The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-28
Custom HOUSE IRREG
a Member of nm Oid south American Firm In
Trouble About Duties.

FREDERICK Fuentos is an Italian connected
with a large business house that has been Hour
ishing in Bolivia for LOG years. 1lc arrived in
New York in steamship from Liverpool with
81 900 or $1,000 worth OF clerical vcstmcnts, Ia
dies underwear. and jcwclry. At the wharf he
mot Victor Allcin. u runner for the Erie Rail-
way. who accostcd him in French. Alen. ho
says, represented himself to be in the service
OF the Custom House. ana obtained 81 800 from
him to pay the duties ON his goods. Fuentcs
then put up at n Spanish hotel in Fourth street.
whore Allein was stopping. and soon aiterward
tho goods were brought TO him by express.
They were sold to various persons. and sent in
different directions. At this point. says Fucntes.
Allcin came to him for $500 moro. lie refused
to give il. and Allcin threatened to make trouble
about it. Tho next thing Fu'ntos knew he wns
arrested by detectives attached 10 the Custom
House. and tn golds h. had sent away wore
ovcrhaulrd and -ri2ed. on the ground that thcy
had been smullsrd. The Custom House OIL
frirls denied thut duties had been paid ON them
hy either Allrin or anybody else. They had
been pissed. II IL said. undHr u false AFFIDAVIT
that Furntr- WIS u priest. and that his goods
wore merely ia trans ia on their way To Bolivia.
Fuenics then sued Allrin To- get back the 81 ,5lO
H. had given MIN. and Ind him arrested. The
suit came ~ trial on Iucsday before Judge Sin
mott, ami the testimony was continued on
cart Bracket Of the secret service and Do
te@iN,s Laird and Pollock were among the wit
ur4-v- Iuruit - AYERS that Allrin was IN rOllu-
sion with the Custom House folks: that his
goo Is were paSsed Tor an undrrhand consider
ntion paid 10y Allcin. uud that aitcrward Allcin
lodged charge with the secret service officials
tha, the onis had been smusgled in fulfil
mcnt of his threat 10 make trouble. Allein de-
nies that he ever received any money from
Iucntr- at all.
Among the witnesses yesterday were Gen.
Foster the United States Ass istant District At
torn"y. who came with court records. Ballard.
u French mu-lr dealer; Bayard. French jew
cllor; liu 'klry Assistant Suprrint 'nd"nt OF the
Erie luiltuuit MHrcclnnp, a runner Tor the
Fourth Street Hotel, Prr.ir.. another runner
for the sam hou-a. and Jortrand. keeper of u
hlrrOOm. The ffDn h witnesses COutTulirtcd
and dis, rrdlthd each other and the Custom
House oili 'luls ion the most extraordinary man
nrr. no two telling stories that were entirely in
harmony; but ON" tning Was acknowledged On
uiI hands. via tnnt There had h'"n somelhing
ilrgitinEtr on the part ol the Custom House
people Ia permitting Fluent - goods 10 lu~s
without Iaym'ut Of the duties. Who wiis to
blame for this Cen. Poster has been trying To
ini ont. AMI b" offered immunity 10 Allen.
VINO has lren urrcs 1t also az the iustpn 'c Of
the United States authorities for smuggling. II
he would say whom he paid IL Ect the goo Is
hr pad anything 10 anybody. ana 10 that story
n utNrrcs.
Furut q, j. in as much trouble as n man would
like To Ice. lie ~ On huil on a charge Of snug
gling on bah IN a civil suit brought Toy one
/ Cote, the principal Of u French inst tttr ny
town. and m" Irupri"rr ol "a Catholic journal
h'nrmg the same name ~ ia" famous period
iHnl OF par~-tho Ieruc DIES dt1r MOnd 5. lis
goods are III puo- ION of the Custom House
people, and his money. H. suy-. wont to Allen.
and did uo' return. In BOLIVIA he says he ~
word iluuuuu: hut here he is not able To pay
the jury i.o of Si2. and his rouns ! hHd clam
exemption from It ON the ground that he b. "A
luuprr. 500 that tine Jury has been serving with
out compensation.
The rsa wis rlosri yesterday and submitted
to ia ury. Wul. won't out at O'rlof III. hut up
to last night had not agreed. and was locked W.