St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-25
STOLE FROM UNCLE SAM.

Three Residents of Ogdensburg,
Implicated in the Opium Snug
Cling Cases, Run Down by the
Law.
Special to the Globe
BUFFALO. N. Y, Aug. 24.-Deputy
United States Marshals Cavanagh and
KranZ went to Ogdensburg yesterday,
and returned this morning after making
the most important government arrests
made in this district in years. The
parties arrested are Nathan H. Lytle,
Jr., deputy collector of the port of Og-
densburg; William j. CumminSky, jan
itOr of the government building, and
John w. Stone, one of the most prOmi-
nent attorneys in st. Lawrence county.
They were charged with having on or
about July 2 last, stolen from the Gus
tom house, 100 pounds of opium. This
is the outcome of the arrest of the
Gardners last winter at Ogdensburg,
who were captured with nearly S25, 1000
worth of opium in their possession.
Erwin Gardner was arrested a few days
ago in Chicago, and it was found that
he had been offering opium for sale
there. The government officials dis
covered that it was part of the identical
goods found in his possession last winter.
This led to an investigation. The opium
found by the Gardners had been placed
In the custom house at Ogdensburg for
safe keeping, and an examination
showed that number of packages had
been removed and dummy packages
put in their place. The arrests followed.
Mr.. Stone is the lawyer who defended
the Gafdners when their case came up.
The prisoners were arraigned before
Commissioner Fairchild this morning,
and at the request of all parties were
held in $4,000 each to justify
in two or more suretles, the
examination to be continued to-
morrow morning at 9 o'clock. Surrogate
Abbott, of st. Lawrence, appeared for
the prisoners. In default of bail the
three men were committed to Jail. 1t is
claimed that Stone put up the job. Cum
miskey had the keys of every room in
the house, and it was easy for him to
reach the goods. The duty upon opium
was $10a pound, so there was consider
able money in the scheme if it was sue
cesSfully worked. Imitation cans had
been procured and filled with oak blocks
weighing the same as the opium, and
were left in their stead. Gardner was
to receive the opium in Chicago and
dispose of it. but was caught in time. 1t
is understood that one of the three is
ready to confess the whole business.
TELL-TALE LETTERS.
Special to the Globe.
CHICAGO, Aug. 24.-Special Agent
Crowley, of the treasury department,
states that the evidence upon which
Stone, Lytle and Cummiskey were ar
rested yesterday at Ogdensburg, N. Y,
was based upon letters found in the
baggage of Gardner, who was arrested
here last Friday. According to
Agent Crowley's story these letters
revealed the existence of conspiracy
to dispose of contraband opium between
Gardner, Stone and Lytle. A large
number of tin cans. such as are usually
used for opium, were also found in
Gardner's room, but instead of
opium they contained blocks
of wood. Crowle's theory is that
the opium scheme of the conspirators
was to store the opium in New York,
and when Gardner's trial came up at
Ogdensburg in September to substitute
these dummy cans for those containing
opium. Gardner stated to a reporter
that Stone was the attorney who de-
Tended him in a smuggling case, but
that he did not know the other two men
who were arrested at Ogdensburg.