The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-02-03
Smuggling Diamonds.

There is very important traffic carried
on in diamonds over the various European
lines to this country, and as the duty upon
them is ten per cent ad valorem, the sharp
est watch is kept upon those suspected to be
engaged in it. By means of agents abroad,
the Collectors Office has often information
by cable of the departure from the various
ports of suspected diamond smugglers, and
is prepared to intercept them. In nine cases
out of ten the stones are concealed upon the
persons of the passengers. When this be-
comes certainty, or what is supposed to be
certainty, the passenger is arrested and
taken to the Searcher's Bureau in the Gus
tom House. Here, if found necessary, the
party is stripped to the skin, and his clothes
examined inch by inch and seam by seam !;
the heels are taken from his boots, his hair
and beard is combed, and every means taken
to discover the hiding place of the secreted
treasures. Once this mode of search used to
be toleraby successful, but now it rarely
serves any purpose except in the case of raw
recruits to the smuggling ranks. An old
bird ie caught with chaff but once.
A New York Jew, who was reputed to be
in the business of smuggling diamonds, used
to cross the water on the Cunard line from
three to four times season. Two years ago,
in the early part of the season, he was seized
upon his arrival and taken to the searcher' 8
room. Nearly thousand dollars worth of
precious stones were found secreted in the
lining of his boots. He returned to Liver
pool by the same steamer, and four weeks
afterward again landed upon the company 8
wharf on North river. He was again seized
and subjected to the same rigorous search,
but with no success. The Jew took it smil-
ingly and philosophically. When he took
his leave he said: "Better luck next time,
gentlemen. 1 shall 60 back by the same
steamer on business, and when | return you
can Try it again"
The officers mentally determined if he did
they wonld try it again. Upon inquiry it
was found that he really had engaged re-
turn passage, having held his state-room for
that purpose, Two hours before the sailing
of the steamer he was driven down to the
pier in his carriage, his wife and daug hter
with him to see him off, When they re.
turned they carried with them over ten thou
sand dollars worth of diamonds which had
lain secreted in his state-room during the
whole time the steamer had remained in port.
Before his return to New York, the collector
was notified by one of the revenue agents
abroad that Max Fischer would return by
the -, which would leave Liverpool,
October 25, with several thousand dollars
worth of diamonds" In due time the Jew
arrived, aud for the third time was escorted
before the searcher. He was evidently not
prepared for such persistent attention. He
seemed nervous and agitated, and finally
attempted to compromise. He was politely
informed that that was out of the question.
He was again put through the searching
process. His pocket-book, which was first
investigated, revealed memorandum show
ing the purchase of eighteen diamonds Of
various sizes and prices, amounting in all to
about $4,000. When this came to light
the Jew begged with tears to be allowed to
compromise A deaf ear was turned to his
entreaties His coat was removed and the
lining examined. Nothing there. Then the
waistcoat As the searcher passed his prac.
teal fingers along the lining his heart gave a
tremendous thump as he recognized the
"feel" of something pebbly, like little rows
of buttons. The garment was hastily ripped,
strip of chamois skin withdrawn and I'M
rolled, and there lay, one, two, three-eigh.
teen All there. "You can put on your
coat and waistcost again, Mr.. Fischer" said
the searcher blandly. "Good day."
Without word the Jew departed, took a
horse.car home, kissed his family, ate a
rousing supper, repaired to the bathroom,
and, after soaking rather capacious plaster
across the small of his back for few min
utes in warm water, peeled it off, and with it
eighteen diamonds, of various costs and pri
ces What the searcher and collector may
have said or thought when they found their
seizure to be nothing but clever glass imita-
tions, worth from ten to thirty cents each
nobody knows; for although the seizure was
loudly heralded, the finale was never made
public. A lady in this city, moving in fash
ionable circles, wears valuable diamond
which was imported in the cavity of double
tooth, said tooth being in the mouth of an
Israelitish gentleman of New York. 1t was
placed in its rather unromantic hiding place
in London, and safely covered with bone
filling, which was displaced after the arrival
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