The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-28
SMrGGLED GOODS.
TRAVELLERS WHO TRY TO eVADE
The CUSTOM HOUSE DUTIES.
Methods adopted by the Flora NcFIim-
seys--A Womar's Inconsistency Made
Manifest-An Inspector Thrown o6 HIS
Guard--Two English Dudes


Guard-Two English Dudes
An inspector Of customs who hes crown
round shoqldcrod 80 the buSines- os recon
noiterms .or smngg,sd goods was asked the
other day b relate Il few of his experiences
during his long term OF serr'"n In the gov
ernment's employ a. cr eil1 ing his mem
DRY TO Gg.,; BACKWARD low years he rallied,
and drsi irstcnccd Inc case OF a lazy VINO IT,
sides o. iiarul street
"She D., said be. "as rich as T"o77rs. and
is a shining marx IN her phiianJurOpic 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 | believe, TO the
boarding officer She declared she had moth
ing in her possession Of dutiable nature
There was something about the woman's
actions, however, that awakened suspicion.
a careful examination of her trunks appar
emily verified her statement There re
manned, however, a lingering doubt that she
was trying to deceive. Acting upon this
msgiving she was asked 20 step into 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-ioHr yards of zine
black Lyons silk. The fabric had been
basted to her petticoat She seemed over
come with embarrassment when the discov
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 it, Is there any gauge by
which the inconsistency displayed by this
woman can be measured
About two years ago, while an inspector
was making his rounds among the pasSen
gers, a tall, good looking, finely dressed lady
nndged him in the ribs and softly whispered,
"Can | see you privately few mOmentsr
She motioned the inspector TO one side. at the
same time keeping ner eyes fixed upon two
plainly dressed women who were standing
together near the cOmpanlonway 81 want 10
tell YOU" began the pretty siren. that the
two women YOU see over there have made a
false declaration. Their stateroom was next
TO mine. and overheard them on several oc-
casions during the trip planning a scheme to
conceal from the customs officers a quantity
of valuable goods they have in their posses
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"
The Inspector thanked his fair informant,
sl /. /. ...f 81 D..
investigation Of the case.
When the two Suspected females had re-
ceiyod their baggage upon the wharf the in.
srect0r proceeded 20 make . most careful
search of their contents, but found mo- trace
Of yamahts TLe inspector Thought thi- was
only blind 10 throw him OF the scent. and
nea. -.l an lu-nertress 20 search the persons
o.. ,.e tro women This was done. 1ut nota
shadow ol anything dltIuh. was found 10
naw begun -o dawn upon tho W.Hd oi the
Inspector -iat u. EaI ba-u tr.ea.I uy tne
-ay cave, lr0uD rugl thst .he uH5 probably
tae QUE aho was irwin. % fraud the c0v
emmont. and n0- tae tWo ordinary look.Hg
females who bad Been under suspicion Is
uasu neat uttle game 10 throw ol suspicion
tut UII mower Doe worried again 0n t.a -lmn
inspector wa, altoru1ri learned faut tnc
Two women were Chicago ~clool teachers.
Who had been abroad sucudu. their summer
vacation They teIr very much embarrassed
40 the attention they received 40 the hands
Of tine officers, and were at los, 20 fathom
Us meaning The poor old petagogues prob
ably never bad "a dishonest thought enter
tueir heads
An anusng incident occurred four or live
weeks ago on board Cunarder, when two
finely dressed ladies declared that they had
nothing I'm 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
dicated that they had under consideration n
matter OF momentous importance Finally
one of them accosted the customs officer, and
said IL guess I've made a mistake IN decar
ING as did. a. we have several articlcsi in our
trunks which should pay duty 10 Is no un
usual occurrence 70 find these conscience
stricken people
4 little dunpy kind Of a man attempted 70
run in three new uisters a short time agO ms
part OF his own wearing apparel When his
trunk was opened and the garments taBen
ont. he was asked II he intended to wear tue
"toppers' himself.
Certainly do he replied
IL don't think the tailor gave you a very
good tit, viii you try one Of them onf
They we're all made from the pattern Of
this one have on, and the little man turned
around twice # don't see the necessity Of
going to the trouble of finding out whether
the others iii me. ."
al am sure the tailor must have made a
mistake" persisted the inspector. land |
shall insist upon you giving me some eyi-
dence that he did not"
The little man tried every way to satisfy
the inspector that the coats were for his own
use. but failing. drew forth one Of the heavy
garments and crawled into it. 1t was like
drawing a salt bag over a crochet needle.
The little man had disappeared The top OF
his hat and the toes of his shoes were all that
could be seen Of him.
whats the lightest you'll let me OFF forf
softly asked the little man.
The account was made out and he paid
without a wEimper
Two bowling dudes were found one day
standing over their traps looking about in q
sneering, contemptuous manner at tue scene
the new world presented at the landing Of an
ocean steamship They were the cream oi
swelldom When the inspector approached
them and asked 20 have their trunks unlocked
they seemed beset with astonishment
81 baor ro h1on but what did Won saw sir