supposed to have connived at the pass
ing Of the goods through the custom
house, GustaYins W. Ball, a clerk IN a
liquor store, who is supposed to have
been the broker Of the ring, and one
Lafayette Giraffe, whose connection
with the ring is somewhat obscure.
The grand jury Of the United States
Court investigated the facts, when
enough was ELECTED to Justify the
INDICTMENT OF ALL THE PARTIES.
All the implicated persons mentioned
above were arrested and are now con-
fined in Ludlow street jail or are out
on bail. The exception Is Lawrence,
who was formerly one Of the editors or
stockholders Of the Sunday Times, and
a son-In-law Of Maj. Noah of that
journal. The extent Of the swindle
upon the government has not yet been
divulged by District Attorney Bliss.
but it was shown by the evidence of the
buyer for the house Of II. B. Clafin &
Co. that they had purchased about
100000 worth Of the smuggled silks
IN the usual course OF trade and with
out any collusion with the ring. Law
renee, whois supposed to be the chief Of
THE CUSTOM. HOUSE CREDIT MOBIL-
TER"
by some means gained an inklIng Of
the impending descent upon them, and
decamped to Canada. TheamOunt out
Of which the government has been de-
frauded, Of course, cannot be learned.
but It is believed to run into the mil
lions. He Is expected to arrive at this
port IN the steamship Scythia hourly,
IN charge Of Deputy Marshals Harris
and Bradley, who were sent to Eng.
land to bring him back. According to
the British law q fortnight must elapse
before a prisoner can be sent abroad
after the magistrate has Temanded him
for extradItion, to give time for collect
ing evidence or appealing to another
tribunal, and hence the delay IN send
5ug Lawrence forward TO New York
sooner. To make lis return here GER
tain. active and skillful detective Of
ficers were sem to take charge Of him
during his homeward voyage IN the
steamship Scythia, Of the Cuuard line,
which left Liverpool on Saturday, the
lst inst. Already there is quite
FLUTTER IN CUSTOM HOUSE CIR
Giles,
where the arrest of Lawrence IN Europe
was a surprise fraught with danger to
the numerous ring who are known to
have been interested in the silk frauds,
and the sooner several of these gentle
men take a change Of air and scene
the better 1t may be for themselves as
well as therayenue service Of the United
States. One thing is likely. the return
Of Lawrence viii lead to some very
strange and interesting developments
as to how the public business IS man
aged at the New York Custom house,
for the ex-inspector threatens TO
REVEAL THE WHOLE PLOT
by which he alleges the Government
has been systematically swindled, as
well as the names Of all those whom he
knows to be parties to the frauds, both
among the corrupt Custom house Off
GERS and their cOnfederates, the dis
honest importers.
1t is understood that District Attor-
ney Bliss, who has devoted much time
to an exposure Of the operations Of the
ring and its various rdmIticatlOns, is
prepared to bring in over 80 Indlct-
ments against Lawrence, upon each OF
which he will require $500 bail, or over
half a million dollars to protect him
from confinement IN Ludlow street jail
until the case comes to trial