The New York herald., 1879-11-16
1--WE INDIGNANTLY DENY"

MEssRs DIEPENBRocK AND srEINBAcK CLAIM
THAT THEY HAVE NEVER DEFRAUDED THE
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ABOUT CROSSES
AND REaALIA. asyol cp. q, ~
An article appeared in the HERALD few days ago
giving the particulars of alleged extensive frauds
the revenue through the importation Of church
goods by the Arm of \. Pustet. doing business at
No. 50 Barclay street. In order to ascertain what
the implicated parties had to say in the premises
HERALD reporter called at the place mentioned yes
terdsy and found Messrs. Depenbrock and Stein
back. who represent the firm in this city, Mr.. Pustet
being absent in Germany, where he resides Upon
inquiry Rs to whether they had any statement to
make in regard to the alleged transactions Mr. Die
penbrock replied as follows:- sss II
'In the first place we court investigation into the
manner in which goods imported. and wo
oeraby well satisfied this whole story Of alleged
frauds on the revenue has originated in business
rivalry. One Of the charges is that We have been in
the habit OF selling church regaia out Of already
imported stock. on which we had paid the duty, to
Catholic clergymen. who might call on us and make
oath that the goods for their own use. instead
of importing articles after the affidavit had
beeu made" , t,
"Is that charge correct?"
"It is. We do not deny having made such sales
will tell you how they happen. priest. for in
stance. to store three days before CHRIST
mas and wants full set of vestments, valued, we
will say at $1,000. We will suppose that the cost of
the vestments has been donation from some OF
the clergyman's church people, who, perhaps,
would wish him to appear in it on Christmas Day.
Now the priest anxious to the duty of sixty
per cent on the articles, and, instead Of paying
$1,000, he pays from $400 to $780, We on the
other hand are. of course. anxious to make
sale. The priest then makes the required oath and
gets the vestments. less the duty. Then we the
oath mentioned to import oIher vestments Of SIM
liar value to those sold to the priest There is
thing want to say. and that is that whenever we
imported church regalia always gave the clergy
men the benefit Of such free importation. In other
words. whenever we imported an article in this
ner-free of duty--we never charged the priest for
the duty which we had not paid ON it. Then again.
1t is asserted that we have not complied with the
law in importing statuary."
'woRKs ART"
els that included in the charges brought against
your house by the government oficials?' ia e'a
.'No; we have had no trouble whatever on that
account. We claim that the statues imported by
us. being, made by artists. works of art and
such they should pay only the duty imposed by
law on such importatons Most of the statues
modelled by Professor Knabl. and come from Mayr's
Artistic Institute. Munich. and are painted by
lists. They are not common works. by any means.
Now. in regard to the statement that we had i'm
ported new books for old ones printed twenty years
ago. in order to save the duty. there is founda-
ton whatever for that. Certainly the government
hasn't brought any such charge against us, and
at loss to know where 1t could come from except
from tha source have already intimated."
"What portion OF your goods, If any. was seized by
the government
'Nothing at all; not one cents worth either in
the store at the Custom House, More than that,
there was no money paid by to compromise any
suit brought by the government. 1t is not true
hat Rfinr na6
by the government There was simply . hearing
before United States Assistant District Attorney.
ury (Messrs. Tichencr and Kimball), examined
books. As result. there bail required
tioned.
Would you like to make any reply to the alleged
altering forging OF priests oaths by your firm 2?
''Such thing has never been done in house.
The afidavits Of the priests who may order buy
church regalia have to be given by them in blank.
and are filled out by us as soon as we ascertain by
what steamer the goods are coming and
we know the marks the containing such
goods. We cannot fll out the blanks before that,
rs the government requires us to give the marks
the boxes. the name Of the steamer by which
she has sailed From great many OF
the priests to whom We sold reegaia in
receive the required afdavits. We lost tho duty in
several on this account. In instance we
ne valued at s25o for $500 As we got no
affidavit from him were losers to tho extent of
we have probably allowed some irrernlsrities sN; to
creep into our business while endeavoring to
modate the priests but to the charge of defraud-
ing the government. we Indignantly deny it,"
CLASSIFICATION OF GOODS.
''Yonr Arm is also charged with wrong cassihca-
ton OF silk goods?
1--WE deny this also. On the entry such goods were
classified ~ church regala. thirty-fve per cent,
and 1t would require an expert to decide whether
the goods were entitled to pay such duty more.
The largest amount of our importations wore cheap
goods for poor churches and the duty them is
not more than thirty y-five per cent. OF course.
every importer tries to get his goods passed
Again. observe by the papers that charged
with importing and passing gold crosses jewelry
Now perhaps there are some who might be under
the impression that the crosses mentioned were
whereas they very small and such ladies
and children wear for ornaments, and tho best
OF them are valued at not moro than SO.
Outside Of the newspapers know nothing
toned such thing. 1t is also said that the govern.
ment has lost through us. on statuary alone. the
sum Of $4,000 while the fact is that we
claim from the government for excessive du-
lies on this class OF goods $4,000. During
In the city. this the first time that breath of
picon has been cast upon the integrity of
house; and II tho government has at any
time suffered loss by our importations 1t has been
wholly without our knowledge intent. During
the past few days have been called upon by a
large number OF Catholic clcrgymen. who have ex-
pressed their nympahy in regard to the newspaper
notoriety which we have of late unjusty received"
Mr.. Stefnback, who present during the inter-
view. fully red in all the above
made by his partner
REVENUE OFFICER SUSPENDED.
Secretary sherman sent q despatch yesterday TO
Mr.. Silas B Dutcher Appraiser Of the Port to sus-
pend from duty Mr. A. Gilbert. Assistant Appraiser