The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-04
SMUGGLING BY WHOLESALE.
carr BRdCKETT DREAMING Up TIE
STEiNSHIP Partnership.
The Frank Confession Of IN Omccr- Millions
of Dollars worth OF SILKS that have Paid
No DUTY Good News for Honest Importers,
whom Dishonest Men have long Undcrsold.


Of Dollars worth OF SILKS IN, ,t have Paid
No DUTY Good News for Honest Importers,
whom Dishonest Men have long tnders"id.
About n month ago Special Treasury Agent
Brackett and his assistants got wind OF guam
nty of Ponson silk that had been smugglcd into
this city. They captured fifteen pieces Of the
sllk in dry goods stores and in auction houses,
whittier they had been sent to be sold. Mr.
William Libbey OF A. 7. Stewart 4 Co.. having
been shown some OF the silk. snd that 1t was
made for the London market. This gave the
officers the hint that the smuggling was carried
on in vessels running between New York and
London. Following up their clues. the officers
satisfied themselves that mon connected
with tho stcamships of the National line
were making grcat deal OF money
through frauds on the revenue. On
Wednesday last they traced forty rolls OF black
silk, containing thirty-hve hundred yards.
worth about $4,000. that had been landed free
of duty from one of the steamships. TO n room
over 4. J. Dunlaps express stables. Mt l2s
franklin street. The goods were packed in
cases that bore the address OF an auction house
In White street and in tho room wcre found
five barrels in which they had been shipped.
The barrcls were lined with waterproof cloth.
to keep out the sea moisture. On the following
day the officers searched house in Spring
lice Gedney. and found nvo packages Of SNUG
glcd black guipure laccs. valued. with the duty
of thirty five per cent added. at about $4,000.
They also got in the house lot Of letters and
papers containing the secrets OF the smugglers.
Capt. Bracket and Inspectors Jackson and
Smith discovered the existence Of an organized
ring Of smugglcrs among the employees Of the
National Steamship Company. and the Mar
Ehals officers were kept busy yesterday and on
Monday making arrests. Eight employees Of
lhe steamship company and two cNprrssmen
were taken into custody. The accused persons
are Alvin Graf pier superintendent Of the CON-
pany. Thomas Gray. cooper on the pier; James
Towers delivery clerk James Maggie. purser in
,he steamer Denmark James Wells. barkeeper
In the Denmark Thomas c. Owens. purser in
Me steamship Canada; james Walker. store
tocpcr in the Canada; Edward Andrews. de-
livery clerk A. J. Dunlap. proprietor Of ST.
bree's express ani J. ward NJ Kcan. superin-
lendcnt Of the express company. They gave
bail in g.. 500 each before Commissioner Shields.
Pursor Owens. on being shown documentary
proofs of his guilt. made written confession.
lie says that the frauds were begun in 1869 10y
John Scott OF sos Broome street. He formed
Me acquaintrnce Of scott about four years ago.
md was then employed 10y the latter To Snug
gle silks and laccs. H. got the goods from
hrms in Manchester. Liverpool. Glasgow and
London at first. but afterward 1t was arranged
~ have thcm delivered 10 him in the stcamsh -
through Richard Clark. Of the firm OF j. J. 4 G..
Cooper Of Church alley. Liverpool. He was
paid twenty per cent. Of the value Of the goods
he smuggled. The silk was shipped in cement
barrels. which were mixed in with others really
containing cement. The barrels were landed
from the steamships on the National company 5
wharf a, Pier A.. North river. with the con-
int. ,ta