New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-13
SYNDICATE OF SWINDLERS.
EVIDENCE ABOUT THE OPIUM SCHEME.
THE ARREST OF cHAcE AN IMPORTANT LINK

at work on the opium smuggling scheme think
that they have made an important movement in
the direction Of stopping the smuggling Of the
drug into this country in the arrest Of Thomas
+. Chacc, Of Providence. which was accomplished
by two Of the Special Agents at late hour on
Tuesday. For fear that some of the other mem
bers OF the gang would hear of the arrest and
get away before they could be taken into custody.
Chace was taken to the Custom House and locked
up there for the night. Immediately after he was
arrested. Chace was searched and letters and
teleyrams were found from other members of the
gang regarding the consignment of opium which
already had been seized
The United States officials knew all along that
Chace was interested in some way with an opium
smuggling scheme. and when he reached the Astor
House on last Sunday night two of the best men
under Special Agent Wilbur were waiting for
him. They did not let him get out Of their sight
except while he slept in his room. until he was
arrested on Tuesday evening.
All day Monday they followed him about from
place to place. but lie did not see any of THE other
members of the gang, as they hoped he would.
On Monday night a man called upon him at the
Astor House and presented letter to him. This
letter identified him the man who had agreed
to buy the opium. Up to this time tho
trunk, in which the 200 one-half
pound cans of the drug, was in the storage room
of the Grand Central Station 1t had been
checked through TO New-York from Providence
and was waiting for the owner to claim il. After
the purchaser, who is said TO be Chicago man,
had presented his letter Of Identification Chace
gave to the porter of the Astor House the check
for the trunk, and had him send TO the station
for it, There was some hitch at the station and
the trunk did not reach the Astor House
time. This made the purchaser suspicious, and
he got out of the way. He evidently thought
that the entire scheme had been revealed to the
authorities. Later in the evening the trunk was
brought down to the Astor House and taken to
Chace's room Soon after this the two Govern
ment officials raped upon his door and arrested
him. The purchaser got out Of the way in time
to escape arrest. but the officials have pretty
good description of him, and it is thought thai
his arrest will follow shortly.
The utmost secrecy was observed by the OFF,
cials throughout. After Chace had spent the
night in the Custom House he was taken TO the
Federal Building by the inspectors who arrested
him. and arraigned before United States Com
missioner Shields. The Commissioner decided to
hold him in $4,000 BAIL The prisoner could
not furnish it and he was taken quietly to Lud-
low Street Jail, where all knowledge that he was
commitment Before going to the Jail the pris-
oner wrote a number of kilograms to people in
Providence and Boston, but they were not sent, as
the officials knew that they would only give
warning to the other members of the gang in
time for them to escape.
Chace was taken to the United States Commis-
sioner's office yesterday afternoon by Deputy
Marshals Van BuslSirk and Thomas. Only two
men who seemed to know him were there to meet
him. One was an old, benevolent-loolSing man,
who grasped him warmly by the hand This man
refused to tell who he was, either to tho
reporters or to the prisoners attorney. The other
man who greeted Chace and Daniel O'Connel.
the ex-Assistant United States District-Attorney.
He had been retained by Chace to defend him.
The hearing was set down for o'clock in the
afternoon, and at that hour Commissioner Shields's
room was crowded with men. Among them was
Special Agent Wilbur and the inspectors who had
been working upon the lease. Maxwell Evarts,
the Assistant United States Distrct-Attorney, rep
resented the Government. Mr.. O'Connell made
an eloquent appeal for reduction OF the amount
of bail in which Chace was held. He said that the
prisoner had no friends in this city, and that
he could not give bail in more than 81 800. The
charge that he was a smuggler could not be proved.
and he could be held only for being in possession
of goods upon which no duty had been paid.
Mr.. Evarts in reply said that the was an
exceedingly important one. Papers and kilograms
he added, had been found upon the prisoner which
left not shadow of doubt as to his completely
in the scheme to smugge opium and TO defraud
the Government. One Of the men already had
slipped away, and If the prisoner were let go on
bail Immediately, others would be likely to escape.
lie asked for an adjournment of the hearing until
q IL ,tcctA n
declared emphatically that he would not reduce
the amount of bail to $1,000, but he would not
then determine to what sum he would reduce the
ball. if he reduced it at all. The hearing then
was adjourned until this afternoon.
The developments in the case have strengthened
the conviction of the Treasury officials that they
have >unearthed a daring scheme for defrauding
the Government at wholesale. The authorities
Yesterday intercepted letter addressed to Chace
at the Astor House. which was written by one
Of his fellow conspiratOrs II asked Chace what
the trouble was with the last lot of stuff
Special Treasury Agent Charles S. Wilbur re-
turned yesterday morning from Providence. where
he had been searching for proof against Chace. In
the prisoners house there he found three trunks
which will aid greatly in proving that Chace is
guilty. These trunks just like the one belong
ing TO the accused man, which was sized at tho
Astor House. They are made especially TO Mold
200 half-pound packages OF opium. Chace comes
Of good family in Providence and he and his
wife and children have always moved In good
society. He has wife. two sons and daughter.
Chace was formerly in partnership with en-
Mayor Clark, of Providence. and they had big
dye factory. About five years ago the firm went
out OF business. Chace is q Of wealth. own
ing considerable valuable property in Boston,
When he went out of the dye business he left
Providence appearing there again only at inter.
walls Of time. 1t was given out that lie was travel.
ling IN Europe HIS wife and family continued
TO live in Providence until about a week ago,
when they went away rather mysteriously, none
Of their friends knowing what had become Of
them. 1850, -