The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-26
Custom House Troubles of a Bolivian
Commercial Traveller.
E FREEDOM OF THE STAGE.
a Young Husband in Jail aud His Wife en-
Moonlight Picnics.
THE POLICE BOARD MANDAMUSED.

1t has already appeared in the HERALD that Fred
Rico Fuentes, OF Bolivia, has had quantity OF mer
chandse seized by the Custom House officers
charge Of his having passed It through without pay
ment OF duties. In the Marine Court, yesterday be-
fore Judge Snnott aud jury there came for trial
suit brought by Mr.. Fuentes recover Victor
ALLEN the sum Of 81, ZOO ALLEN associated with Mr.
Fuen,es In passing the goods through the Custom
House. and 1t IL charged against him that between
him aud the Custom House officers Fuentes has SO lar
got rather the worst OF il The story Of the latter as
told on the witness stand. Is that be I member OF
The nrm Of Fuentes Co., ~hch, under that name,
has existed In Bolivia Tor l05 years During the past
twenty-five years he has travelled In u business ca
pacity for the lrm, but this is the first time
he las brought goods INTO American port.
When hs arrived here in tho City OF Chester. about
six weeks ago. he was unable TO speak English, and
met Allen, who spoke French to him, and told
him he was interpreter for the hotel where has
going and also the Erie Railway and would assist
him in getting his goods through the Custom House.
With this understanding he tFuentes signed the usual
declaration tor the Custom House officers gave
to Alien foreign gold and bills Of the value of about
81, 700 He saw his last trunk locked by a whom
he supposed Custom House officer and whom h Q
pointed out 10 Court. The gentleman turned out 10
be Inspector Laird. He (Fuenes saw, as he sup
posed, ALLEN transfer money to tho Custom House
ofacer, and being then told by Allen that it all
right had his trunks removed to his hotel SUISSE
quenty he told by Allen that he had him
$500 IN duties, and wanted that sum- which Fuentes
refused Still later his goods seized Tor non pay
mont Of duties. Tho witness ss-examinalion
was most positive In denying that he Instructed Allen
10 tell tue Custom House officers that priest
and intended TO take the goods to Peru for his
use; the contrary, had already the Gus
tom House officials the declaration OF the Of
his trunks ana that they consisted of merchandise
we'll ss personal effects. The witness on being asked
or had asked the Doctor TO assist him IN negotiating
sale answered that he was not sick, and knew no doc
tors and few lawyers that he turned out OF his
hotel as alleged by the other side, he pronounced
talsehood and showed two receipted bills, covering
$3.50, tor his two weeks expensea He - worth. IN
his own country. he said, about 100000 but since
the government seized all his goods he had enough
case. In several interviews he had with Captain
Bracket the latter gave HIM to understand that his
he wanted lawyers there. With the reserva-
ton that other witnesses might be called on
Usna o, Pa nnn wnsn rney arrived Inc defence
Customs Inspector John Lard. He testified In sub
stance that Fusntes made an affidavit that he
going to Peru that the same stated him by
ALLEN, and also that he was priest. and believing
the truth OF this he passed his trunks; he saw
heard OF no money beng paid; he knows that paste
diamonds not used for the prlestly office. and
would not be passed duty tree, but he did remem-
Der II he Il the declaration; being told that
Fuentes was priest, ana having opened one trunk
and seen priests vestments there. he supposed
u was all right; he did not see Allen exhibit badge,
"Mighl there not DO silks in tho bottom of that
trunk 2" asked counsel.
"rnere might" answered the witness
was priestf"
s.Euenes looked like a priest, notwithstan ding he
had q mustache," answered the witness
would you take me to be priest ii told you so9"
asked Counsellor Solomon, shaking his busny side
whiskers and mustache.
81 would not" promptly and energsticaily answered
the witness.
John Pollock, another inspector testified that the
declaration Of Fuentes was handed TO him, 70 the
effect that he was going to South America but sus-
pccting something wrong, ordered trunks TO tho
public store and subsequently,, under orders OF Gen.
sra Nichols and after inspection by Laird they were
passed; he spoke to Fucnlcs on the boat ana asked
him some questions In English In relation the
stance o his declaration, the witness SAID but subse
Quently corrected himself and said he supposed some
one on board-a lady, he thougnt-lnerprated tor hm
he declined TO answer II he now employed in the
Custom House: he mad but two conversations With
Fuentes on the boat anu the other Ia tho house
on the dock; he heard Laird testiiying that be had
orders from him (Poock) that Fuentes had made the
necessary affidavit and his trunk should DO passed.
but he had recollection of having said SO; IN
Fueptcs' declaration he swore priest and CO.
ing TO Bolivia; Laird told by General Nichols that
II he satisfied that the declaration correct aud
the goods were OF no marketable value to pass them
he Is not sure, but he may nave repeated to Lard
what General Nichols said The sworn ion of
MI. Fuentes was here produced to which the witness
had referred, but was found TO contain statement
that he was priest or anything to that effect.
Captain Bracket was next examined and went sub.
santialy the story OF the seizures as has been
already told In the HERALD. He said the reason why
there was delay In issuing warrant arrest Of
Mr.. Fuentes alter the first that until SUBJ
sequent seizures HAD been made he quito sat.
ished but that the story Of Fuenles that he intended
to South America and mad already sent portion of
his goods there was tIue
At this point the trial was adjourned to this morn
Ing. The whole amount OF goods seized stated to
be about $4,000 Throughout his examination tho
witness Fuentes answered with great promptness and
apparent fanknessN The Custom House officers were
present IN force, and among the interested friends Of
MI Fuentes was the biiliardist GARNER.