Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-09
LANDED In LUDLOW.
Eight Seamen of the Inman Lines
Reach an Unexpected Port.
THROWN IN JAIL FOB SMUGGLING.
A Business Which it is Said Has Made
Several of Them Wealthy.
STARTLING DISCLOSURES PROMISED

NEW YORK, June 8.-Fiye men are now
in Ludlow street Jail and two more are out
on bail on a charge of smuggling. Those In
iail are John Hart, John Hughes, John
Baker. petty officers on the Inman steamer
City of New York, and John Lathin, head
barkeeper, and John Merdock, ships store
keeper of the Inman liner City of Chicago.
Those ont on bail are Edward Baxter, dock
clerk. and John Ford, chief cooper, both
employed by the Inman Line at Jersey
City.
Lathin and Merdock were arrested at an
early hour this morning on board the City
of Chicago by Inspectors Hassey and Brit
ton, of Agent Wilbur's staff. In some un-
accountable way Lathin and Merdock
learned that the customs officers were on the
lookout for thern, and preparations were
made to take them of the vessel between
Sandy Hook and Quarantine.
OFFICERS TOO QUICK FOR THEM.
This action was forestalled, however, by
the Inspector, who, in company with United
States Deputy Marshal Adler, went down
to the lower quarantine at o'clock this
morning on the mail boat William Fletcher.
As the Fletcher crossed the City of Chicago
Lathin was seen standing by the gang
plank. He was recognized BY Inspector
Britton, who had occasion in 1885 to be-
come acquainted with him on an errand SINH
lar to that of to-day. Then, as now, Lathin
was arrested for smuggling lot of ready
made clothing, and he was convicted In the
United States Court at Trenton, and got on
by paving heavy fine.
The specific charge against Lathin and
Merdock is that on May 13 last, they
brought into Jersey City lot Of ready
made clothing in bags, on which they
evaded duty. The arrest would have been
made then, but the vessel sailed before the
matter could be brought home to the pair.
AN ARTFUL SEAMAN.
When the first officer of the City of
Chicago learned the nature of the customs
special officers visit, he said he was very
willing to aid them. The manner in which
he went about it, however, left doubts IN
the mind of Inspector Britton. He directed
the officers over the vessel several times,
and finally suggested that they go on deck
to the chief stewards quarters, but while
pretending to 60 on deck, Inspector Britton
doubled on the first officer, and saw him
enter a little room, which had been passed
and repassed many times.
To follow was the work of but moment,
anu LQeT6 WAS 1Ouuu buc mdu VI WuOH Tx
was in search. Lathin at once recognized
Britton, and made no resistance. Merdock
was found without difficulty. Both men
were placed in charge of Deputy Marshal
Adler, who kept them in Merdock's room
until 6 o'clock this morning. when they
were conducted to Ludlow Street Jail.
GOT WEALTHY BY SMUGGLING.
Hart, Hughes and Baker, who were taken
from the City of New York, are said to be
wealthy Liverpool persons who have made
comfortable fortunes by just such practices
as that for which they are now under arrest.
Inspector Britton expects to have ten or
dozen more offenders. 81 am after big
game now," he said to-day. "The men
who did the smuggling we have got, but the
receivers are the ones we are after, and the
public will be greatly surprised when they
learn who and how many are concerned ia
the matter"
-Four of the Inman steamers are now in
trouble in connection with smuggling.
They are the City of Chester, City of New
York, City of Berlin and the City of Chi
cago. Chief Officer Allen, of the City of
Chester. who evaded arrest on the last trip
of his vessel, it is believed, will return and
answer the charges against him.