The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-11
STEALING HEAVENS LIVERY.
Extensive Smuggling Of Vestments
and Church Ornaments.
FORGERY IND NATURALIZATION CHARGED.
A Cunning Manipulation of
Clergymen's Oaths.


. large importing firm in Barclay street. Tho lati-
tude allowed by the United States laws IN regard to
the importation Of articles intended for saceruotai
free of duty. afforded. is alleged. the oppor-
tunty for the carrying out of part OF the operations
alluded to.
1t TRANSFERRED yesterday that Custom House In
spector named f. Snyder, who has for Some time
past been acting examiner in the Appraisers ONCE
having been arrested some days previously, was
brought before United States Commissioner Shields
last Saturday charged with malfeasance in having
passed goods ON which the legal duties were not
paid The accused waived examination and was held
in s., 500 bonds to await the action Of the United
States Grand Jury. In connection with the case.
which has been surrounded with more or
less secrecy by the government officials
here civil action commenced in
tho United States District Court q few days since
against the firm OF +. Pustet, importers of church
ornaments, religious books. &C.. at No. 81 Barclay
street. The case for the government in charge
Of United States Assistant District Attorney Fero.
simultaneously with the Inauguration of the suit the
stock of the firm at No. 50 Barclay street seized
by tho government. Before it had progressed far
in court, however. the suit compromised
by the defendants paying ovor several thousand
dollars. The exact amount the authorities
refused to make known. 1t was ascertained from an
authentic source yesterday that the compromise
alluded to does not in any way relieve the firm from
liability for tho alleged frauds. and that the fines
for the latter. il imposed, would amount to more
than 100000 In regard to the question as to the
intention Of the government to prosecute the firm
Of +. Pustet for the purpose Of recovering those
fines all the information which could be elected
that the matter being considered. and that
1t uncertain whether the government would
take any further action against that firm. 1t was
also ascertained that the firm turned government
evidence against Snyder.
THE MODE OF ENTRY.
1t may not be out OF place before describing the
alleged frauds under consideration. and how they
were committed, to give. for the better understand
ing Of those not familiar with the service.
brief description OF how goods imported to this
country As illustration. let it be supposed that
q merchant. agent or manufacturer wishes to ship
an invoice of dutiable articles to this coun-
try. The shipper would 60 before the nearest
United States Consul, with q properly made out
invoice of the goods to be shipped, and would mako
his declaration in accordance with the act of 1868.
which is in effect that all invoices Of goods shall be
made in triplicate and signed by the parties
shipping that at or before the ship
ment Of goods. the invoice must be pro-
duced before the Consul or Vice Consul
Commercial Agent OF the United States nearest the
place OF shipments that the shipper must then
make declaration that said invoices are III all
respects true, ana that it contains full and true
statement to when and where the articles
were purchased and the actual cost of the same
One the certified invoices is given to the
person producing the same. the second is
Med at the consui's Office. and the third
sent to the Collector OF the Port to which the goods
destined. No goods can be admitted unless the
invoice presented hail IN all respects conform to all
time the goods would arrive here. The consignee
would be notified or tho fact by bill of lading from
goods Tor about that proportion) would
be selected by a deputy collector ut random.
animation and comparison with the invoice. 1t is
assumed il the contents Of the selected are
found to correspond with the invoice that the con-
tents OF all the other also correctly stated
in the invoice. Then the merchant consignee
would have the remainder Of the consignment
sent to his store. after paying the duty. according
to estimate made the invoice by the
entry clerk i'll the Custom House and Oh giving
bond to the government III Of error or
fraud. In the invoice that the merchant receives
from the consignor the contents Of each package
are described ny marks ana numbers. 1t is the
classified marking thereon the duty to be paid las
he understands IT. for the guidance of the entry
sends his classified invoice to the APP
praiser's department. the entry: clerks make
statement of values and rates of duty
made upon tho entry or invoice The examiner who
duty to be paid on each class Of articles. II the
classification las to duty OF the merchant and the
examiner agree the goods are allowed to pass; II
not, the goods are held and the invoico is entered
correction book subject to the adjudication OF
higher authority When the merchant pays his
duty he has make oath that every thing has been
done according to the law and is free from fraud.
ALLEGED FRAUDS.
The result Of the governments investigation of
the present tended to show that the alleged
frauds were of three discretionary. undervalua-
ton and wrong classifcation-and Of no less than
eight different kinds, AZ subjoined:-
No. l. The altering and forging of priests oaths.
The government permits Catholic clergymen to i'm
oath that the articles are specially imported
for the use Of the church to which they belong.
by the manipulation Of this clause, 1t il charged,
was committed the worst Of these alleged frauds.
According to photographers 'regalia" consists OF
ornamental dress. badges jewels and such articles
worn by Freemasons and other societies or by high
officers and dignitarcs" In the Custom House il
Is construed to dress that may DO worn on the
person and the instruments OF ceremonial
that carried in the hand. Tho Now York
Importing house already alluded to was accustomed
MS is alleged, to procure tho necessary oaths from
priests the free passage Of goods under tn. act
named, sometimes by the priests coming to their
store and req uestng then to import me particular
article OF regaia for them but the majority OF the
oaths. IL charged were obtained by their travel
ling agents In various portions OF the country. The
agents of the house, 1t Is said, would in
duce q priest to buy something and would
offer him great inducements In order to obtain
advantage Of his right to save import duty by MAX
Ing oath. 1t is claimed that whenever a salo OF
this kind was made oath was obtained. According
to tho lawrhs formal oath covered something to DO
imported and not something already imported; but
that; It appears, made no difference TO the
the oath. a.. 1t Is alleged. they would
select goods from their stock on hand aud deliver
the articles at once. The oath obtained would be
ued away and. as is claimed subjected to doc
toring process that would make 1t bring through q
whole invoice OF goods IL the firm desired. These
oaths. is set forth. wore sworn to in blank. and
the firm indicated would. az is alleged, fill in the
margin OF each with any number or articles they
saw ut to insert.
ALLEGED yonoED oArHs.
No. 2. Passing goods frec OF duty forged
oatiis--It Is claimed that tho delinquent house
would from time 10 time. receive an invoice from
Europe. large part OF such invoice consisting Of
church ornaments Their Custom House clerk
OF their agents. whose duty II was to classify
the goods ~ TO duty valuation on the invoice would
NJ alleged, designate n large part OF the invoice
"church rcgaiia frce." and then forge oaths
TO cover his classification by inserting In oahs OBJ
tanned as above nuubers and marks to CORRESPOND
with those on the invoice, and these no would attach
TO the entry. Whom the papers reached tho APP
prasers Office an examiner had IL is claimed matters
40 "hxed that he always got hold OF the invoices
Of this firm and thus the remainder of the
trans action. 1t is alleged that In this way thousands
of dollars worth OF dutable goods were passed free