The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-23
MANSEAU'S TIN CANS.
Ex-Policemen On Trial for
Opium Smuggling.
WITNESS MARTELL is MISSING.
An Old Mans Successful Fight to Keen
Out OF a Nadhouse-Cour
News-B1otter.


Raymond. Nelson clouett and Joseph y. Labelle,
Tor coneesling and facilitating the sale OF smug-
gied opium, was on trial yesterday la tie federal
court. Mr.. W. III. White. one of the attorneys
TOT the defendants, moved a non-suit on the
grounds that there was no evidence TO prove
that any opium had been found, that there was
no name given OF the parties who struggled it,
ana no evidence TO connect the defendants
with the smuggling Oh opium or having any
thing to do with struggled opium.
In ruling on the motion for non-suit Judge
Haniord stated that 1t was not necessary that
there be any concert OF action between the
smugglers OF opium and those engaged in con-
ceating and facilitating the sale of IL. He held
that any sale OF struggled goods is violation of
the statutes, and the intention of the law is to
prevent persons from having any dealings in
smuggled goods.
lie ruled that the name Of the smuggler was
not essential and not material unless an errone-
Gus name had been given to purposely misiead
the defendants, and that the testimony as fore
Swallowed By defendants cannot be regarded as
a fatal variance, and the motion must be denied.
The testimony in the case shows that on Sep
TENDER 26, 1890, Charles Raymond and Nelson
Clouett were members of the Seattle police force
when the opium was smuggled into this city
from British Columbia. Joseph Manseau, an ex-
member of the Canadian mounted police, was
, tne owner ~ o. The opium He stated that nc was
smuggling opium into the United States, end
gave $5l5 to a smuggler named Burke with
which to purchase fifty pounds OF prepared
opium. Burke bought the drug and struggled
u over the line. He followed Burke TO Seattle
and took charge OF the package.
Not knowing where TO dispose of the opium
Manseau went to Martelps saloon and asked the
advise oil Martell, countryman OF his, on the
subject. They were talking in an ante-room of
MartelPs saloon, and Officer Clouett was lying
on sofa there seeming to be asleep Martell
cautioned him that Clouett was an officer and
could understand French, the language in
which they were conyersing. Presently C1ouett
got up and went out and Martell again warned
Manseau of him.
Joseph n. Labelle frequented Martells saloon
and he became acquainted with Manseau, who
asked his assistance in disposing OF the opium.
Manseau promised to reward him literally for
his aid. Labelle told him he would help, but
II was risky business, and that Officer Clouett
had overheard mis- conversation with Martell,
ManSeau clsinnS to have made an open breast
OF the whole affair TO Clcuett, and asked his ad-
vice on the subject. Clouett would have moth
ing to do with 1t, but told Manseau to get him
sample car of the opium in order that he might
see whether it could be sold profitably Next
day Cloue.s said everything was all right; to go
four blocks from Martells saloon and turn to
the right Manseau put the opium into a satchel
ana he ana Labeiie went accordingly to Clouetts
directions.
Labelle was carrying the opium when they
who asked where they were going, and said the
satehei looked like one that had been stolen, and
they must accompany him to police head
quarters Labelle turned the satchel over to
Manseau, who offered this officer a liberal
amount OF money to let him go, but he refused.
Manseau begged and the officer told him to
"drop the satchel and skip" Manseau begged
to be allowed half of the opium, but the officer
refused to give him any of the opium except two
loose cans. Manseau saw Clouett, who was
close by, talk TO this officer and Labelle. He
afterwards learned that this officer was Charles
Raymond
Manseau got the can of opium he gave Clouett
ana sold II and the two cans he got from Ray
mond to a Chinaman. He asked Labelle for
money with which TO go to Winnipeg, and was
given $40. He went to Tacoma and returned
next day and wanted more money, but Labelle
would not give him any more and was disap-
pointed because he had not left the country.
City Detective Wilson told how he had met
Manseau on a street car and heard the story of
the opium. He had known Manseau in Canada,
the customs authorities and assisted in working
up the case.
Mr.. Charles NJ Bradshaw, collector of customs
for the Puget sound district, testified that no
duty had been paid on any prepared opium be-
fore or since september Is, 1890, during his con-
nection with the custom office.
Mr.. j. Coblentz, inspector of customs, was
called on to prove that the various brands of
opium are put up in tin cans Ike those de-
scribed, which Manseau says were in his satehel.
George Brown testified that Officer Raymond
went to him and asked If he would take care
of package OF opium for him; that two men
would take il to Browns boarding house.
Charles Raymond admitted going to Brown,
but said he was trying to get position Gus
tom inspector, and went to several suspicious
parties 10 ascertain whether they were con-
nected with opium smuggling. He denied TAX
ing the opium from Manseau, or having any,
thing to do with it, or having been told any
thing about it by Clouett or Labelle. Said he
was at home when this opium seizure is said to
have taken place.
Mrs. Raymond corroborated her husbands
statements, and said he was at home ct the hour
when the opium was taken.
Nelson Ciouett told how he had seen Manseau
in Martells saloon, but said he had heard none
of the conversation. He was sick aud was or
duty that day and the next He denied getting
n can of the opiun from ManSeau or making
any arrangement with him about selling it. He
did not see Raymond on the day the opium was
captured, and did not see any satchel of opium.
Joseph n. Labelle said he never made any bar
gain with Manseau about the opium, and did
not know what the sstchel contained when he
assisted Manseau to carry II. He was only help
ing a countgyman for kindness, and he only
loaned Manseau the $40 he let him have TO leave
town on. He said the man who captured the
satchel of opium from Manseau was not Ray
mond, but was a large man with heavy side
whlskers.
Chief Monroe told how Lahelle had admitted
his completely in the opium plot and then de-
MED il.
Martell, the salooukeeper TO whom Manseau
first went for assistance and whose place was
the rendezvous OF the parties interested in this
opium. could no. be found. He was one of the
principal government witnesses in the trial be-
fore the lnmissioner, but when called by the
not be found His whereabouts are unknown,
aud ms departure IS said to have occurred about
the time the grand jury wanted him to testify
in the case.
The trial will be resumed at 10 o'clock this
morning.