The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-10
SEEING AGREAT STEA MSlIIP,
TIE ENGLAND IN THE HANDS OF Gus
TOM HOUsE OFFICERS.
Rumors that Other Vessels or the National
Line are to he seized Breaking up silk
Smuggling Promotion for Capt. Bracket.

The steamship England Of the National
Company's line was seized on her arrival from
Liverpool yesterday. the charge being that she
has brought smugglcd goods into the port OF New
York. Tho seizure had been ordered by the
Collector and the Surveyor. under instructions
from Washington Custom House Officers Nea-
nc and Wcstbrook took command after the dis
charge Of tho passengers at Pier 81. North
river. and will hold until n libel is procured
against the vessel. The United States Marshal's
officers will then take possession and will de-
tain her here until bonds arc given for her. She
s valued at 100000. She Is announced to sail
on Saturday next. but her clearance will be
withheld until her owners file bonds in t250.0O0
or $500 900.
Deputy Collector Phelps says that the seizure
grows out Of the searching investigation that
WIS made by Special Treasury Agent Brackctt
in the silk smuggling frauds carried on for
years by officers Of the National Company's
steamships. in completely with manufacturers
and agents in England. and capitalists, auc-
tionecrs. cXprcssmcn. and others in this city.
Thomas c. Owens. the purser Of the England.
was recently arrested IA one " the principals
in tho smuggling. and is a prisoner in Ludlow
street Jail. lie has confessed TO Special Agent
Bracket. exposing all the smugglcrs' opera
tions. lie says that his first smuggling Of silk
WIS for John Scott n Spectator. who lives in
Broomc street. near Nnrick. The mtter paid
him twenty per cent oi the value OF the goods
that he smugglcd. Smuggling was 50 profitable
that he soon embarked In il Independent OF
Scott. and devised a new 'hcmc Tor lool olWink-
in.. the New York Custom House. H. had all
his silks shipped 10 order" in Liverpool. by
whirh means he avoided describing the goods
On the steamships manifest. He received four
casrs Of costly silks. and they were entered on
TIA" manifest with their marks and numbers.
u- four cases of merchandise. On the voyage.
Iursrr owens employed the storekccprr of the
England to make up four small cases Of Oat-
meal, worth few cents each. and mark them
with letters and numbers like those on the pack
nr,S of silk, On the arrival Of the Steamship in
this port he had the cases OF silk landed and
snugglcd from the wharf unknown 10 the Gus
tom House inspectors.
Alvin Gran. the pier surorintnndent of the
itloual line. and James Towers. the wharf do
livery clerk. ass istcd him in getting the goods
FRANKLIN street. near West broadway. and there
rcuacked IN other cases. AMI -u'l~e equcntiy they
were d"lyered 70 an auction house III White
street to he sold. The cusrs Of oatmeal w're
lett untouched ia the steamship. t. correspond
with the entry q four cases of m9rehand,Sr on
the manifest When the Custom House officers
reached them, seeing the word order marked
bonded wnrehous" Their they were ioft IN.
claimed. and after year had elapsed they were
sent 10 the Custom House sale oi unclaimed
Purser Ovens says that he paid Superintend.
ont Gran. tlnrk Towers. the sierckc"p"r Of ia"
Greece. und others very literally for the part
licy look IN th' Smuggling. lie Wnitl over
$4,000 worth of silks. and on every dollars
worth he d"iraud,d tn" Government of sixty
cents. the aggregate OF his frauds amounting 10
about 100000.
Importers and dealers in American silks in
this city say that the frauds have almost ,le;
stroyed their trade Hence they have appealed
To- Washington to have the smugglcrs' ring
prosecuted and sent 10 prison.
Ii H. said that the seizure OF the steamships
Italy, CanAda. aud Spain Is contemplated. some
smuggling. The chief authorities of the Gus
tom House aver that the cvldcn - accumulated
10y the Treasury officers II sufficient to con-
denim tn" entire lin" II the suits are prosecuted.
John Scott. one ~ tho orlEluatprS OF TIA" El-
guuflr frauds saw the District Attorney few
days ugo. u is -ni,l. and toli him what hr knew
! ahnut IN" operations ou I'll" linr. ',ial Agent
Briu'ke't. who WIS tI' iIrst To- "Npu~' the ~muE-
| plor-. has been oilrrNI pr1Wotlpn at the hands
! OF the Secretary of tAe Treasury.