New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-17
HUNTING DOWN SMUGGLERS

THE GREAT SILK FRAUDS ON THE REVENUE.
TIE STORY OF THEIR DETECHON-THE LONG IN
vEsTIGAIION AND THE WATCHING OF sUs-
PECTED PERsONs-TOw THE GUILT OF LAW
RENEE AND DIS ANGEs WAS DIsCLOsED-PUR-
SUIT AND ARREST OF LAwRENCE-EXTENT OF
EXISTING SMUGGLING COMBISATIoNs-THE BUsI-
NESS NOT YET BROKEN UP.
An important witness in the case OF Charles
Lawrence, who awaiting trial In Ludlow Street JAN on
charges OF forgery and deaudng the United States Gov
ernment has arrived In NewYork This is Sergeant Ed
ward Shaw Of Scotland Yard Police in London, England,
who apprehended the prisoner Sergeant Shaw Is guest
OF Mooney BOland the detective frm at No. 162
Broadway, who investigated the The evidence az
far Lawrence is concerned being nearly complete,
Mooney Bolad have made their report TO the Hon. b.
H. Bristow, Secretary OF the Treasury, detailing the
that they have used to ascertain the facts THIS
report is substantially follows
In October 1874 several Of the leading drygoods ner
chants of this city called upon and stated that unless
something could be done check the fraudulent mporta-
ton OF laces and silks into this port they would DC COM
PEELED to abandon their business Under the existing
state Of things it had become Impossible for nom
Orable merchants to compete with the houses
which could afford to sell laces and silks
prices 90 per cent less than the goods cost
ing them import regularly, paying the Customhouse
charges. An agreement entered into with these
merchants. by which they subscribed money to deiray
the expense provided that would take charge OF
their AS great interests were involved we
decided TO make very thorough investigation James
Mooney determined to devote his entire time to ferreng
out the perpetrators Of the smuggling frauds We were
actively at work, and detectives were sent out
watch every entry that might be cew to the Snug
gers. Our suspicious were soon directed to firms VINO
knew engaged in the lace and silk trade,
and who believed from their prices were getting
their goods free OF duties. We watched for the delivery
ia % tlnan afaI
trace the property back the place whence 1t came In
the early part Of November three OF goods were
delivered to this house, marked b. C., 92G, 927, 800
The business OF this house the importation ana sale
OF laces, as the partners in it claimed anu
they occupied warehouses and stores on Broadway.
We at searched the records In the Custom
house. and found that referred to had been en-
tered there as corses" We informed Collector
Arthur OF our discovery, and ascertained further
that this firm had paid no duties 10
the Government for two years. All this TINE
they had been doing an immense business In
aces importers and dealers. These three cases were
osensiby consigned to ID. Bamberger Co., firm hav-
ing existence place OF business The entry of these
cases in the Custom made by Charles L. Law
renee. He claimed TO be Customhouse broker
who held power OF attorney from ID. Banberger
81 Co.. which enabled him make their entries aud sign
the necessary bond for the delivery of the goods.
We ascertained further that Lawrence had not
power of attorney as he claimed to have, and upon
the strength OF which he had signed the necessary
papers enable the goods to be Withdrawn from het
CustOm-housc. The entries that Lawrence had made
were before tho Deputy Collector OF the Third
Division, Robert Des Anges, who checked
them all right. Des Anges was man
whom both Collector Arthur and other high
officials regarded as thoroughly trustworthy and ono of
the he suspected Of being engaged in any attempt
to defraud the Government Collector Arthur had 50
much confidence in the integrity OF Des Anges that he
called him TO his and told him to give
notice TO Deputy Collector Phelps and Balch'
his assistant in the Ninth Division, OF the
next arrival OF goods consigned to persons who were rep
resented by Lawrence. Messrs Phelps and Bacl had
been 10y Collector Arthur 10 render us all the
assistance in their power to further our pIais Tor
reliance upon Des An ges, we placed n Wa,Gh
upon Lawrence and followed him everywhere. We
deceive in the neichborhood OF the Hamburg docks
with o orders to SS% any g %Sn THAT Were might
tered on the manifest as cotton goods aud
We also had men stationed at other places with orders
inform at Of the arrival ~ certain goods that
given us the requisite authority TO do So Thus We
spread nets in every direction, anu waited patiently
some time afterward we received information from
Europe that the agents OF one OF the persons nm Ter ss
rapidly forwarding these goods to their principals in this
country. We made an arrangement with Phelps and
goods in connection with our men. who were watching
Lawrence as expected that an attempt would be-
made TO land the goods ana dispose oI ueli "Itno"'
paying the duties demanded by the government
GETTING PROOFS OF LAwRENcEs GUILT.
Our watch Of Lawrence developed nothing until in
January 1875. Then one of our men reported that
Messrs. Gray Bros, Customhouse brokers, in com
pany with Lawrence, made an entry, OF which MI
Boland informed Phelps Balch.
eve expected that the. goods would be run in, SAID
Mr. BOand in explanation, "and went up town 10 nd
Lawrence 1t was bitter cold day, one OF the
very worst of the whole Winter L reached
Lawrences house. at Eighh-aye. and Twenty-thrd-st,
early in the morning, and hung around waiting for him
to come out thought that should freeze. He came
out at length and jumped into stage to ride down town
He did many shrewd things to avoid pursuit lie
changed stages frequently and entered hotels, going INTO
the front door and emerging from the side entrance
finally found COACH and thus was enabled to follow
him in all his doublings followed him into the Custom
house. and here he did tho act upon which the whole case
turned He lodged about in the crowd for hours. did
not dare to 90 inside, for l was too well known
so had to depend upon one OF my men, After the
day had been nearly spent Lawrence made the entries
1 was waiting for, and informed Phelps ana Bach OF
the fact" The entry tho report continues to state was
found be eight Of what purpored to be cotton
hosiery" arriving by the steamer Pommerania.
The cases were consigned d, TO - mythical
house called Freeman & Powell. They were
marked p F.. from 100 to lib. Lawrence signed the
bond as surety the withdrawal of the goods In due
form by consgnees. AnOrder giving Lawrence per-
mission to withdraw these cases from the Custom house
was signed by Deputy Collector Des Anges who selected
the case to be retained and examined b. the Government
officials for appraisal.
SCHEME TO BAFFLE INQUIRY.
Soon aferward Mr.. Des Anges became alarmed az MI
Balchs inquiries into order He then made another
order recalling permit to deliver the goods and gave
this to Mr.. Balch. He gave 1t to Boland,
who FASTENED TO the wharf where Mooney was
watching and turned it over to him. Mooney
toupd tho poota on the POmmerania, and ordered