The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-15
EvADING THE DUTY.

A CUSTOM HOUSE BROKER is ACCUSED OF MIS-
REPRESENTING THE VALUE OF IMPORTS.
An insight into the ways that are dark and the
tricks that are vain pracsed the Custom House
was Afforded yesterday through the arrest OF Gus
tom House broker, who Is charged with perjury and
making false entries concerning importatons. Ao-
cording TO the complaint it would appear that the
particular crookcdu ess" in question worked in Two
direcl,ons mulctng In the same breath the purse OF
Uncle Sam aud the pocketbook OF the brokers' Gus
toner The prisoner Is Anton Moeer, OF the 1rm OF
A. Moelier 4 Co.. Custom House brokers. do
ing business at No. 80 Liberty street. He was
arrested by q deputy United States marshal on the
complaint Of Bernard Benedict. fancy goods mer-
chant of Chicago and the correspondent OF Benedict
Brothers OF Vienna Mr. Benedict arrived In this city
on Wednesday, accompanied by United States Treas
ury Agent Hem and al laid h case before Com
missioner Shields who issued the warrant Tor Moeiers
arrest
and resident Of Chicago Tor the past ten years. A
lew years ago he received communication from ms
cOrrospondents In Vienna 10 the elect that Mr..
Moeller had made a proposition to transact their
business in the New York Custom House. He com
municated with Mr.. Moeer, VINO replied that he was
An a position 10 get imporations through the Custom
House at reduced valuations The complainant not
suspect,ng he alleges, that Moeers facilities were
OF an illegal nature, soon afterward gave MIN author
ity 10 attend 10 his Custom House business.
HOW II WAS DONE.
On the l4th of last May OF kid gloves invoiced
to Benedict arrived from Vienna The goods were Of
the value OF 100 FORMS and were liable 10 duty Of
fifty per cent. Mr. Moeller attended 10 the Gus
tom House arrangements, ana IL 10 alleged
entered the goods glassware valued at GO horins
winch he paid duty OF 40 per cent Subsequently
q case containing thirty-two dozen silk umbrellas
arrived Their value 009 horins and the DUTY on
them 40 % or cent The broker entered them also
glassware, and paid tho duty .on glassware. The
amount received by the government ON The Kid glove
invoice was Ssh and the silk umbrella invoice $45.
Moeller, however. charged mis- customers besides the
brokerage fees $545 as customs duties on the
former and $501 the latter invoice. When
Benedict learned OF the little game be states that
he demonstrated with Mocler. but that The latter
laughed ut his alarm and said that 1t would never DO
found out; that ho had an examiner IN the Custom
House In his employ, whom he paid handsomely He
further said that he could always pass oil dummy
package of glass. Referring TO tho silk umbrella
transaction he said that at the neatcst trick he
had ever done with the custom House."
DISCLOSURE.
In December last Mr.. Benedict went TO Europe and,
on his return, called M Moeller, meeting him Tor
the first time, their business having up to that time
been done by correspondence. Mr.. Benedict saw tho
Custom House official WITH whom Moellcr claimed to
be IN leas uc in the latter's Office. On reaching
Chicago the merchant consulted the United Statos
there and at their instance came 10 this
city 10 furnish the evidence which Moeler could
be proceeded against
Moeller was arraigncd before United states Commits
sioner Shields, and, through his counsel waived an
examination. He was held IN 50 900 bail. which was
promptly furnished subsequently Assistant District
Attorney Ficro who has charge OF the prosecution,
he'd conference with tho higher Custom House OIL
Gals, and an Investigation SET on loot 70
lind the dishonest empOye