The Washington critic., 1889-02-09

said well known Maiden-lane. manu-
featuring jewelcr and dealer in pre-
cious stones to New York Press re-
porter, "that some firms in my line
make lots OF money by smuggling.
My reason for saying. this is bee nuse
/ know Of one firm who can sell dia-
monds much lower thon | can, and
still appear to make money. How
they manage to smugIle | cannot posi-
bly, see, for it is one of the hardest
things in the world to do without de-
tcctian. ] can speak with confilence Z
onthat point, for, until within n few
years. | was special agent ut the
Custom House myself. In fuct," he
added, meditntivcly, "my experience
there is what led me into the business"
"How was that ?"
"Oh, not directly, you know, but in.
directly. / became interested in pre-
cions stones. You see, coming in my
way Us often as they did, aud as / had
some money saved 'upI went into the
business. ] sometimes wish i hadn't,
for there isn't so much money In it as
there WIS. But you want to know
fOilethlHy aDOub u'Nlioiu sInuSpiiuS,
don't you? The chief object, of
course, in smuggling diamonds is to
save the duty, and thus be enabled to
sell The stones for less than their
market value 1t is this very point
that makes detection probable, for the
current price of precious stones is
pretty well fixed among the trade. and
any reduction IN il is pretty apt to ex-
cite suspicion and lead to an investi-
CATION.
"You see have my suspicious of
the firm of which l spoke. Now, if
that suspicion was entertained quite
generally some one would be sure to
notify Collector Magone, and hewould
doubtless put special agent on their
track. More diamonds are brought
into this country in the fall than Mt
any other time, as dealers are then
getting ready for the holiday season.
The usual profit on ordinary stones,
upon which duty is paid, is estimated
at 10 per cent. at Wholesale, Now
this is not large per cent to make,
and naturally does not satisfy people
inclined to be dishonest. IL the duty
was lowered there would be very little
smuggling done, as the profit would
not compensate for the risk of having
the property confscated.
WARNING SOMETIMES GIVEN.
"'It sometimes happens that the Col
lector is notified of the coming of dia-
mond smugglers, as he was in the case
of Henry James Marriott some five or
six years ago. Marriott stole diamonds
valued al $50, 900 from a Paris iewelcr
named Kramer Marriott was clerk
in picture store. and, with his booty
and young girl named Peruex, fled to
this country. Two persons answering
their description soon after came over
in O German steamer, and hardly had
they landed before United States Dep
uty Marshal Bernhard was on their
track. They were finally traced to-
Staten Island and arrested at the Bat
terry while coming up to the city.
Nearly all of the stones were discov-
cred, some OF them being found sewed
into a pin-cushion, muff and pair of
trousers in the room of the thieves.
Sometimes diamond smugglers are
reported by fellow passengersin whom
they have confided, or who have had
their suspicious excited by some chance
word or act.
Diamonds have been, found con
cealed in soap, in women's back hair,-
and in some instances fastened to the
plate. of an upper set of false teeth.
Some people who are continually on
the 60 between this country and Europe
are habitually watched. One of the
strangest cases that ever came under
my observation was that of q man who
had subjected himself to great deal
of bodily pain to effect his purpose. 1t
was generally understood among his
fellow passengers that he was.a great
invalid and was suffering from some in
durable blood disease that would event
ually end his life. When he came off
the steamer, supported by attendants,
he was indeed frightful looking
object, his face being mass of erup-
tons. What 1t was that excited my
suspicious can't say, but something
told me that the man was an impostor,
and decided to have him searched.
AN INDIGNANT LOT.
"You never saw such an indignant
lot of people as they were, and their
protestations that search would en-
danger,the life of the invalid almost
made me forego my resolution. The
look of satisfaction on the invalid
face. however, when hesitated, set
tied me, and had him brought into
the inspecting room, and sent for
physician before examining him, rs |
wished to take no risks When the
doctor came he felt the mans pulse
and looked puzzled. There is moth
ing the matter with that man, lLs
said, finally, except extraneous skin
poisoning You may be sure had
him stripped pretty quickly. Would
you believe III His skin was as white
and soft as n baby's. with the eXcep.
ton of five red Jumps on the inner
side of the thighs that looked like
large, undeveloped bois or carbuncles.
The physician examined these
curiously and then said to hold him.
Three or four Of us held him while
the doctor made an incision over one
of the Jumps and eXtracted-a dia-
mond. You see, the fellow had read
that the diggers in the African mines
sometimes used this way for conceal
ing valuable gems, and he had tried it.
He was the most crestfallen invalid
you ever saw, for, besides having had
all his suffering for nothing, he was
out about $l2, 900.
"Many persons have IN idea that
smuggling is not dishonest, One we'll
known business man was caught in
trying to get through untaXea a lot of
velvets valued at $4,000 He made
himself liable to pay large fine
some thousands of dollars. He paid
the amount without murmur, but
stated that when he did so he did not
consider that he tried to do anything
wrong. 0The nlaoinr.' he said. 'of an