The New York herald., 1878-03-15
THE ALICE AT LAGUAYRA.
Official Report of the Collector to
Secretary Sherman.
[DY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


wore, however some developments to-day Of In
terest the most important OF which madc by tho
British Consul, Mr. Donohue, and which, II s believed.
will impicate parties abroad IN the ncarous trans.
action. Tho discovery alluded to having been
made, Mr. Coa,e, agent for the German Board
OF Underwriters, teegraphcd 10 John Dallctt Co.,
OF Phiiadelpna, to interview Il. j. Fusom, who re-
Gently arrived there from Laguayra, Venezuela, from
which port now appears, tho Alice cleared, instead
OF Porto CabelIo, as previously reported.
THE PARTIES AT LAGUAYRA
Mr.. Coalc received the following reply
PHILADELPHIA, March 13, 1878.
DEAR siK-Tne writer called upon a gentleman OF
this city Just Laguayra, VINO knows tho
man Charley (kiunear's servant) and got quito well
acquainted with Klnncur, whom he describes perfectly
s uaa ' as beng little bowiegrea. 1n Lasusyra
he went by mo name Oi J. +. Wynno and
Charley knows It, Charley went so lar as TO conh-
dentiuiy tell the gentleman that Wynne
su,ned name. Wynne arrived ~ Laguayra Inst Oct0-
ber IN the English brigau.ne Alice, from jamaica.
with u cargo Of coal. Charley was with him. This IS
writer correct in his supposltlon that this
now incoso you the note OF her clearance IN Laguayra
with the cargo and shippers, cut from Iaguayra
newspaper. She lett Laguayra Tor Hamburg, and,
doubtless, the name and papers were all changed be-
tween Lsguayra and Baltimore. CambeIi was
slight, small man, weighing about ono hundred and
twenty-five pounds. He was constantly with MCDon-
uid, The nrst mate OF the Alice, and they roomed
together In Laguayra.
The newspaper clippings referred to give tho clear
ing aud cargo OF tho Alcc IRON Laguayra for Ham,
burg. The description oil Campbell, OF tho Alice, and
Captain Williams, OF tho "Aiexs," correspond and
they are undoubtedly tho samo person. Mcdonald,
who was FIRST mate Of tho Alice, IL Is believed u.s.
sumed the name Of Williams, and Campbell took tho
position OF first order render tho disguise
moro complete
This It is believed. diaposss OF the theory advanced
by old seamen that tho captain OF the Aco was mur-
dered. Kinnear ,aias Wynno, was undoubtedly tho
chief consprator and already Indicated is thought
10 have accomplices In Europe.
THE BRITISH coysuL's DISCOVERY
The discovery alluded TO above as having been mado
by tho British Consul consists of the finding Of throe
letters among otnors directed to his caro- address cd
to J. Campbell Baltimore. Two OF them are post
marked Liverpool and one ireland. Mr.. Donohuo has
not yet broken seals, but will probably do so to-
morrow and It Is confidently expected that their con-
tents will throw considerable light the mystery.
SEARCH OF TnE BRIG.
In searching the brig this morning of tho Gus
tom House officers found a metallic tag boaring tho
inscription -. Il. Campbell, sacksvnie, wcs.morc-
land county, Now Brunswick" and tue opposite
sido q Masonic emblem This u 10 thought will
establish the Identity OF Campbell and the letters from
abroad determine his connection with the conspiracy
Tho negro Charley still remains IN custody OF the
police. Tho authorities deny that he has revealed
anything Of importance, and II no has is evidently
their Intention to keep II quiet In order to quietly fol-
low up any clsw that DO obtained from that
quarter.
The clothing. &c, OF the crow Of the Alexis were
LETT on board, indicating that their flight very
sudden. 1t is probable that thoy were paid somo
thing, us Captain Williams obtained an advance
of $500 on freight from Lowering & Co.
It has been intmated that this house
could mako u claim for salvage tho
ground that they tho first to discover the fraud
and lead to tho Illustration OF tho scheme. This
however, they deny. On tho other hand. It Is nti-
mated that Collector Thomas warned them not to
summsto the purchase until all doubt had boen
cleared away as to the ownership and advised them
not TO make any advance.
LIBEL PrLgr.
This afternoon District Attorney Stirling behalf
OF tho Untod States filed In the United States District
Court libel against the brig and cargo. II charges
that tho vessel ned by the Collector and llablo
under tho navigation laws to forfeiture
ORDERED DETAINED.
Meantime tho cargo OF 1000 bags OF coffee and
nearly niue hundred hides under watch Of custom
house officer IN the warehouse OF Messrs. Levcring
Collector Thomas has been directed by Secretary
Sherman TO dctan and hold the vessel aud cargo until
he receives further INSTRUCTIONS 1t was ut hrst
supposed that tho vessel had incurred penalties
imposed by section 497 OF the Revised statutes In
reference 10 improper entries OF foreign ships and
goods even the point OF forfeiture, but Tho Treas
ury Department holds that tho Alexis has
been Undoubtedly stolen, and as her improper
act OF u thief ana not that Of hor real
owners 1t would be unfair TO Apply the letter OF tho
law to her case. Her detention therefore, by Col.
iector Thomas. ia obedence TO orders from Washing
ton Is simply precaution To Keep possession of her
until the real owners oil vessel ana cargo shall make
good their claims when both Will be turned over to
them IL Is conjectured that when these claims
established through tho agency Of the British aud
German consus respcctvey, The vessel and cargo Will
SOLUTION or THE MYSTERY EXPECTED.
In the correspondence which will meantime ensue
In purAuaucc object thought that the mys
,cry the anar viii be disclosed tho pubic appetite
Tor revelation OF the iac,s having been wheted airesh
this afternoon Dy surmisc that the brig her way
through tho Caribbean Sea captured by ireebootor
Who got rid Of some oil the old crew and ir,imidated
the others into submissen TO The programme Of TAX.
Ing the vessel TO Baltimore and a market
TIE OFFICIAL REPORT.
Tho following IN the official report OF the affair
transmitied by Collector Thomas TO the Treasury De-
partment:-
ON Thur,dsy. the 7.h Of March, the brig Alexis wa.
several days before that made entry Noros. VA
where she psd her s'nss' M, $ aSs, e5 register .
British Consul ana the usual certificate sen, the Custom
o1is h day :, s made sas
kunsss came into ,ss 1S:S% House with isaI s:
that he the OF the cargo Of coffee
nd hides, having the and
offered to make entry OF the same lie was told
% y t sy s
suDsequonty came to the Custom ovse with his broser
and Lsveug, OF the firm Of T.. Leverng Co., when
entry made Mr. evrinR going his bond security
Suspicious AROUSED
On tho next day Informed by Of my
entry clerks. Mr.. Kemp. tnat Mr. Lcverins had
agreed with kinnear to snAke sac OF his coffee and
hides, but that he (Mr Leverug) Ii.tie
IRON s.me suspicion. ssrr.a"ane
tho cargo insured aud that kinncsr only
wanted advance S6O,yO. when the cargo worth
S25.yDO more In European market. and that kinneM
not give satisfactory account OF himself Mr. Kemp
suggested that Mr. Ieyernx would like
send knnear and give Mr.. Leverng my opinion
what should be done IL the matter. Immediately sent
for Donohoe the British Consul lie exhibited
register OF the vessel. and Mr. bono.
hoe myself that the regircr
suggestion he tclegraphedt to Canada and -atur
day received despatch there such
tho and number rs her gistcr disclosed
In tho mo aptime kinnear and pcd