The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-13
7HEnSILE SNUCGLERS
Expected Arrest of Prominent -Mer-
chants To-Day.
CONFESSIONS BY CoNTRABANDISTS
Will the National Line Steamers
Be Libelled?

Present indications are that tho present raid upon
the silk smugglers made by Special Treasury Agent
Bracket will develop astounding practices that
have existed for years much TO the pecunary benefit
OF tho parties engaged IN tha unlawful traffic and
equally tho disadvantage and loss OF honest import
crs. II Is indeed limited that the talk OF removing
Special Agent Bracket originated the desire par
ties high commercial circles who are implicated In
the trade get rid OF active Official. II Is not
known yet owing to the secrecy necessarily main
tanned tor the purpose OF securing suspected
PARTIES how many merchants who they
may be- that rest their heads upon uneasy pillows,
not knowing what day may bring forth. THIS class,
too, u Is sai has been particularly active in endeav
oring TO bring matters TO slandstilL
BRAcKgrr NOT GONE.
Tho private secretary OF Collector Arthur, Mr.
Phillips said that far as no knew, the only author
ity there was Tor saying that Special Treasury Agent
Weeks, who was sworn IN on Tuesday last, was to
relieve Captain Bracket, came from an expression Of
such expectation by Weeks himself 1t Is, from all
that DO learned, more than probable that Bracket
will continue his pursuit OF the smusglcrs tuat
his in tins last instance has weighed heavily
with Secretary Shermans action in bis II
pectcd, by persons IN position to be than ord
nary we'll informed, that before eight O'Clock this
morning there will uc other developments tnis iair
the parties areauy arrested the Investigations 10
be held next Tuesday, will aslonish people.
WHAT MANAGER HURST SAYS.
Mr. +. W. j. Hurst managing agent Of the National
luc, found ia his Ohio yesterday He could suy
little tho subject oil the smuggling his line,
the officers OF the company know ing less ABOUT tho
alleged smuggling than the newspapers themselves.
In view o. tue arrest OF some OF The pcrscrs OF MS
line he sau that they arc not cousictc cd officers Of
the ships, Custom House having to recog-
nZc suci He referred to tho stringent orders
of company 10 Their employees against smuggling.
in mad md ,tiSlu
the aud III tho snips oil .Ac company The cap
taIns ships have orders 70 the officers
manifest and 10 put IN the los the answers To the
questions. The National line uses all the precautions
against smuggling which experience suggests.
CUSTOMS DIFFICULTIES.
1t is suggested by men largely acquainted with tho
colossal transactions oil the great ocean steamship lines
dong business AT this port tnat IL Simply impossible
TO suppress all smuggling Some OF these steamships
bring at times enough people 10 IKE gool zed
town, and ~ found impossible TO prevent entirely
the concealment and Smuggling OF silks. iacss aud
other goods One o. tho gentlemen SAID IN effect that
the govern ment might well wnolo railroad
train crossing border, account OF the smuggling
operations OF some scGger, as 10 seize grea,
steamship Tor these alleged SILK smuggling operations
TEMPTATIONS.
|, was also pointed out that great temptations were
thrcwu IN the way OF the pursers. barkeepcrs aud
imported in Itself leads iato temptation men "ho may
not thoroughly grounded in honesty and then tho
Awhile ago pursers received about fl0 $500 per month,
now they get only IS or ~ $40 or $45 and bar.
keepers get only about 10 ($Zo) pcr month.
DENMARK.
The question OF hbcllng YES els bringing contra
band goods begins to engage attention. Tho vessel
against which tho main proof exists IS the steamship
Denmark, and tins ship Is al present on tho otner sus
OF the ocean. fne CUSTOMS authorities will await hci
arrival before proceeding In tho matter anu IN case
the Of the line do not send this ship over
her TRIP Oher vessels o that line in port may
be seized proceeded against
now SHIPS AR. ILBELLED
Tho course Tor iDeinng is prescribed by sections
2S72 and 1854, Revised statutes, June 81 1874 being
al f,tn Inn
provisions thercIn containcd the District Attorney,
behalf oil tho United states, appears III the United
States Circuit Court and aud hbcs such sleam
ship Tor because INC master Of such steamship
violation o! section 2S73, allowed to be unladcn and
aeiiVereu rom sara Vessei mercnaha'se' Will
out proper permit having been procured
He further alleges that such merchandise
(slKs) uuaden Is over $500 in value and tEcreiore
prays that sniJ vessel tackle, apparel and furniture
shall lie forfeited and condcmncd 10 the use OF the
Unmcd states under the provision OF section 2, S74.
Upon this The United States Marshal issues his
'sinOuItion' to the parties interest show
why such vessel snail not be condemned W prayed
tor Tnis called admiralty suit In rem, and Is
tried tne Uniied States Circuit Court, veforo .
judgc anu without IA jury.
The snip can DC BOMBED by the District Attorney at
vauc satisi aciory to tic Collector OF the Port or II
the District Attorney roiuses his CONSENT or the Col
ecor the Claimants caunot agree as 10 the value
bon, ani the Judge can appoint two appraisers, one
for the claimants. In case OF dsagteement Tho two
may appoint a tnrd man as referee.
CO1.LECT0R AT WORK.
Collector Arthur has not made public his intcn-
lions in regard to the to be pursued by tue
government IN regard the steamships OF the Ma
tona ine but IL Is well known that tho case mas
been cnpross,ng his closest attention. Before any
legal be taken the vesscs will have to be
seized ny the Collector
NATIONAL STEAMERS
The Natonai line, sana vessels weekly between New
York aud Liverpool, calling ut Queenstown, and Tort
nghtiy to London, ron piers ~ and ~ North RIVER
has cct o. Twelve large steamships Their nam are
lol ows:-Spain, Egypt, Canada Greece, Italy
France, England, nc Queen. Denmark, Erin. HeIvcta
Holland. Vi these The Egypt Is the largest, beng of
5.USy tons burden. The tonnage OF tho Denmark,
the vessel most IN question IN ths business. Is 3124
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY rNPREPAaED.
General WoodUrd, United States District Attorney,
SAID yesterday. view OF the reports me vessels
OF tho National would be iiueiled by the federal
government, that ne nad only just returned from his
Mississp tour and had not had time 10 investigate
the alleged silk smuggling Conspiracy Drouah to ignt
during hs absence He will Immediately give atten-
ton to 1t.
CONFESSIONS or GUILT.
There unusual hustle AT the oilco OF the Unite6
STATES Marshal, and arrests Of merchants ~ho have
been purchasing silks with knowledge That duty mad
bot been paid upon them are expected to take place
within few hours. Five oil tho fourteen men ar.
rested Tor the gng OF SILK are sad 10 have made
Confessions of their guiiI