The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-12-14

NEW York, Dec. ia bold attempt
at wholesale smuggling waa frustrated
by custom house officials ut Jersey City
yesterday. The principal ia Alfred G..
Rutgers, and he il supposed TO have
been in league withsome OF the custom
house inspectors. He would have sue.
cccded in his scheme had hc not
undertaken TO perpetrate Il sort OF
wholesale fraud. Rutgers is supposed
to. be m old offender and familiar with
the tricks OF the trade, and in collision
with dishonest inspectors. Headmittcd
that he made frequent visits to Europe,
and should he reveal his secrets some
officials may DO made very uncomfort-
able. It's not likely that he will make
any revelations, as the business i.
too lucrative.
Rutgers was 4 cabin passenger on the
Red Star steamer Noordland. Ho lives
in this city and is employed by Il man
named Rooney. The Christian name
and address OF his employer he refused
TO reveal. He was communicative
enough until ho found that lo was un-
der arrest, when he became us silent us
sphinx.
THE ALLEGED SMCGGLEN.
Rutgers is 4 tall, well formed German,
with q fine address, which convinced
tho fellow passengers that he was 4 man
OF large importance. lie was stylishly
dressed and had IN extensive wardrobe
i'll his trunks.
When the steamer reached her dock,
Rutgers summoned liackmm Dough-
erty. The hack resembled an express
wagon when it moved away. Two
trunks and six handbags were piled up
inside and outside. Tho attention OF
Inspectors Brown and Donohuc OF the
customs service was attracted to MIR.
Rutgers and his baggage. They exam
ined the baggage and found it properly
checked, indicating that it had been
searched and contained 10 dutiablc
goods. While Watching the pile oil
trunks and satcllels they concluded
that IN investigation would be desirable
and they instituted an Inquiry and u.s.
Certaincd that Rutgers had not removed
all his baggage. They went on board
the vessel and opened hastily three
capacious handbags. 4 glance satisfied
them that Mr.. Rutgers's baggage should
be called back, us the bays they exam
med contained laces and other valua-
blrs.
Tho hack had left the dock. Mr.. Rut-
gers had not, because there WINS no room
in the vehicle for him, us it was filled
with his luggage.
The inspectors rushed to the ferry
and reached there in time to order the
hack driver into the yard adjoining the
ferry house. There they searched the
trunks and found that they were filed
with costly lacos and silks and other cx-
pcnsivc goods.
Tlse driver was detained and the in
spectors returned and arrested Rutgers.
lio imagined that tho arrest was based
oil the discovery that his satcllcls on
board the vessel contained smuggled
goods, and that the hackman had cluded
their vigilance and was safe in thiscity,
waiting for him. He was complacent,
and said hc desired to send Il commune
cation 10 Mr.. Rooney, his employer.
This, it is supposed. was his scheme to
notify him to find the hickman and Sc
cure the vnluables.
INDIGNANT AT ARREST
lie expressed surprise when he was
told that he was 4 prisoner and that his
goods had been seized. lie was at first
disposed to be indignant and made in
timations OF formidable demands Tor
damages for false Imprisonment. Then
he suddenly changed his dismcanor and
, become silent, realizing that lie was
firmly in the meshes OF the law. He
had previously made various guarded
hints that he was willing to pay hand
somely Tor his freedom and the release
OF his baggage
Rutgers was'taken 10 United States
T. Commissioner A%Iuirhcad's office in Jcr-
scy City. He evidently believed he
could effect .: compromise with the
commissioner and had the temcrity to
ask Tor Il few minutes "private CONVEX
sationh with the magistrate, and when
this was denied, moved forward to
whisper to the commissioner. Mr..
: Muirhead informed him that business
was not transacted in that way in his
office and ii he desired 10 make any
statement it must be made openly.
Then the prisoner became suilon and
silent. All that could be learned from
him was that he was in the service OF
Nj. Rooney and that for eighteen years
he had made two trips abroad annually.
In his pocl1ctwcre found his first Citi-
zcnship papers, issued by the court in
this city.
VALUE OF TIE GOODS.
He was ta!icn;t to the county jail in
Jersey City by Deputy Marshal McCYo
OH a commitment signed by the COM
missioner. Tho baggage was removed
to tho seizure ROOM. 1t was 4 rich haul.
The value OF the goods is put at $4,000.
The authorities arc making an investi-
cation to ascertain who were in col
fusion with Rutgers. lie is regarded rs
an old offender, who has swindlad the
government out OF many thousands OF
dollars during his career rs 4 PROBES.
sional s%mugglcr.
The date Tor tho examination has not
been fixed, but it is possible, if the in
y~cstigation is completed, that he will
] have II hearing to-day. His friend and
employer, Rooney, very wisely re-
Trained from visiting him, and il he can
DO identified no will be placed in Gus
tody.
A "THIRTEEN" VICTIM.
Mrs. a1ait,ousc's Belief in an Old SUPER