The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-30
BENkARD & HUTTON's CASE
Even the Experts Of the New York Custom
House Put 60 their Nyits' Ends.

Etouso H-ut 10 tnetr WIS fsuus.
1t was said at the Custom House yester-
dny that the sum claimed by the Govern
mcnt from Bernhard 4 Hutton on unpaid
duties with interest thereon for tho past three
years would amount to tl2O.00O. and might be
found to be moro when the investigation is con-
cuded
The cxact manner in which the frauds were
carried on remains n mystery. The first clue
to tho transactions was given by A. J. Oliver.
clerk In the Seventh Division whose duty 1t is
to adjust warehouse bonds. These bonds are
given by importers TO run three years
and where any OF the goods described In them
IRE withdrawn from warehouse the amount
paid In duties is credited on the buck. At the
end OF three years the bonds are liduidated.
and are cancelled II they show that all the
goods have been withdrawn and the duties
thereon paid In full and that tho Government
has no further claim on them. II any goods
remain in warehouse over three yoars. they arc
sold rs unclaimed and suits brought against
the bonds. provided they sell for less than the
duties. storage. and other expenses.
In examining one Of the bonds OF Bernhard h
Hutton for $4,000 worth OF goods warehoused
three years ago, Clerk Oliver. on the 14th inst.
discovered that It contained no entry Of credits
for duties. and that. seemingly oil the goods
remained in warehouse. -.
Oliver said: Look here. This H. strange. II
II was any other firm but Bernhard X Hutton.
should say that there was something crooked
:, There is something crooked" Pedrick re-
piled; " how long will II take to fix II 2"
Mr.. Oliver said that it would take half an
hour. Pedrick then went away and has been
missing ever since.
The clerk reported the conversation to Deputy
Collector Phelps and the result was TO lnd that
in three years Pedrck had Withdrawn goods
&c signed TO Bernhard & Hutton, on which the
a. O. iaq u, Ind hapn
y d TO the Government.
,rhe Custom House experts differ in their
theories as to the way in which the frauds were
consummated.
The forgeries are perfect. Those OF the checks
OF Nj. Hoffman, the present cashier Hnd ,i Mr,
Curtis who Is one of his assistants. had TO be
inspected under miscroecope in determining
that they were forgcries. some OF the officers
pronounce their checks and signatures gem
uine. although the experts aver that II Is
impossible for them to be otherwise than coun-
Mr.. Rathbone. the cashiers clerk OF the Naval
Onicc. says that he will swear that his initials
on the fraudulent permits are genuine. not
withstanding the experts sny TO tho contrary.
These contradictions add to. the doubt and
about absolutely safe field Tor fraud which, the
| chance discovery Of clerk Oliver hns unearthod.
has startled the Collector and his deputies with
been SSd sqSassd in mt i on S' scale @ o} erssteT
magnitude. II is thought that Pedrick
| except by couson inside of the Custom House
| The Deputy Collectors have been hunting for
Sr eS. 80 ar ne nS @
| TO his wife was intercepted. in which he threat
ened to expose persons more guilty than HIM
self in case he IL attacked.
| Robcrt A. Pedrick. the alleged defaulting Gus
tom House clerk Of the dry goods firm Of Benk-
| ard Hutton 42l Broome street. lived at 404 =
Washington street. Newark. In one OF u row OF
| brick houses. He removed from an unpreien-
tious tenement at ss Hin street several weeks
| the parlor Is not yet carpeted.
Mrs Pedrick said yesterday tba her husband
weeks ago. and in the evening he photographed
| TO her that he would not return that night. As
the arrival OF a vessel. sho thought nothing of
his remaining in New York: but shc was
alarmed the next dayby receiving from i'm a let
in the employ OF Bernhard 4 Hutton told her OF
| the charge against her husband. and he in
that II would benefit her husband II she did SO.
| She WAS then left without a dol lar.
| Believing that her husband Was innocent.
Mrs. Pedrick telegraphed for his uncle the Rev.
John Atkinson. former pastor OF the Franklin
street Methodist Church. Newark. bn! who is
| Mr.. Atkinson arrived ia Newark at u o'clock
last Wednesday night and has since been en-
believes that Pedrick is the victim OF q con-
Mrs. Pedrick and her aunt. Mrs. Henrietta
| Carter, who lives with her. are confident that
Pedrick Is not guilty Of the fraud OF which he Is
accused. and they praise him, for honesty;
|
Rttentiveness to his family. He was a regular
| member and attendant at the franklin Street
| Methodist Church. He never drank spirituous
| home nights He did not live expcnsively, but
always within his salnry OF 81 .OO0a year.
| MS Pedrick received on Tuesday the follow
ing letter, bearing the New York post mark. but
| without signature:
MRS PKDRCK; As Bob gets place Of safety I
| will let you know Boss fKIrSp.
| The letter was not In Pedrick's handwrltting
and his wife AYERS that other than the letter she
| Ii entirely without knowledge OF his where
| abouts since ho left home. Her neighbors say
| that she Is n careful and frugal housewife. and
| that Pedrick was not an aXtravagant man. The
family were at Long Branch for two months
| last summer but they boarded with a relative
| on very moderate terms. Pcdrick's intimate
| acQuaintnnces in Newark know him MS repu-
| table, well-conducted but reserved man.
| Another heavy suit tor alleged fraud ON tho
| customs revenue was reported yesterday. IL Is
| against Lehmaler Brothers, importers. of 81
| Grand street. for $4,000 Three weeks ago an
| uptown dry goods dealer visited one ~ the
| Deputy Collectors OF Customs and cx-
planned that the firm had entered thair
| goods for duty below the market vaile. Tho
| invoices OF the firm were obtained and ON COM
| parison with papers in their possession. sum-
| Client evidence was received 10 institute a suit
| for t75.OO0.
Since the case was begun n member OF
| Broad street banking house had made an offer
| 70 compromise en- the payment OF S25.OOO to the
| Government
| THE LATEST OLD WORLD NEWS.