The New York herald., 1875-06-12
THE REVENUE FRAUDS.
Brief History Of the Recent Gus
toms Discoveries.
LATE SEIZURES AT THIS PORT.
Claflin & Co. and the Auctioneers
Give Bail.

The indictments against the wealthy firm OF Fl.
B. Claain co. have caused intense excitement
In mercantile circles. Whether this firm are
guilty or not or the charges made against them
ana supported by the grave presentment OF
Grand Jury It is impossible. TO say; but there
seems TO have set In with the new year what
might be called
AN ERA or SMUGGLING.
The first known Irregularities were confined TO
fashionable tourists who were returning to New
York from abroad with their spacious trunks filled
with elegant presents for relatives and friends.
Some OF these persons belonged to the most
fashionable society or Philadelphia, ana the
sisters, wife, mother-in-law and other female
relatives OF the protecting guide OF the party
were provided with summer toilets from Paris
which Worth had made to be as enticing on the
beach at Cape May as lf worn by The bellies Of
France at Biarrltz. But the enterprising citizen
was interlered with by special agent Chaiker and
finally paid the duty on his importations only es-
Gaping prosecution on account OF his influential
family connection.
The next batch OF smugglers proved to be
women, and trunk after trunk was seized, con-
l tanning elegant apparel made TO order across the
Atlantic and brought here for the iair owners by
charming modistes, one OF whon-Mlle. Leonle
Jouvin-had the misfortune to be incarcerated Ia
Ludlow Street Jail,
VICTIM 10 THE coQUErTEs,
who had not the honor TO come forward In the
hour or their victims peril and take the responsi-
bility OF their illegal acts.
All these revenue irregularities, however, seem
Insignificant when the great silk frauds came to
light The flight and arrest OF Lawrence and
Gran, the arrest of Colonel des Anges-wno had
hitherto borne a spotless reputation-and the
thousand and one rumors that Hed the atmos-
phere OF the Revenue Department and attacked
the reputation or houses hitherto beyond sus-
picon, are aBeirs OF too recent date TO need more
ten that one case OF wcrbA'ess cotton hosiery was
examined and passed, while perhaps twenty
inyoice-would be as lightly taxed. almost leading
TO the belief that secretary MeCuhoch, In making
his annual report to Congress in 1866 did not ex-
aggerate when he said :-"For many years there
has been systematic undsryaluati0n Of foreign
merchandise imported into the United states,
and large amounts nave oeen smuggled into the
country along our extended seacoasts and iron-
tlers.n
il we consider that only one million or our
American women spend $50 annually for silk
dress goods 1t will be seen how enormous must
which does not pay one cent OF duty.
THE FIRS OF scHULHoPF : co.
made the next sensation IN Custom House and
mercantile circles; but the most ever charged
against them was und graduation. IL ls greatly
10 their credit that their character tor alr deal
ing should have been so completely vlndIcated BY
Appraiser Darnng's report already published, and
that the COllect0r C0neuf5 IN tnelr eA0nerhtOu.
There are now but seven cases OF crepes ln DIS
pute as TO valuation, ana 1t 10 believed
these have already undergone as favor.
anle appraisement as the larger Invoices
examined in bonded warehouses COZ aud Goa
Washington street and iu the store OF Field, Nor
rts 4 Fenner, in Broome street. Mr. Hitchcock,
OF Hitchcock = Potter, IL Is understood, was the
instigator OF the charges against this firm, aud
1t Is intiaAted that tue business jealousy. out of
which 1t Is said TO have grown, viii terminate IN
lawsuit, 10 which Messrs Schulhon Co. Will claim
damages to a large amount. A HERALD represssn.
4 interesting interview
| with
SECRET SERVICE OFFICER
/ or the United states Treasury who had been In
styumeltal In unearthing many OF the late snug
nllng frauds, and mis- statement was about as fol-
lows:-
'Tbe cases coming to light from time co time
show that We are only penetrating the outer crust
Of these swndles Montreal i luil el professional
contraband goods into the States. New YORK
abounds with receivers, who have correspondents
Ia Paris, Brussels, Lyons, London and olner large
/ European cities. There Is not steamer coming
to New York tnat has not some cunnlngly
secreted contraband In personal luggage; aud,
as for the frauds by the merchants /
regard the Ciantn a Co. matter as
Months since the latter flrm were knoWn TO have
receiyed silks direct rom one OF tie parties who
was alterward fugitive lrom Justice. AZ that time
Mr. Claflin ana Mr. Taleott were approached for eN
plantations by the proper government ofIiccrs, but
they did not produce tnetr invoices and show reg
that 1t was from Information given 90 Mr. Bliss at
thar time tnat the present Indictments have been
u
AT the present time the only new arrivals In the
seizure room az the Custom House are three cases
4 day since, and one box OF toys consigned 10 q
house which rspudiates its ownership.
I CLAPLrN co.'s BAIL.
Yesterday II. ID. Cantn, John Clafiu, Daniel
\ Reblnson and Dexer n. Force, Of the nrm OF II. b.
\ Clafln Co., and w. H. Talcott, buyer for the
/ house OF II. q. Clanin Co., appeared before com
missioner John A. Shields and gave bail, each In
L the sum OF $4,000, 10 answer the indictments
which have been found against them for alleged
compIicfty In the SILK smuggling cases. Tneir
bondsmen are John ]. Donaldson and Aaron
OF the parties named, the bail on the three
amounting TO 100000 aud the surettes lusiifylng
are double that amount. Mr.. Fairchild AMI Mr..
Eames, OF the nrm OF Clanln Co., against whom
indictments have also been found, are both out or
town, but on their return they will enter into the
required amount OF bail.
TuE AUcIoSEERs' BAu-
John J. Morris, Aaron Field, William G. Fenncr,
nrm OF Field, Morris Fenner 4 o.. indic.ed ior
completely IN these alleged frauds, also attended
before ySPEsSSpsr ys @ SnSss 9gS Ssys pay tS ne
\ Fitch, founder OF the orphan Home for soldiers
/ Children, Darien, conn. ex-Recorder James NJ.
i smith aud James W. smith. The bonds Ia these
cases are OF the usual formal character. They rc.
cite the fact that the defendants have come before
\ the Commissioner aud bound themselves 20 the
/ United states in the sums specified 10 answer the
indictments found against them on the 10Th OF
Court, Tor having fraudulently, knowingly.
ard unlawfuly received and concealed in cer-
tam manner and By certain means TO the Grana
4
cealment OF certain goods, wares and merchan-
dise-to wit, large quantity ol SILK goods, after
their importation IN the United states, contrary
to law, IN tina said goods had been smnggled and
clandestinely introduced INTO the United states
from foreign country, as by said Indictment now
remaining on ile ana OF record In said court
more fully appears.
The representative or the HERkLD was ycster-
day informed that District Attorney Bliss mad
gone 10 WASHINGTON. Possibly his visit TO that
CITY Just at this time is In connection with these
alleged SIR frauds. Perhaps he has gone 70 con-
suit the Attorney General, Mr. Pierrepont, az 20
how he IS TO conduct the prosecution OF tue suits,
r fhav Ehoula pyar rOpna on fnF trial