Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-26
PRETTY FEMALE sMuGGLERs.
Aodistes and Others Who Try to
swindle Uncle Sam.
One OF New YOrk's DFessmakers
Caught Mapping, and Other
cities Contributing 10
the Lat.
New York World.

~
the List.
New York World.
An injunction Of forfeiture and
conhscation Of a quantity Of silks, |
velvets, laces and dresses seized BY
the Customhouse Inspectors fromMiss !
Thornton, fashionable modiste Of
this city, who vas passenger on the |
steamer Republic, was fled in the
United States District Court BY As |
sistant District Attorney j. p. Clark |
yesterday. In her manifest Miss
Thornton made the usual statement
that she had nothing dutiable among
her effects, but upon examining her
trunks large number Of odos and
ends were found, and this led to a
closer examination, She was taken to
the private room and searched by the
female examiner. Pinned to hand
kerohief on the inside Of her under
skirt were several yards Of very fine
point lace.
The dress she had on appeared to
Ct somewhat loosely, and on removing
it the following goods we're disoov-
cred: One garnet velvet and catin
trimmed dress, 5 yards Of point lace,
5ii yards Of Spanish lace, 10 pairs
Of kid gloves, iur cape and q guam
tity Of silk passementeries, such as are
used for adjoining dresses, in all
valued at about $l2C1. The Qoods
we're taken to the seizure room, where
they will remain for some time, and
if not claimed will be sold at public
auction, While the reporter was en-
gagged in copying list Of the con6s.
Gated articles an inspector entered the
room. and looking over the writer's
shoulder smilingly remarked:
That reminds me Of two other
cases Of attempted smuggling on the
part Of dressmakers wlich were
rather unfortunate, as the smugglers
we're nipped 10 the bud.
Toward the latter part OF Septem.
Der we always keep q sharp lookout
for returning modistes who spend the
summer in England and France in
purchasing the outfits OF our butter.
flies Of fashion. Every steamer has
several Of them among lis passenger
lists, aud although some OF them are
really honest 1t is hard to pass their
trunks without the closest inspection.
Their faces are we'll known to us; in
fact we become acquainted with them
from the repeated trips they make.
A BOSTON MODESTO.
when the steamer Labrador, OF
the French line, arrived here in Sep>
TENDER | noticed that my old ..iend,
Miss Partridge, upon whom the Bos.
ton bellies depend for wearing apparel,
had grown rather stout since her last
jor rney to Paris. In her declaration
she stated that she had nothing dutia.
BILE, but she acted so awkWardly that
| became convinced she had some.
thing about her that she Wished to
conceal. The female inspector found
considerable lace carefully stuffed into
beautifer that she wore, besides .
quantity Of silks aud satins aud sever
al yards of the finest point lace, evils
IDENTIFY intended for bridal tros- 'au;
in short, the Government recovered
about 5000 worth Of goods which
would SURELY have passed through IN,
noticed hau not remembered the
lady's figure rom former occasions.
When she lett the examining room
she looked ss thin-even thinner than
ever before.
Mrs. Wachman leads the fashion.
able world Of Chicago by the nose and
in the course Of her business visits
EuroDe two or three times year. 1t
is rather q strange ruse among the
dressmakers who import largely TO
throw the inspectors off their guard
by submitting to the closest examina.
ton several times and have nothing
contraband about them. A new man
would think that they are perfectly
honest and wouldn't deiraud Uncle
Sam out Of penny. They appear
religious, and often carry half dozen
Bibles about them, but this don't fool
the old hands worth cent, Mrs.
Wachmau is a modest German woman,
sharp as a steel trap. and smiles like
an angel. She was q passenger on
one OF the recent English steamers,
and had three large trunks. looked
them over carefully but could find
nothing that was dutiable. There
we're several dresses that SUSPECTED,
but she could easily prove that she
had worn them before and therefore
constituted part Of her outfit. By
mere accident one OF the dresses fell
out, and in attempting 10 replace it
about $1,000 worth OF lace sewed TO the
lining came to view. She was relieved
Of about $1,000 worth Of goods that are
now in the seizure room.
POLITICIANS WIFE.
Another case Of fashionable lady
Is worth mentioning. She was the
wife Of gentleman prominent in the
political world, who spent the summer
at fashionable spa. Her face was so
delicate and wan that it struck me at
once as decidedly out OF proportion to
her apparently heaI ; butt frame. 1t
turned out TO be silk and not flesh
that made her look 50 healthy. She
submitted quietly while the silk was
unw0und, and seemed much distressed
when her dishonesty was discovered
Of course VIC are obliged to let them
go after taking the goods, against
which alone the government takes &C.
ton by confscatiuR them.
They are coming now with every
steamer, and 1t ought not to surprise
the public il some rich displays Of hol.
iday goods are offered for sale at auo-
ton BY the government"