New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-07
TWO SIDES TO THE QUESTION:
THE ALLEGED SMUGGLING CASE.
A MoHE FAVORABLE ASPECT FOB ALLARD
SONS

A MoRE FAVORABLE ASPECT FOB ALLARD
sons
Collector Magone said yesterday that the original
estimate OF the amount Of revenue which the Govern
ment had lost through the alleged smuggling frauds OF
Alard Sons the French firm Of artistic furnishsiS
At No 304 Fiffh-avo., was much exaggerated But
until the Investigation OF the books and invoices was
completed the amount could not DO definitely Known.
The first information about the alleged smuggling was
given to the Collector by Alphonse L. Blossier' the
discharged boOkkeeper Of Alard a Sons, and no had
also given all the additional evidence to George II.
simmons the special agent who had been detailed By
Collector Wagons 10 work up the case.
when IL vas said that the Collector had detailed
Mr. Simmons, Of the officers OF the Treasury Dc
partment now in tho city was asked II this was III
orally true @Yos' he said, " the Collector ignored
the head of tho special agents force, and detailed
Mr. Simmons upon his own responsibility. OF course
the Collector was aware that Mr.. simmons had ~
eelvcd official notice that his services would be dis
pensed with on April IS and II would that the Col
lsetor thought that by putting him matter OF this
Hind II might result in his dismissal being revoked
for the time being The fact is that BlosSer has
furnished all the evidence thus far, and he was
eoseted with Mr.. Simmons at the Custom House
yesterday. These matters should have been dis
covered BEFORE but, fact, nearly all OF the cases
OF frauds upon the revenue worked w durin: tho
last three years have been discovered by outsiders
In tho present case B!osScr was OF course, full OF
Information, and II be had not been discharged by
his employers It Is doubtful II the Government would
have learned OF tho alleged frauds for some time
General A. L. Ketchum, ex-Appraiser OF The Port,
now OF the law firm OF Trcmaln Tyler, was az the
Custom House yesterday counsel for Paul Rouloz,
tho agent for Allard & Sons In this city. He said
that he had never met Roulcz, but was retained BY
several Of his friends uron the conviction that no
was Innocent and that II admitted by the Treas
ury agents that he was innocent OF fraud ana 'Wouh
probably not be arrested. He added: $50 far ss
have looked into the matter II is absurd TO sup
pose that Rouez eognlzant OF the alleged frauds
a. they occurred prior 10 his receiving tho power
Of attorney on September s, 1888 He never so
much as collected bl prior to that time, his business
being only 10 sell the goods. Blossier had charge
OF the books and must have known what was going
on. All Of tho goods packed in Paris, eonse-
Quoniy Roulez would not have known OF any fraudu-
lent packing II there was any
William Holt secor lawyer, wrote letter 70
Collector Magone yesterday. In which be said that
he was the attorney for AIlArd Sons, and wished
judgment suspended for the time being. He said
that al OF the members OF the firm were now IN
Europe. but that Mr. Fernand Allard would Arrve
here in two weeks aud would explain matters shts-
factOrily, and would give suiclept security agSnst
loss 10 the Government while the nFesuSSOon N~S
TIC manager OF tho Hew.York branch Of the arm
feels mneh aRgreyed over tho manner IN when tns
have referred 10 inc case II sSoulVu
IN Min be said that no and his houss were being
tried and convicted tho press at one and the same
time such treatment no Thought. was rtue short
Of persecution. lnasmucd as. II thers nave bcon
offences committed against tho law the law pOViacs
for proper punishment Nothing had YET boon heard
from ths home onoo. he said. a. TO tho measures to
be adopted bY the branch house but there would
probably DO active defence before the United STATES
authorities. .-,--, A.. 49,.
during tho last years are loath 70 bei'eSe tnSt
the New. York branch was In any way responsible
for any transactions that NAV have been carried on
in violation OF the Law. II there were any such ana
The luprsss sion prevails among the firms best custom
crs here hat tho house Of hlArd Co Is being per
secuted out of motives OF revenge by discharged en-
ployea This view was flrst expressed by Mr. Roulch
and II was at accepted the correct ono Dy many
M Tho people who had dealings with the house. 10
Is said with some color Of probability. that certain
discharged employees formed conspiracy to, ruin
tbe arm or al least the New-York branch. ana hat
II was through taeir mschnations that the eVhence
in rho hands OF tho customs authorities was manu-
featured Tho supposed betrayal OK mo hrm T w
tbon followed BY the seizure OF the goods ESPECIALLY
inst what he outcome Of tho case Will DO cannot
he forctod but the firm has many riends IN TAO
CITY, including hosts Of regular patrons.