The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-07-18
SMUGGLED GOODS.
TRAVELLERS WHO TRY TO evADE
THE CUSTOM HOUSE DUTIES.

THE CUSTOM HOUSE DUTIES.
Methods Adopted by the Flora AroEIim-
seys-A woman's Inconsistency Made
Manifest--An Inspector Thrown or His
Guard-Two English Dudes.
| An inspector of customs who has grown
round shouldered in the business of recon
motoring for struggled goods was asked tho
/ other day to relate few OF his experiences
during his long term OF service In the gov
srnnient's employ. After allowing his menu
CRY to drift backward few years he rallied,
and first instanced the case Of a lady who re-
sides on Beacon street.
"She is, said he, ''as rich as Croesus. and
is a shining mark in her philanthropic work.
No one gives more literally to the cause of
charity. No one dispenses with freer hand
means for spreading the Gospel In heather
| lands. She bears the reputation of being a
large hearted, full souled Christian lady.
Yet she swore falsely, as I believe, to tho
boarding officer. She declared she had moth
ing In her possession Of a dutiable nature.
There was something about the womans
actions, however, that awakened suspicion.
| careful examination of her trunks appar-
emily verified her statement. There re-
manned, however, lingering doubt that she
was trying to deceive. Acting upon this
misgiving she was asked to step into q small
room near by, which Is used for the purpose
of examining female passengers whose truth
fulness has been challenged. Under her gar
ments were found forty-four yards Of fine
black Lyons silk. The fabric had been
basted to her petticoat She seemed over
xxyffl
cry was made Her only excuse was the
very thin one that she was not aware the
silk was dutiable She was not asked why
she concealed 1t Is there any gauge by
which the inconsistency displayed by this
woman can be measuredi
About two years ago, while an inspector
was making his rounds among the passen-
gers, a tall, good looking, finely dressed lady
nudged him in the ribs and softly whispered.
Can see you privately few momentsg
She motioned the inspector to one aide, at the
same time keeping her eyes fixed upon two
plainly dressed women who were standing
together near the companionway. ~ want to
tell you," began the pretty siren, shat the
two women you see over there have made
false declaration. Their stateroom was next
to mine, and l overheard them ON several 90
casions during the trip planning a scheme to
conceal from the customs officers quantity
OF valuable goods they have in their possess
sion. You will do well to make a careful
examination of their baggage and the clothes
they have on. dislike deception in any
form, and make this disclosure In the interest
Of honesty,H bHe5ss5sa.,s4
The inspector thanked his fair informant
and promised that he would make thorough
investigation of the case.
When the two suspected females had re-
ceived their baggage upon the wharf the In
spector proceeded to make a most careful
search Of their contents, but found no trace
of valuables. The inspector thought this was
only blind to throw him Off the scent, and
he asked an inspectress to search the persons
Of the two women. This was done, but not a
shadow Of anything dutiable was found. It
now began TO dawn upon the mind Of the
inspector that he had been tricked by the
gay eavesdropper, and that she was probably
the one who was trying to defraud the gov
eminent, and not the two ordinary looking
females who had bean under suspicion. It
was neat little game to throw Off suspicion.
but viii never be worked again on the same
inspector. 1t was afterward learned that the
two women were Chicago school teachers,
who had been abroad spending their summer
vacation They felt very much embarrassed
at the attention they received atthe hands
Of the officers, and were at a loss 10 fathom
its meaning. The poor old pedagoguesprob-
ably never had . dishonest thought enter
their heads.
An amusing incident occurred four or five
weeks ago ON board Cunarder, when two
finely dressed ladies declared that they had
nothing in their possession upon which an
impost duty should be levied. A few mo- |
ments after taking the oath they were seen |
in close consultation, and their actions In |
Dictated that they had under consideration a |
matter Of momentous Importance. Finally,
one of them accosted the customs officer, and
said; ~ guess I've made mistake In declar-
ing as ] did, rs we have several articles In our
trunks which should pay duty" 1t Is no un-
usual occurrence to find these conscience
stricken people.
little dumpy kind of o man attempted to
run In three new listers q short time ago as I
part Of bis own wearing apparel. When his |
trunk was opened and the garments taken |
out, ho was asked IL he intended to wear the
"toppers" himself.
certainly dor he replied.
II don't think the tailor gave you very |
good fit; will you try one Of them onq'
"They were all made from the pattern Of /
this one have on,p and the little man turned /
around twice tIdon,t gee the necessity OF |
going to the trouble Of finding lout whether
the others fit meH8 ss2 W. 8E
~ am sure the tailor must have made O
mistake" persisted the inspector, .'and I |
shall insist upon you giving mo some evil
dence that he did not"
The little man tried every way 10 satisfy
the inspector that the coats were for his own
use, but failing, drew forth one of the heavy
garments and crawled into IL II was like
drawing salt bag over q crochet needle.
The little man had disappeared. Tho top of
his hat and the toes Of his shoes were all that
could be seen Of him.
whats the ightest you'll let me Off forgn
softly asked the little man. II
The account was made out and he paid
without a whimper..
Two bowling dudes ware found one day
standing over their traps looking about IA
sneering, contempttous manner ct fhe scenes
the new world presented at the landing Of an
ocean steamship They were the cream OF I
swelldom. When the inspector approached
them and asked to have their trunks unlocked
they seemed beset with astonishment
II beg pahdon, but what did you say, sir7'
queried one Of them.
"Open your trunks, want to inspect your
baggage -
At this the spokesman Of tho two threw a
bunch Of keys upon the wharf and said,
"Hopen tho trunks yourself, fellow.n
lift the lids of those trunks In half min
ute or they go to the appraiserss store, quietly
remarked the inspector.
Gentlemen at 'ome don't do this kind of
work. What blawsted customs ,vou ave ERE,
TO be sure. that requiah a gentleman to do
Wallets labah.# IN ~
He opened his trunks, however, taking this
drst lesson in democracy In the land of free
iom.--Boston Herald.
But Little Trouble.