Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-07-23
FEMALE SMUGGLERS.
An Old Customs Inspector Tells 81 Their
Artful Ways.

a man VINO mas Deen III L ncle Sau
service at the custom-house during the
greater part of the last quarter of
century said lately that two-thirds of
the stately matrons, fascinating wild
ows and pretty girls of Fifth and Madi-
son avenues are criminals,
IA criminal is persofi who is an
habitual lawbreaker, is he not?" he
said. "Well, two-thirds of the rich
women of this city are habitual law
breakers. That makes them criminals,
does it not? These wealthy women go
to Europe every few years: When any
one of them has just returned let any
friend visit her house, and will bet
my years salary against a peanut the
friend will be shown some article pur-
chased abroad which the owner, with
merry twinkle in her eye and conscious
pride in her tones, will inform her visi-
tor she was clever enough to smuggle i'll
without paying any duty on it. There
isn't one person in hundred who con-
siders it wrong to cheat the customs
laws. OF course, it is awful if you get
caught.
mot many years ago one of the clev-
crest women with whom | ever came in
contact was engaged regularly in SNUG
Cling dresses from Paris for the wives
and daughters of our millionaires. She
was betrayed by a pure accident, and
when she was arrested her order-book
contained names which would have
startled the town had they ever been
made public.
1.-THE private Office of the United
States district attorney the day of this
woman's arrest saw remarkable mum.
ber of rich and influential visitors all
of whom were anxious to prevent this
woman's little order-book from getting
into the hands of the newspaper re-
porters. Their efforts, of course, were
successful, and the prisoner was also
prevailed upon to keep her counsel. |
have said this woman was clever. She
was also young, very beautiful and one
of the most entertaining and fascinating
conversationalists | ever met.
''My attention was first called to her
by one of our inspectors. At the time
Chizzola, the theatrical manager, had a
French opera troupe, of which Nine.
Aimee was the central figure, perform
ing at the Academy of Music, The
night after the arrival of one of the
French steamers paid visit to the
play. AS / was entering the academy
/ met the inspector to whom | refer.
You ought to wait, he said. Aimee
will be forgotten after this week. You
ought to see the new prima donna who
came in to-day. Aimee can't begin to
compare with her. And the dresses she
had, why, they must have cost over
fifty thousand dollars. / have not had
time to report to you to-day, but have
copies of her contracts in my pocket
which intend to turn over to you to-
morrow morning.
81 took the contracts and examined
them closely. They were all regularly
executed by Chizzola's agent in Paris
and were exact and minute in every de-
tail They specified how many maids
were to be allowed the singer, how
much was to be allowed for the board
of her maids; how she was to travel,
and in fact, everything which would be
expected by capricious and petted
successful prima donna.
"Chizzola is sly old fellow.
thought he intended to spring this won
derful woman on the public withou
any advance notice and take the towr
by storm. AS | entered the theater
spied the manager standing in the foyer
"Let me congratulate you,' said
extending my hand, in securing thu
beautiful singer who arrived from Pari
to-day. You may surprise the public
but you can't surprise me. We had tt
pass her wonderful dresses, you know.
"'Whom are you talking about
, asked Chizzola, with a look of aston
ishment.
d. "'Come, there is no use of your play
: ing ignorance with me- retorted.
am talking about Mile. Leon Jouvin
. and here are copies of her contracts,
, ''Chizzola took the papers, examine
= them, and burst out laughing. 9TH
: Joke is on you,' he said; these cor
:. tracts are forgeries. never heard G
the woman. She has simply been us
. ing these contracts to deceive your in
= spectors so that she might smuggle i
4 her costumes And so it proved. w
= traced the lady to her hotel, and, ono
!, cornered, she soon confessed.
e "But the funniest case in all my el
A perience," continued the narrator, ''wa
" one that brought four hundred dollar
a to the conscience fund One day NJ
q long ago on entering my office | wa
v informed by one of my subordinate
= that gentleman, in whose name | re
q ognized one of the best-known clerg,
% men of the city, was waiting for M
q and that he seemed very much excite
" over something. AS | entered ! he
!, out my hand and said: Doctor glad
" see you. Of what service can / be
=. you?' | knew he had just returnt
n. from Europe, but could not imagir
what he wanted. He tried to reply
"a my salutation, but his face colored l
D. and he stammered badly.
m 81 did not know what to say, so
IS simply stood looking at him. Finall
v with heroic effort, he thrust his har
TX in his pocket, pulled out bundle, an
e. holding it out to me, said: Il
IS smuggled these
Ut "'Your exclaimed. He sank dow
on the sofa, and verify believe
Of that moment he wished he was dead.
e. "I-I-I did not mean to- he sal
es but l did it without knowing it.
o, pitied him from the bottom of n
ne heart, but could hardly keep my ia
I'D straight.
to Compose yourself, DOCTOR l sal
ne and tell me about it. / guess we CT
Ell fix it all right
n "'Well, you see, ne said, after fe
ck moments, my two daughters accol
to panied me to Europe. On the way ov
1g in the steamer | found them frequent