The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-06
BY Partisan Firm to the Extent of
Thousands of Dollars.
They Bring Handsome Tapestries
Into the City OF New York
Without Paying a Gent of the Gus
toms Duties On Them,
And Double Their Robberles BY Charg-
ing Their Patrons With the Unpaid
Duties-How They Worked
1t and Were Caught.

NEW YORK, April 5.-Ihe TUNES SAYS.
One of the most extraordinary cases of
smuggling and fraud in the Custom.house
known in this country became public
through the Customs authorities in this
city yesterday afternoon.
Allard 4 Sons, large Parisian firm
dealing in antiques, art furniture, rare
tapestries, paintings and bric-a-brac, have
a branch establishment in this city at No.
SOi Fifth avenue. For a period extending
over at leat seven years the house has en-
gagged in the most barefaced acts Of
smuggling.
For many years the agent OF Allard &
Sons in this city was man named Blossaire
About three years ago he was superseded
by their present agent, Paul Roulez, who
resides ON Palisadc avenue in West Hobo
ken, n. ]. Under Roulze's management
Blossaire was steadily degraded, until last
February he was discharged from the en-
ploy OF the firm.
In revenge for what he claims the in
justice practiced against him, some weeks
ago, Blossaire called on Special Treasury
Agent George III. Simmons and impaired
some startling information that led TO an
immediate and searching investigation
OF the affairs OF the firm.
Special Treasury Agent Simmons soon
found that smuggled goods had been pur-
chased unsuslectingly IRON this firm by
some OF the wealthiest residents and most
liberal art collectors in this city, among
them VIM. X. Vanderbilt, ii. Mckay
Twombly, OF No. 6S4 Fifth avenue, and
0rme Wilson, OF No. il4 Fifth avenue;
also by Robert Garrett. OF Baltimore; VIM.
Borden, Of Chicago, and many others
The scheme pursued by the firm wac 10
consign to their New York house cabinet
furniture in which vas concealed under
meath the marble tops and in the false
paneling costly portiere curtains and rich
gobelin tapestry. Customs duties, Of
course, would be paid only on the iurni-
ture. In the Fifth avenue store the SNUG
glcd goods would be removed. Purchasers
were invariably charged extrayagant prices
for the aiiiclcs with the duties out OF
which the Government had been swindled
added thereto. Thus a double fraud was
perpetrated. II Is not suspected that any
one OF the many purchasers had the re-
motest idea that the goods were smuggled.
Mr.. II. Mex. Towmbly is probably the
u ost conspicuous victim Of the firms dis
honest practices. His bill for goods ordered
from the New York house OF Allard X
Sons amounted 10 $4,000. In this lot Of
goods was an oil painting represented
10 be Rembrandt, for which Mr.. Twom-
bly, paid $50, 900, and on account OF which
he Is now suing the firm, having discov-
cred that the picture Is only u copy. This
/ a
between two decorated doors, one Of
which was intended for Mr.. Twombly's
house, and can now be seen there. Mr.
| Twombly also received large quantity Of
other paintings, costly curtains, bric.a-
brac and rare tapestries, which were
smugglcd through the cusiOm-house con.
cealed in the upholstered seats OF chairs,
etc. Mr.. VIM. X. Vanderbilt ordered
from AllaTd & Sons an oil portrait OF his
ten-year-old son last November, which
was delivered 30 him In February last
lie paid the firm $1,000 full price, on
the picture. The firm got that through
free OF duty by packing Il behind the
glass OF mirror, against the wooden back.
The frame wlssent separately. When the
goods arrived the picture was taken out
Of the back Of the mirror, framed and de-
livcrcd 10 Mr.. Vanderbilt 10y Blossairc,
now the Governments informant II ii
understood that Mr.. Vanderbilt has also
been the purchaser Of n large quantity oi
rare gobelin tapestries. poriieres aud ani-
cles OF yrtu from this firm. ~
Among Mr.. Orme Wilson's purchases,
which figure on the list OF smuggled or.
ticles, n a large quantity Of rich porlieres,
tapestry, bric.a-brac, n relic French clock,
aud many other costly articles. They
were brought over In February, 1887, and
passed through the cuslomh0usc 10y Paul
Roulcz's wife, ~ her own household effects.
Upon investigation IL was found that they
had been bought by Wilson during the
preceding November and packed by the
Allards In pieces.
Tie investigation made by Spsc'al Treas
ury Agent Simmons having progressed ial
enough by last Monday night TO warrant
him in making seizure, he had the neccs.
sary papers executed and called 90 his aid
Special Treasury Agents J. g. Cummings
Frank finley, Special Agent Ritter and
the informant, Bloaairc, who had beer
dcputizcd as an officer. They went 10 th,
Filth Avenue Hotel and remained ther,
most OF the night, and at o'clock Tues
day morning proceeded 10 Allard's store
30i Fifth avenue.
A soon as the janitor Of the store opcneC
the door, they made q raid on the siocl
aud captured q large quantity Of chain
with upholstered seats that we're ioun,
stuffed with rich laces, tapestries, silks
bronkes, portierCs, curtains, aud alnos
everything person could imagine. Thcs
chairs were a recent invoice aud had no
been uDpacked.
The officers aiso 'oiled tho mirror Il
! which the Vanderbilt picture ha'
( been concealed and one Of the ornamcn
tal doors between which Mr.. Twombly'
alleged Rembrandt had been smuggled
A large quantity Of other stuff bcaria
! recent marks not identified on the Gus
. tom-house invoices Of the firm was ais
seized. These things were sent 10 th
. seizurc-rooin In the barge Office, and th
! party went 10 Roulez's house In Wcs
/ hobokon. where they seized lot Of tap
4 estry valued at $1,000 which they ioun,
!. parked In q plush sofa. Those things wcr
a also sent 10 the scLurc.room.
4 ID was ascoriained through 2Ou!ez him
|. self that the articles purchased 10y Robci
v Garrett, Of Baltimore, we're large quan
y iity Of rare and costly heavy silks used io
n making old court dreSscn, nov used onl
for covering circular chains aud soial