The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-08-16
ANOTHER MONSTER
SEIZURE OF OPIUM.
Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
Worth COBfiscated.
Chinese Caught Forging the Thomas
stamp-Ten Thousand of the Latter Pur-
chased for Fifty-fve Cents Each.

in February the Treasury Department
directed that every can and jar of domes tic
manufactured opium be branded for identi-
hcation by some mark, which, in case of
seizure later, would guarantee the goods as
having been in the country previous to a
certain date, when the marking was to
cease.
Collector of the Port Phelps named Agent
Thomas of the internal Revenue as the one
to do the work. For weeks Thomas spread
his signatures in bloOd-red ink on white
strips OF paper, and these he pasted over
the cans and about the opium-jars. Be-
sides his name the strips bore the words,
Examined and domestic OPIUM" 1t
did not occur to him that the name and
words could be forged; that his writing was
as simple as a school-boy's, and that any
one with a full-arm swing could write his
name so even he would not suspect the for
gerry.
He worked diligently until he stamped
he says, twenty-five tons; his enem es say
fifty. Bat be that as it may, the time came
when he could no longer legally put his sig
nature to can OF opium and The Chinese
were compelled to SHIFT for themselves
This they did with such success that the
Customs Department has been rent TO its
center and half dozen officials, headed by
Thomas, are clamorlng to undo the work of
the willy opium-deaierS.
THE THOMAS STAMP FOR SALE.
Three weeks ago Deputy Collector Simon
learned that the "rhomas" stamp was be-
ing sold in Chinatown and he bargained for
$40 worth. The twenty which this sum
brought him were showed Collector of In
ternal Revenue Quinn, who directed that
10000 be purchased. Deputy Simon met
his go-between again and bargaineG for
10000 stamps. The Chinaman demurred,
but on being assured that all was correct
and that he would receive 80 cents for each
stamp delivered agreed To deliver 5000 at a
certain time at Sjmon'S house.
When he went there, as by previous ar
rangement, Special Government Inspector
Pattison broke in upon the Deputy Col
lector and the Chinese, arresting both and
cOnfscatng as evidence the 5000 stamps.
The stamps were taken to Collector Of In
ternal Revenue Qulnn's office, then to Col
lector Phelps, with whom consultation
took place. attended by Special Agent of
the Treasury Evans and Special Inspectors
Noyes and Pattison.
Agent Thomas was called in ard asked
whether certain signature was his. 1t
was one of the confiscated stamps. He said
1t was. Then he was shown the other 1899
and asked whether they, too. were his. He
stood aghast, threw up his hand. and cried !:
NO, no; this Is plot to ruin me! never
signed any OF those labels"
WHO FORGED THE STRIPS?
Collector Quinn assured him the depart
ment was satisfied that he had not written
Them, but the question was. who did?
Thomas could throw no light on the subject
He was further aStonished when told that
the Custom-house officers had been working
on the case for three weeks.
What led to the discovery was the fact
that on the forged strips the word "opium"
was lower than the word domestic" and a
greater space interviewed. The letters were
slightly longer, and other small differences
existed To uproOt the gigantic fraud,
which threatened To dissolve the revenues
from the opium traffic, was the all-absorblng
topic. 1t was decided To make raid on
Chinatown Tor the purpose OF seizing every
can and jar bearing Thomas signature.
q The descent on the opium martS was made
simultaneously by Deputy Surveyor Gaskiil
and nine men, and Collector Qdinn and
twelve men, accompanied by Interpreter
Richards. At the same time and for hours
previous the two Government inspectors,
Noyes and Pattison, had been following up