The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-06-11
SHE HAD A RECORD
As the First Woman Convicted i'm
New York of Smuggling.

NOTu was received IN tDlS city from Paris
| one day in the past week of the death there
of woman who, whether deservedIy or
not, attained lasting celebrity in legal
chronicles as the foremost of female snug
glers. The deceased was known as Mile.
Leonle Jouvin, although remembered in
court and official and trade circles in New
York as Mile. Leonie, the name she used
for trade purposes and which was her trade
mark. What gave her prominence above
all other female smugglers, it is claimed.
was Der arrest, conviction and sentence to
fine and Imprisonment for the act of
smuggling, and her case occupies a con-
spicuous and unique position in court
annals and judicial reports and de-
cisiOns from the fact that she was the
only one of her sex who was ever sent to
jail for smuggling. At the time of the cpl
sOde the newspapers teemed with accounts
OF her transactions, officers who recall the
circumstances say, and pictorial illustrations
were given of S1me OF the fnery she brought
with her to this city.
II is said that she came to this city In the
spring Of 1874, arriving on one of the French
line steamships with a large lot of trunks,
boxes and packages, which she had brought
with her from Paris. They were passed
duty free by Custom house Inspectors under
that she belonged to theatrical company
shortly to appear at one of the theaters and
that she was entitled to the goods, as pro-
feSSional tools of trade, under existing
Treasury regulations. The discovery that
she was not what she was reputed to be,
but that she was, in fact, q leading dress
maker of Paris and that the goods she
landed here were brought for customers or
for sale, was communicated to Special OIL
Ger George ii. Williams of the Surveyors
staff, few days after her arrival and her
arrest was ordered.
SHE WAS FOUND IN A RESIDENCE
In East Fifteenth street, near Third avenue,
the record Of her case states, and had the
contents of some of the trunks unpacked,
and was engaged in unpacking the remain
der in the Darlors which she occupied, when
the officer, accom- nauied by treasury agents,
came upon her. The goods were seized, and
their value was appraised at many thou
sands of dollars. She was arrested and held
for trial. The seized articles comprised the
C0StlieSt fabrics of ladies' wear, all made up
and ready for use. There was any number
of costumes, besides lingerie and various
sorts of feminine fnery. Nine. Leonie's
business cards and other evidence of
her occupation in Paris were found
in one of the trunks. What gave special
nOtoriety to her was the capture of private
papers in her possession and which customs
officers said were orders for wearing apparel
she had obtained from New York ladies of
position. The letters and orders were rig
idly kept from the public under official in-
structiOnS. but 1t was ascertained that the
orders and letters showed that the writer
of them were regular customers OF LeOnte
and that they had knowledge of the way in
which she was to get the goods into the
city. Fashionable circles were excited to
learn who were the abettOrs Of the
French dressmaker, and when the names,
which were obtained by stratagem, were
made known to the public the chief officers
of the customs were very Wr0thy about the
publicity given.
IN THE LIST OF NAMES
OF tile mOdste's customers appeared those
of wives OF United States Senators, railroad
magnates, distinguished lawyers and others
There were more than twenty customers in
the list, ana on some Of the articles seized
were initials which, it was said, cor
responded with those Of some Of their num-
Der. The case created widespread interest,
aud at the Government auction sale of the
forfeited goods, which was conducted by
John IL. Draper Of the Union League
Club. many Of the prominent people
were in attendance as buyers or specta-
tors. The proceeds of the sale were divided
among the chief officers Of the Custom-hOuSe
and the Selling officers after the amount Of
the duties had been deducted for the Gov
eminent and also certain expenses and fees.
Nine. Leonie was indicted aud arraigned
before Judge Benedict in the United States
Circuit Court, who after her conviction
sentenced her TO two months Imprisonment
ana to pay fiue of $500 She served out
the term in Ludlow-street Jail, but was un-
able to pay the fine aud was released under
the poor debtors lawn. Y. Mercury.