New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-03
STEALING GOVERNMENT GOODS.
WHOLESALE ARRESTS ALREADY MADE AND MORE TO
FoLLow-oFFICIALs RETICENT.

| WHOLESALE ARRESTS ALREADY MADE AND MORE TO
| FoLLow-oFFICIALs RETICENT.
A special agent Of the Treasury Department
and two Custom House officers have been work for
some time upon case involving the stealing of a
large quantity OF goods damaged by the recent fire
| on the Inman Steamship pier. The prop
erty traced to Brooklyn, and the names Of the
| lishtermen employed TO transport the goods were
learned Their arrest ntrusted to United States
Marshal Tate in Brooklyn and eleven persons were
taken into custody last week MT Tate refused to give
any information in regard to the arrests the
entirely in the hands Of the Custom House officers who
had given positive orders that facts to be dis
closed until the matter made public at the Gus
tom House. 1t said that publication of the case
might prevent the OF certain persons and the
covey OF all the property The warrants for the arrest
of the issued by United States Commissioner
Allen Of Brooklyn. He issued in all eighteen warrants
and up to yesterday eleven OF the named had been
taken into custody All except three waived examna
| ton and were beld in bail ranging from
$500 to $1,000. Three Of the arrested rested men
o Of the al
laborers IN the lighters which transported the goods
as' t other Largo s''9s ' an
b sf no been the the The oun Sre ooks
to the steamship company and the insurance companies
to reimburse them they took to the goods
was being cheated out Of the duties and at once took
to trace the goods Their value Is estimated at
|
| upon them are large The goods seized are
now in the possession Of Marshal Tate There is
yet evidence that has purchased the goods
knowing them to be stolen smngged nor is there any
clew to any collision between the smuggers and the
| customs officers.
Special Agent Brake:t declined last evening to mako
any statement In detail regarding the case, on the
ground publicity interfere with the ends OF
Justice He did not OBJECT to stating that twenty-five
warrants OF arrest had been issued in NewYOrk ana
BROOKLYN From another source the following statement
| was obtained:
"rhe foreign valuation Of the merchandise landed
the llman COmpaDy5 ana destroyed by the
| fire $229 900. The goods, after the fire.
'hgh red from the pier to Robinson Cos. yards in
| Br OSlyn The identification beng destroyed, under
the law tho collector Of the Port required TO sell
them at public auction. At the SALE which look place
| snort time ago the goods brought only $4,000
About two weeks the collector Informed that
part OF tIe merchandise In Its transfer To the bonded
yards In Brooklyn had been retained the lighters
special Agent Bracket instructed to make III
itiOh. He called TO his assistance Special Agents
| Adams and Calker ana Special Inspector Cummings.
tie Of tne lighters, who arrested ogether
WI several Of their employees Part OF the stolen GOODS
| also a recovered"
appears hat further Investigation by the Treasury
officers convinced them Iat the thefts bad been on
larger scale had first been supposed, and tnat
| many persons connected with thcm
| II Is reported that goods were stolen from
| the pier before the removal OF the entire
The liz ttrs IL is intmated that these theits could
n, have been accomplished without connivance on TIE
Of some of the Customs officers who were detailed
10 wdc tie goods on tc pier as W. rs on the IL eri
during their removal Exactly what vas the nature Of tns
| Charges upon watch all the warrants were isSued
! could not be learaeL IL was suggested
smuggling, as the stolen goods were in custody or
the Collector an tue duies md not been paid on them
Special instructions probably will be asked Tor from the
| Treasury Department IN regard to this point