National Republican., 1883-07-11
CHEATING THE CUSTOMS.
Inspector Bracket Relates n Couple OF
Amusing Incidcnts-Tho Real Imported
Cigars from Chatham street and the
Diamond-studded Porous Plaster.

NctD YORK World,
Captain Brackett, the ingenious inspector
Of tho custom house, to whom most clever
detections of contraband enterprise must be
attributed nowadays, has recently added
two moro extremely amusing stories TO his
repertoire. They are quite in vogue, just at
present, in custom house circles.
Hore is number one. There is a celebrated
restaurant down town, the proprietor of
which sits like Zaccheus, at the receipt of
custom. He is persuasive foreigner, with
a most engaging air and that effusion of
manner which convinces every patron that
he is the latter's closest and dearest personal
friend.
1t has been for years habit of this inge-
nious gentleman to say to each customer as he
paid his bill aud scrutinized the cigar stand (:
What for you bodder about does cigars
Here lin deep whisper, and with an over
whelming wink ist some cigars worth smok-
ing. Dey are chenuwine-but they have pait
no duddy (another profound wink. Only
ten cents !"
Equally Aattered by being taken into his
confidence and by the receipt of good i'm
ported cigar in exchange for such nominal
amount as ten cents, the customer felt him
self bound over and over again by n strong
personal tie to the shrewd and insinuating
gentleman of the counter.
But alas one bright Monday the custom
house authorities, always on the qtd UiUc,
heard of these generous transactions of "im-
ported cigars that had paid no duty" aud an
official raid was the natural result. A chief
detective grabbed the celebrated inexhausti-
BILE cigar box under the counter, and his
subordinate took possession of some twenty or
thirty Others of the same brand.
whats TN matter2" inquired the aston
ished restaurAteur.
81 seize these cigars as smuggled goods"
replied the custom house detective.
The honest restauIateur burst out into loud
laughter.
"Donnerwetter! Dose is domestic cigars 1
bought in Chatham street, So hundred" he
exclaimed, the tears running from his eyes.
What are they doing in these Havana
boxesF" inquired the man of tho custom
house.
81 put dem in dose boxes to suit my own
convenience" said the restaurateur, growing
a bit thoughtful.
"All rightp replied the detective, care
lessly-for he knew by hearsay the clever
little dodge of the restaurateur-"I'll take
them and if you can prove what you say you
can release them"
The Begian's brow darkened. To prove
his story, of course, would be to destroy his
reputation with those of his customers on
whom he had bestowed real, genuine i'm
ported cigar for ten cents If the custom
house officials kept the boxes, it would not be
long before the murder would out. There
was clearly only one thing to do, and that
was to pay the duty.
How much is the lot2" he inquired, rue
fully.
Seven hundred and fifty dollars" replied
the detective.
1t was bitter struggle but in the long run
the little Belgians apprehensons for the fu-
ture got the upper hand, and slowly and sadly
he gave his check for $3.50 for duty on about
worth n nj
He finds some comfort, however, in the
discovery that his customers have heard
nothing about the NATTER but on the con-
trary, keep on joyfully paying each his ten
cents for tho real" article from Chatham
street.
Story number two is equally good.
There arrives regularly six times year
from Antwerp a gentleman of the Hebrew
faith, who is said to be one of the cleverest
diamond smugglers in the world. His sue
cess has always been peculiarly exasperating
to the customs officials, and some time ago
they went to the trouble and expense of get |
ting Hamburg detective to shadow him, |
find out what gems he bought and where he |
carried them when in Europe. Another man
was to keep him company on the steamer and |
watch him closely all the voyage over.
This clever smugger wore o thick, black |
beard and whiskers, and it was more than
that he carried his precious freight |
in those luxuriant decorations of
his visage. One bright morning not long ago
the eager authorities on this side received a
cable dispatch from their Hamburg agent,
which read as follows:
" r. has shaved beard. Did not know il
until he had sailed five days. Is on Rhyn-
and: Got seventy large diamonds on per-
son."
As soon as the Rhynland was sighted six
ambitious custom house officers steamed down
the bay and intercepted her. Circulating
among the passengers they looked in all di-
'ections for the now beardless and shayen
Hebrew. just as they were about to give up
he search very obvious child of Israel
ought confidential conversation with them.
You are custom house officers, and you
ook for Rosenberg with the diamonds?"
1--WE are, and we do"
That is Rosenberg and the diamonds are
ewed in the lining of his neckte"
In another minute a pale, smooth faced
allow gentleman was struggling in the hands
# the officers. His scarf was unceremoni-
usly taken from his neck and carefully ex-
'lered with sharp pen knife. Sure enough,
wenty diamonds of various sizes rewarded
he seekers after contraband goods. His !
runk was next rummaged and every necktie
objected to equal scrutiny. When the
tficers had finished their work no less than I
cventy-three diamonds of great luster had o
cen discovered.
1 no pooT iclloW Wepb anu Wrung MS hands
5 he saw the captors of his property jump
ITO cab when they reached the dock and i
airy off his precious gems. Imperfectly t
by the reflection that he had been t
lowed to retain his liberty, he slowly and
IDLY proceeded to the Metropolitan hotel,
nd engaging room, almost Immediately G
1ok bath. h
When the custom house officers arrived at n
eadquarters the chief who held cablegram
his hand, eagerly inquired: c
Did you get Rosenberg" h
Yes, sir"
Where were the stones - Y
Sewed in the Innings of his neckties."
-" That's rather strange" remarked the chief
Here's a Hamburg dispatch which saws;
ust learned that h. carried diamonds be-
Veen back and porous plaster"
" Here are the diamonds, anyhow" said the
aders of the raid, land we found 'em lust as "
Q tell you, in the Innings of his necktiesn
The chief looked long and silently at the
nfscated gems. Then he rang his little
IL. Y
" Send Mr.. Smith, the jewel expert here, if
III please"
Mr.. Smith, the jewel expert, came, exam f'
cd tho diamonds twirled his moustache,
rugged his shoulders, and said laconically
Paste! but frst-class." W
Three frantic customhouse officers spent 81
Q afternoon tracing Mr.. Rosenberg. As
on as they had discovered that he had gone
the Metropolitan hotel they dashed there al
fast as two fresh horses could carry them. q
ithout word Of ceremony they burst into X
) apartment. al
''What do Won uvant2D ba ;nnr;,o1 ,,,;tl | so