The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-16
THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

THE BLACK LIST-THE ROMANCE OF SMUGGLING.
stood IN Venice on the Bridge of Signs
palace and a prison on each hand.
Byron's beautiful lines would have aptly applied
to the groups in the sombre corridors of the Gus
tom House yesterday. In all The alsles OF that
building there were little knots Of men. who con-
versed in Whispers, and the Collector, instead OF
the DoRe, made the sole distinction between the
date oil yesterday and one of the last century. Tue
''black ist' was to be published to the world, and
only the mercy OF the chief official OF the customs
stood In the way between the discharged employees
and public discontinue. Collector Arthur, taking
the side OF charity, deemed 1t best Tor the public
interests that no names OF those dismissed from
the service should be made public, and, there ore,
to all the inquiries of newspaper agents
he refused to deliver the hst. In this
view the HERALD heartily concurred, Tor
inasmuch as the President is only required to COM
municate Information TO Congress "wnen not in
compatible with the public interests" 1T seemed
but proper that the Collector OF the Port should
exercise his discretion in regard to the publicity
OF changes in MS department which might WORK
harm to the unfortunate gentlemen VINO were to
lose their situations or no fault OF their own. but
only on account OF the eXigencies OF the pubic
service. While, therefore, tue names OF some Of
those dismissed is III the possession OF this journal,
1t Is deemed best To withhold them lor tue reasons
already stated.
the tapls. IL appears that
THE ROMANCE OF SMUGGLING
Is not vet eXnaus co. CoOnei George U. Williams.
OF The Surveyors stan, on Saturday afternoon
sc1Zeu on the dock OF the French steamer Pcreirc,
a trunk belonging 10 Mr.. Jules Solomon OF san
Francisco. tanning the following articles,
winch, considering they were entered as the pr-
vdte wardrobe In use OF private Qentlem IN, were
ratber remarkable - Three gold Watches ELK
dozen OF gloves diamond studs, bracelets and ear
rings, lpuulnerable scatis and SCARF pms. hair
roDts, three oead-lace jackets, "a superb India
shawl, thirteen gentIemen's coats cnIldren's
cloaks and d esses, &c. Alter the SEIZURE Mr.
Salomon confessed tnaG the goods were intended
Tor certaln wealthy residents oil San Francisco.
and the black trunk, with the Initials ~. ST." now
lies In the seizure room Of the Custom douse. In
connection with tins romance Of
FASHIONABLE SMUGGLING
II may u0t be improper TO recall the case OF Mr.
Henry Ashnurst, OF Philadelphia VINO brought
over sixteen packages last November III the
steamship Java. twelve of which were trunks.
Various IashionaDles were included among the
bountics OF Mr.. Ashhufst; but the trunks were
seized IN this city and Philadelphia by SPECIAL
Treasury agents, ana Mr.. AshhLrst mad actually
agreed
TO PAY FOUR THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND
TwENTY-ETGHT DOLLARS AND THIRTEEN CENTS
TO be let on; but, strange ana mysterious as It
may SEEM through some influence IN washing
ton or elsewhere, tue rlch Mr. Ashhurst's pro-
perty-or that OF his Murray Hill or Princeton
clicnts--was released recently, aud the United
States District Attorney OF eiphia-Coloacl
acknowledgements the release IN WASH
ingion. In view OF tn punishment OF Mile. l. ,onl
J0uvin-tna connscation OF her property ana the
severe vndication OF the law IN regard to ner--lC
there Is not Washington Custom nOusc .rlup.r
and whether to plate SIN with gold and me
strong lance OF Justice hurtless ialls,r does not
apply 10 these cases.