New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-09
THE COURTS.
THE SILK SMUGGLING FRAUDS.
CONCLUSION OF THE TESTIMONY AGAINST DIES ANoEs
CLOSING ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL


| CONCLUSION or THE TESTIMONY AGAINST DIS ANdEs
CLOSING ARGUMENTS OF COUNSEL
| The trial of Deputy Collector Col. Robert
Des Anges for completely smuggling silks through tho
Appraisers Office at an differentiation, was resumed
yesterday in the United states Circuit Court before
| Judge Benedict j. l.. Powers, clerk In the naval
Office identified several import entries for the sk goods
which, claimed were entered az cotton goods ana
described as such in the various documents connected
with them j. l.. Rohner, Government storekeeper at
Hoboken. and Edwin Ackerr1an, storage clerk. were
recalled, but nothing important was ELECTED refer
Ackcnan who carried carriage and storage business
1872 and 1879 testified that he had received goods to
be- stored for H. g. Levy and identified several of vys
delivery orders for the goods These goods 1t Ia aesed
were smuggled through the commence OF Des Anges.
They consisted mainly OF silks and Levy under ndct
ment for receiving them.
long time was spent in offering In evidence the IN
voices import entries permits and other papers relative
TO the goods in question. longer time was occupied In
discussing the question whether not these papers had
been sufficiently identified connected with the
10 make them evidence in it, Judge Benedict held that
most of them had been identified aud connected and
they viii be submitted 10 The jury George Van Schaick
and j. A. Dumont. inspectors of customs, denhed the
maniests Of many OF the goods alleged to have been
smuggled. and they were put in evidence This closed
the case for the prosecution and DisctAttorncy Bliss
entered noHe proepn to - counts in the Indictment
which charge facilitating the conceanent and trans
potaton OF smuggled goods The aiming IL counts
ge conspiracy TO deiraud the Government by SNUG
Cling silk goods at underyaluatOn Uron these
counts Mr. Bliss trusts for conviction. Mr. Matthews,
counsel for Des Anges asked judge Benedict II In the
United States Courts the accused allowed 10 testify
in his own behalf The Judge replied that he was not,
and Mr. Matthews said the for the defense was
also closed he had witnesses to call except Des
Anges Himself, who not permitted to testify.
Mr. Matthews then began his argument to the Jury.
After reDarhing upon the great flourish Of trunpets
with which the for the prosecution was opened
AMI doDOuncing "the attempt which had been made To
surround it with all OF rubbish lie said That the
specific charge against Dcs Augs that he consprcd
to defraud the Government, and that he did deffaud 1t
by knowingly designating of cottjn goods fosx-
animation at the Appraisers office samples OF npora-
lions OF silks. Gran, who according to the testimony OF
Gusave W. Ball, received large part Of the Silks and
who was Indicted for doing not called as WIT
tile prosecution, and IN commenting upon thus
fact, Mr. Matthews said: "TGc real criminals IN this
inater and Mr. Bliss knows who they are. are protected
by the Government. WAY did he not nut Gran on tho
siand1 win til you why lie lid not put HIM there
because he Knew that an the cross-eADminaion would
get at the bottom o. il.s a'aiI, nnG Gn Who tlr r,u
whu according the testimony Of Hartley. the money
was TO De divided. Graf sold most ai Of the Sllha c
E Mw, al ard ioO VT ' Mr. Ils wss yciy careful
not TO call him rs witnrs>" Mr. Matthew'S then re-.
viewed the evidence ~ great ,eDGth. aud insisted That IL
did not sow that Dies Anscs hoT ma, the cases ne DE-
sgnatcd To- examination contained cion goods, or That
Tsere Is no proof ii Mr. Matthews, tiai Des
Auges ever rec lived dollar of the money that was paid
I'm connect with the transacIcn. with which lie u
charged lie was q poor man when he was IN the Gus
tOln-hour aud ho Eas boen IN jan since last July cfallse
Great lad upon the fact hat. after thc discor
cry six smuggling frauis, Des Anees did not at
tempt escape, ~ hr had ~ % DoItanty 81 DONG
andit are1i that his coul cl ~ ti, respee was
not llat 1 g .a, NJ yte S eIciSe he ~
manned hal he been implicated IN iheli be wonld have
hed" In conclusion, Mr.. Matth rs said that wfHn Tho
tec;ed in "a gigantic smuggling scathC, thE iooheu
around for 10 sacrifice aud finally s:tilc,i upon
Dies Angcs around whom they con'd weave tLelr
tos, ani upon whom their crimes conii be made TO
M Bliss began his closing sum"nt by encrcetieally
denying Mr.. Matthew's charge asins. CGstDh,honie
Oinis, and said That Dcs Anscs "is n"' arrts Ell un
shout week. at'r the discovery OF tle SIX sini-
gns frauds because, notwithstanding the evidence
against him, his claFactcr had been such thai II was
hard bcvu he realty had ANYTHING to do with them
II appeared I'm evidence that Charles L. Lawrence was
connected with nearly al Of TAG goods IN Question an9
Mr. Bliss remarked that 1t was strange Mr. 'at news dII
crcthcr or not Deg Anges IN W what De DONG " len
he arsi mated the case fr unm'Iion n H. ro.eriing
Dd ii 10 the gentleman That pTefcr to con
vie; Graf rather than 10 se him a. "itn st II u ia
g. q insid rascal in preference the outside rascal"
Hatsd i,1'i me sS suSsiSs fud ysr hey were
Cls:on- ofncaio or net Gd iIai SO ar Us ne anew
All conn cied vita them lad been indsied A ss en-
tered upon a review che evidence. lie viii resume his
argument At 10 a. M to-day.
AN IXrLANArIoS IRON q. ". BALL.
To ~ c l. n ifOT OF Ihf ~ ic""e'
SIR: Having read in your issue of the I'd
inst that l had become States evidence in the case
pending between the United States and Col. Robert Drs
ADges you viii greatly oblge by coutralictng such
statement bpeed 10 testify in the above case.
and not wishing inclr the penalty attached by ~"
answering Ic summons. appcar u III couft tpr tl"t
ulrpnsc What 1 tcsuhed "a from CON 'usiun, ld
voluntary on my pdri, alihGdgh dr Matthews iDs
Angrs's COUNSEL insnuated much wLen he asAed me
il had been promised exemption frun punishment
would testify in behalf NJ tue Government. You mast
certain she light in winch ii laccs me. aud II IN
Uuly this iuIrCsUn i,lniIoi irolG e hlhd O
me general pubic that w,iic tns to YOU ItnSisyju
VIII give tic benefit rcinhn yours respectfully,
Nelc- IOfk. Nov. &, 1879. GUsfAYE W. BALL
The statement that Bill hl1 bec)m, stitcs evidence
was made the authority Of United States DisricA-
tomoy Bliss. The DstriotAtorney stated yesterday, on
being asked about the matter. tat BAH did torn states
evidence and given Dy him to questions
SLOW that ie did. lie further stated mat although bo
made Ban no promise account Of the evidence ne
gave, lac viii never be placed Oh trial