Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1886-04-16
Smugglers' Tricks.

but the word smuggle. often sets their
tongues a-wagging.
81 will relate an experience myself
and three assistants once had with an
expert diamond smuggler some time
since" said gray-hared customs man,
sand then you'll see both how easy and
how difficult it is 10 smuggle."
The story was told in graphic msn-
ner, as follows: Three large diamond
dealers in Chicago employed yo"ng
Frenchmau, who was considered an cX
pert at smuggling, TO procure for them
$42 900 worth of the finest first water
gems. In some way he heavy purchase
became known to detective in Paris,
who cabled to the officers here TO look
out for the smuggler. The purchase
consisted Of l07 fine stones, and the de-
tective in Paris had "straight tip"
from shoemaker that the Frenchman's
high heels contained the gems.
lie arrived and was politely conducted
to private examination room. On
came the boots and the Frenchman grew
pale as a pearl. The heels were sounded,
and in minute later one thickness OF
leather was taken off. Out rolled Il
piece of tissue paper and fifty eight fine
white stones. The Frenchman appeared
crazy. He fumed, swore and almost
wept. In the other heel the remaining
gems, forty-nine in number, were
found. The Frenchman put on his
boots. and, seemingly dazed, walked
away.
He was "cute 'nn." The gems
were the finest "Parisian," worth $40
peck, and the real article was snugly
encased in his big box toes. He paid
his shoemaker handsomer price than
the sharp detectives. Those gems are
in Chicago now, and the bogus ones
adorn hundred shirt fronts in the
custom-house.
Women! Yes, they are the best snug
glers of all; any custom-house officer
will confirm this fact. They have more
ingenuity than men and more innocence
wherewith to look the examiner calmly
in the eye. How many ladies who 60
regularly abroad anG pay their expenses
by smuggling is not and never will be
known. They are many, nevertheless.
One of the cItest dodges ever played
on the tariff euforcers is related OF a
young and pretty lady who lived aud
probably still lives in Boston. She had
gone to Berlin on visit during her
trip abroad and while there saw four
beautiful diamonds. Her means would
just allow her to purchase them and
pay her way home. In her dilemma
she conceived a plan. Four large cav
tiles were bored into her four largest
teeth, the gems covered over and she
departed. The duties would have cost
her 5000, but she smiled on the officer
who mace the examination and passed
innocently from the wharf.
Large quantities of diamonds, pearls
and rubies are frequently baked in bread,
sold with an understanding to the stew
ard, who sees that they are so dry and
hard at the ehd of the voyage that bc
must give it to 'longshoreman "ho
has large and hungry family. A.
'longshOrcmeli don't feed their families
on precious stones the bread j. brUhen
and its contents placed ia little chamOi--
skin bags aud carried 10 the honest
Gealer in gems.
When Tire gems are hidden in trunks.
false bottoms are never resOrted 10. The
dodge is too old and transparent. y
regular line of small au,er-cells are
made In The side, and bottom. These
lre filled with tie gems and new
PAPER inside cover pasted neatly over.
Woe 10 the smuggler who happens to
have one of those cells cracked open.
The eagle eye of the law is always look
ing.
"Only one professional smuggler in
hundred is ever caught. They make it
study, science, business. They pass
right under our noses and in front Of our
eyes with hidden fortunes. Accident
or information from the other side are
our only means Of hauling 'em in"
So said an officer who considers him
self one of the sharpest in the service.
Lady examiners in the employ Of the
custom-house are equally as cute as the
smugglers sometimes, and are frequent
ly the captors of big government hauls.
She knows where in woman's apparel
is the most likely place to hnd smuggled
goods. They are sometimes mistaken,
however, as we'll as the nell. Not very
long ago a German woman was reported
TO arrive on a certain steamer with
fortune in jewels on her person. She
came and was duly examined. The
scrutiny she underwent was so severe
that the lady custom-house officials apoi-
ogized over and over again.
rhe foreigner smiled and said she did
not blame them for doing their duty,
and supposed some malicious person
had sent the dispatch to annoy her. She
entered cab and the hat she wore was
decked With fortune in gems. They
were covered with wax and represented
a bunch of grapes. These the official
ladies had admired when they examined
the hat-lining and cover.
The ways and devices for smuggling
are almost as numerous as the stars, and
the jewels brought to America without
paying tribute to Uncle Sam are fire.
quently as bright.-Ner York Journal.