The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-11
NEW YORK SILK SMUGGLERS
CIPT BRiCEETTS PRISONERS ASTON
ISHING CONFESSIONS.
The Treasury Derrauded OF Millions md
the Business Of Honest Importers Injured
Gnnf. Hrnc ct on his A hruni Removal.


Up to yesterday morning fourteen OF the
conspira,ors Of the great silk smuggling ring
had been arrested. The written confessions Of
some ofthe prisoners show that the frauds have
boon perpctratcd for years. and will foot up
among the Millions Nearly all OF the prisoners
are officials in the National steamship line. who
have had agents in this city. The chief OF the
ring John Scott. wel-known Spectator. has
Ned. and so far cludcd Capt. Brackets officers.
Tho principal articles struggled were costly
silks and fine laces.
Some time AGO Mr.. II. D. Claln and other
merchants called Capt. Brackets attention to
the fact that certain kinds OF silks could be
bought in this market for 81. so a yard in large
quantities, although like goods cost honest inn
porters 81 yard. The silk and lace houses in
New York were thus threatened with ruin.
For several months Capt. Bracket kept strict
watch upon tho ocean steamships. but without
avail. At length. about six weeks ago. some
Ponson silks were auctioned at considerably
under market rates. and as A. 7. Stewart 4 Co.
were the sole agents for these silks, Capt
Bracket called on them and learned that the
sale was not for their account. At the auction
house he was given the names OF the persons
who purchased the goods but the names Of the
consignors he could not get. Then from a piece
said il was one inch wider than theirs. As tho
silk was made cs pccially for the London mar
k"t. the inference was that Il was smugged in
London steamships. Hence special men were
detailed to watch the ships Of the National line
On the 2lst ult. two officers were detailed to
the Denmark to break out tho store room. and
on the same day the Captain learned that some
company To- the stables nj 800 West Forty.sey-
enth street Search was made there. and n
house near 10y was also searched. and five bar
rels. with eight pieces OF costly. silk. in each.
valued at $4,000. were discovered. These were
traced right hack to the Denmark.
ThcrcupQn Can't. Bracket began 10 make his
they cnlimlnated yesterday In the arrest OF
Richard Williams. storekcepcr u the Greece.
Among the prisoners are Alvin Graz, Superin-
tendent Of the National line piers; Edgar An
drews, delivery clerk James q. Maggie. pursrr
q the Denmark; Thomas Owens, purser Of thu.
Tngland Francis NJ; Walker, storekeeper OF
the Canada: John Wells storrkerper Of the
Denmark: Richard Williams. storekecper OF
the Greece. and Edward ii. Owen. storekeeper
Seyeral Of them have confessed. The con-
tcssQns all point TO John Scott, a Spectator. as
that under orders from Scott they paid A.
Graf, Superintendent OF the National line
piers. and + igar Andrews. delivery clerk. s2j
Tor every barrel landed from their respective
vessels The man who kept on" Of the deposit
tories for tn goods on The west side admits That
within the past thrce years. Richard Williams.
storrkeeper of the Greece. confess,s that he has
oo5ar s76 J5Sn Wiz Ig 1itS' 81 i' the
Denmark. saws that on the last eighteen trips
he ha- brought over fity four barrels. James
that he has smu.l,led twenty five barrels Of silk
and ten cases oi costly guipurc lace. Thomas
Ovens. purSer of the England. says that he has
| brought over MY barrels OF silk and twelve
| cus.s of lac. Francis W. Walker. storckceper
" the Canada. confesses that he has smuggei
| thirty barrels of silk. warl II. owens store
keeper of the Spain. says that he has brought
over thirty barrels ~ silk.
A. thes. operations have Il il thought been
going on for eight years, aud a. the CONCESSIONS
are of smuggling within the pHst two years, the
extent If the Governments loss rs well ~ those
! Of honest MGR 'hunt- may be- inferred when the
amount on which duties have been "Nnlri Tor
twl years l. -al -ulatel A nearly 81 unpup
Richard llliaul-, the last man urrrs trd. Will
| probably be used ~ a witness. with onr or two
others. The trial Of the fourteen If 10 bo begun
| hefore United States Commissioner Shields on
! Tuesday next.
Capt. Bracket was questioned by n SuS re-
porter last night in reference IN his removal
| from the position 81 Special Treasury Agent.
! He said that lie had no time to 10 10 work TO get
| political influence for his retention. rs the in
| t"r~ts ot the Government and ~ the merchants
! otthis city demandedth his entire time should
! b. devoted u completing the destru ton OF the
/ ring It -mu-elrrS who had So long been rob-
| hing the Government ana running legitimate
/ bus ness.
treorg- n Weeks BROOKLYN politician. was
/ sworn IN ~ the Custom House. Yesterday. a.
Special Agent of the Treasury department. tn
su"e"d Capt. Brack"tt. He j. President ot tho
! Republican Association of brooklyn. AMI
! handled the machin" there for Hayes last fall.
/ H. has been snrkln. the position Of Special
/ Agent for some time. II" was specially backed
| 10y friend of VI Gonna X. Assistant s. rotary
! OF the Treasury. who inter "d"d for h.- np-
| pointmcnt with Secretary sherman and Hayes