The New York herald., 1877-09-22
THE FUENTES SEIZURE.

MRNTs.
Tho history OF the seizure Of Mr. Fuentes' alleged
smugged goods published in Tuesdays HERALD, has
been the means of throwing much needed light on
that strange transaction. The reports which were
given the press by interested parties were so incon-
ss,ent and contradictory that the plain and mattcrof
fact statement detailed by Mr.. Jutrand, although
many OF the allegations bore heavily ON q
few Custom House inspectors, presented the
case In an entirely different aspect Not
wishing 10 rely parte statementsa a HERALD re-
portor investigated the folly yesterday and
the views several leading Custom House
officials concerning certain allegations contained in
Mr. Juttrand's statement, where It was alleged that
Mr.. Fuentes had paid 81, 700 cmierant agent Of
the Eric Railway, Mr. Allen, who represented that
that amount was necessary to pay the duty on Mr.
Fuentes' merchandise.
The case which Mr.. Caldwell, Mr.. Fuentcs' counsel
and Messrs. Bschon and Leary, who were retained by
Alien, make out against Captain Brackot and the
Custom House inspectors Is reduced 70 lew PROPOSE
t0ns:-
F,rst-If the goods smugglcd how did that fact
escape the notice Of the Custom House inspectors?
The nature OF the merchandise was recorded on tue
declarations their dutiablo vauo was known to the in
spectors; Il was thor duty then 10 keep the goods IN
bond until they were shipped TO their destination
Second-lf the inspectors deceived by false rep
that the goods were In transit and not Tor
consumption still It the duty Of the inspectors TO
examine the trunks and TO ascertain II tho contents
agreed with the declaration.
Ihtrd-Ihere was no enort maze on tDe part OF Mr
Fuentcs to deceive the customs Inspectors He Is
merchant Of repute. total stranger in this country
ignorant Of It's laws and language, and he IS simply
the victim Of mis- placed confidence
Fourth-li Mr. Fuentes us alleged, violated the law
when those supposed smuggled goods were seized by
Captain Bracket why was Mr. Fuentes let go at large
Tor nearly three months and warrant only got out Tor
his arrest when the TACT became known that 10 avoid
Imprisonment, Mr. Fuentes had "taken French
leave 7"
VARIOUS STATEMENTS.
Captain Bracket not disposed 10 discuss the
u
arrest Of Fucntes The was thoroughly invcsti-
gatod be said He had done his duty IN the premises
and afraid have Official conduct in
necton with the Investigated He mad prepared
report which had been sent to The Secretary Of the
Treasury when would give correct history OF the
whole transaction Inspector Pollock was suspended;
but Captain Bracket sald not on charges growing out
OF Fucntes' troubles Perhaps there was some rrcgu-
ary The part oil the inspectors in not more closely
examining the value of tue merchandise
Collector Arthur was closeted with Mr. Thurlow
Weed, and could not be seen. Secretary Philips,
however, vouchsaed the desired information. Ho
had been informed thai inspectors sometimes passed
dutiabe goods IN transit TO foreign country on tho
sworn statement OF the owner that they were not for
consumption In this country. Sach proceeding on
the part OF tho inspectors Illegal and The Collector
surprised when informed Ior tho first tme yes
tsrday that such a system prevailed
Deputy surveyor Benedict had nothing to say
the subject Tho law which governed merchandise in
transit he said was included In section 2SO3 ana reads
as follVws-
Any baggage personal effects arriving in the United
States in transit foreign country INST be delivered
proper district to be BY him without the
o e H iS ep o
Under such rules renaton. sad fees the secretary
tho treasury may prescribe
Mr.. Alien. the agent makes affidavit that he never
received any money from Fuenles, and that he
never paid $500 or any sum OF money to Pollock; but
Fuentes and Juttrand stoutly That 81, 700
paid to Alien, aud that he admitted having re-
Pollock to pass Fuentos merchandise So far as as
certained ALLEN is man who bears good reputaton
he n.s been connected %n the r ERE hallway Tor
Mr. Buckley. ticket agent OF the Erie Railway states
that be has intrusted thousands OF dollars worth
Of tickets 10 Allen, and that the latter has the entire
confidence OF his employers
INSPECTORS DISCHARGED.
Custom House Inspectors Pollock and Cosgrove have
discharged the service, but not Tor any complicy
| in the Fuentes case.
When the case of Fuentes against Alien was up for
hearing last Monday, IN the Marine Court, Judge
Snnott before adournng tho trial said that If II
| him a month he would use every possible aud legal
means have the tried bya jury, the
involved wcrc Of very serious nature ana demanded
| thorough Investigation, declaration which Mr..
CALDWELL Mr. Fuentes' lawyer, claims Is favorable 10
his client
| MR.. PoLLocK's STATEMENT
Ex-IuspectOr John J. Pollock tnat he served
| the stan Of General Nichols, aud prepared the dec
laratOns Tor the passengers OF the steamship City Of
| Chester, from Liverpool
..Amopg the passengers, 4" he says, .was one Fred
erico Fuentes. who represented himself to me as
route to South America, AMI that his baggage
contained nothing but personal effects IN and some
church regala for his own use. accordingly made
route direct TO Peru after which came the
cuson to send the three trunks to public stores for
the purpose oil having them sent transit TO South
America, and accordingly noted on the doclarat on,
'rhroo trunks sent to +. s. aiterward handed all
the declarations to the Deputy surveyor in charge.
| who referred Fuentes at once to Deputy Collector
Lockwood, before whom he swore 10 the truth OF his
| declaration"
| Deputy surveyor Nichols then handed the declara.
ton 10 Inspector John Laird Tor HIM TO examine the
| baggage. After examining the baggage Inspector
Laird stated to General icnols IN my presence that
ne satisfied that Fuenes priest, that he
intended TO 20 direct 10 South America and that the
baggage consisted OF monks hats priests garments
whi WI onf M marc IN
| value. Deputy Surveyor Nichols then decided that
the three trunks might bs passed. duty ree provided
Fucntes would make oath that he would take them
direct 10 South America and no. dispose OF them in
this country. taentos then took such an oath before
| Deputy Collector LOCKWOOD after which drew my
pencil through the words, ''three trunks sent 10
| Z. s." on hts declaration, and Inspector Laird
aud returned the same 20 The Deputy Surveyor had
nothing 10 do with examining or passing the baggage
did not receive any money from Alien or any one
else.
MR.. LAIRD's SIDE OF The STORY.
Inspector Laird said 81 was handed Fuentes' dcca-
ration by Deputy Surveyor Nichols aud at once pro-
ceeded TO examine the baggage, which, as specified on
the declaration, consisted OF three trunks and TWO
packages. Previously Allen informed Inspector Pol.
lock anu me that Fusules was priest route Peru
Mr. Pollock took Mr. Fuentes to Deputy Collector
| Lockwood or General Nlcnols Il don't remember
which) to make afndavit that he was IN transit 10
Peru and rs 10 the contents OF his luggage Mr.. Pol
lock came back with the declaraou having the words
shree trunks sent 10 public stOre' stricken on, and
informed me should pass the goods, ana upon these
Instructions passed them, as II 10 customary when
passene makes affidavit that he Is IA transit for an
other country pass his goods IN that way. In ex.
am,ning the goods | only opened one trunk and
found that II contained priests vestments. TINS
confirmed me in the belief he priest
| tEcn signed and handed the declaration
to General Nichols. Jid that the goods were
OF no dutiaole value would have sent thcm 10 tho
| public stores and had them marked when Inspector
Pollock told me that might pass them Tree; Mr.. Pol
lock u stan officer ana obeyed his instructions
Besides Mr Pollock went on board the steamer down
the bay, aud " was he presume VINO nlade out the
declaration, and as he IS Hungarian, no doubt he
understood the French languago.and was therefore
better judge than OF what course OF action 10 adopt
did not any money gwen to any oi the inspectors
| or to Mr.. Alton.
| WHAT THE DEPUTY SURVEYOR SAYS.
| Deputy surveyor Nichols, when informed OF tho
statements made by Inspector Laird and cx-lnspcctor
Pollock, said:-
81 did decide that Fuentes' baggage should be
passed free; II Pollock says so he does not tell tho
truth. did not say that Fuentes might takes his
goods, provided ne went direct TO south America and