River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-10-15
a SLY WIDOW.
Employed by Jewelry Firms to smuggle
Diamonds Into This Country. She Dis
appears with Gems Valued at $4,000.

Employed by Jewelry Firms to Smuggle
Diamonds Into This Country. She Dis
appears with Gems Valued at $4,000.
NEW YORK, Oct J0.-lnspecJor
Byrne's men are looking for a Mrs.
Yancy, who is most expert smuggler
and swindler. She is accused by dia-
mond importing firm in Chicago, whose
name is not mentioned for obvious rea-
sons, of making herself scarce with a
quantity of diamonds belonging to
them.
In this particular firm there is con-
sternation on account of their little
financial venture to defraud Uncle Sam
of his just dues. With them is impli-
Gated Maiden lane firm of this city,
that was interested as agent To carry
out their scheme for importing dia-
monds at as little expense as possible
they engaged Mrs. Yancy, New York
woman, who changes her name with
the season and who is regarded by Gus
toms officers as a "slicl1 one" having
eluded their vigilance ut every eastern
port. She is professional free
trader" long known to the authorities
as such, and they always lay plots for
her, but on Friday last she made her
master stroke.
Mrs. Yancy, in personal appearance,
is youthful. Despite the silver in her
hair, she has figure that would grace
a girl of Is. She dressed in widows
weeds, and was so successful in her
little smuggling schemes that the
officers began to doubt whether the
pretty waist was not o receptacle for
some of the contrband goods. She has
been examined by female searchers and
every thread of clothes she had on care
fully scrutinized, yet she managed to
get goods into New York safely.
Mrs Yancy, or whatever her name
may he, is not an American. She came
to New York cary in the spring of
1889. At that time she was ac-
companied by diminutive Mon
golian attendant, connected to
whom by short gold chain
was demure pelican. As neither
pelicans nor Mongolians are down on
the tariff list they were allowed to pass.
Since that time the interesting woman
and bird Zip, have been frequent
passengers between Europe and
New York on various steamers, and
it is alleged that between them
about a million dollars worth of dia-
monds have been imported without
duty. 1t is strange that while the
woman was always suspected, the pei
lean has never been. This is attributed
to the fact that the bird IS IRE as demure
look as the boy in whose custody it
was.
Last Friday, just before the French
steamer landed, the bird was taken by
the boy into the mistress stateroom.'
When he was landed he was led from
the steamer looking as if he had been
attacked by virulent form of mumps.
But it was overlooked by the Gus
toms officers The three were no.
ticed to bundle into carriages at the
dock, and il is supposed that while on
the way up town the bird was relieved
of its mumps. The mumps consisted
of $50, 000 worth of bright, sparkling
diamonds. These diamonds should have
been delivered to firm in Maiden lane,
TO be shipped to the other free
trade" firm of diamond merchants in
Chicago Instead, however, Mrs.
Yancy. with dozen other attractive
widow names, went somewhere on her
own account All trace of her has
been lost, and within twelve hours of
her arrival the police of half hun
bred cities We're notified to look out
for her.
The two diamond importing firms are
in sorry predicament. They are abus-
ing themselves for having been so
adroitly swindled, ard are trembling
for the consequences of their expose. In
order to save 5000 they have left
themselves liable to prosecution and
the imposition of fines which may cost
them far more than the loss of the
parcel of sparllers. According TO the
terms of the contract between the two
firms it is said the Chicago house adj
vanced $4,000 on the diamonds, agree
ing to pay the other $40, 900 on their de-
livery. But the Maiden lane house
can't deliver until it finds Mrs. YaRcy.