Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-11-14
HOW IT WAS DONE
Deacon Thomas Chace and His
 Opium Smuggling.
HE HAD AN INNOCENT FACE
And His Winning Ways Admirably Fit
 ted Him for Putting Out the Stuff

Strong Evidence Against the Deacon
 His Son Also ImpIIcated-The Syndicat.
 Whose Agent chace is Not Yet Ex Possd-He Continues His PrOtes ta ti on,
 of Innocence, and Says 1t is a Con.
 spiracy.
 NEW YORK. Nov. 14-Dea con Thomas E. Chace, of Providence, who is ac. cused of smuggling opium into this country from Canada, languishes in Ludl ow street jail, being unable to ob- tain bail. His case is attracting great interest.
 MT. Chace is very we'll known in Providence, where he has been in busi- ness all his life. His family is one of the oldest in the State and the whole town would be ready to testify to his good character if called upon. He was a partner of ex-Mayor Clark in the dye business until four years ago, when MT. Clark died and the business was closed out. MT. Chace realized largely on his investment in the dye works and retired with snug fortune. It was at this time, it is said, that MT. Chace became identified with the opium smuggling syndicate as an active agent. He has a wife, son and two daughters who are all grown up and move in the best so- ciety. -S
 The Treasury agents now think they know just how the smuggling was done
 The Headquarters of the smuggling syndicate is in Montreal. There are four Canadians in it who have a large fac tory at Victoria, where the crude opium imported from China-is refined into the product used for smoking. Several grades are made to suit the Chinese and the 'white' trade. The finest grade is sold in Montreal for $8 pound The duty on this isS12 pound, and tn @ duty on the other gr ades is little lower The syndicate by getting the opium here without paying the duty has been able to undersell the regular market and to make on the average 100 per cent profit.
 When MT. Chace joined the syndicate, it is said, his innocent face and ways marked him as just the man to plac @ the opium on the market, and agencies were established in Boston, Chicago, St, Louis and this city. The syndicate has hitherto fought shy of large sales here, because the Custom House officials have been watching closely for smuggled goods.
 MT. Chace,, the Treasury agents say, has been travelling between these places disposing of the opium to the 'ssafe'' trade. He has always conducted his business personally with those who de- sire to buy the drug. The syndicate recently was very successful in getting large amonnu Of opium over the border and MT. Chace came here with 100 pounds to sell. He had made arrange ments to dispose of it in one package for Sl, 200. He wanted $1, 500 but couI d not get it.
 The man who had agreed to take the opium told about the smuggling to Chief Agent Wilbur. The story made a great stir in the Custom House. It was the information that the inspectors had been seeking for months, and the plans were laid that led to the arrest.
 Evidence is also accommodating that Chace's son is incriminated in the snug gling.
 MT. Chace continues to protest his in- nocence. Yesterday he said: ''There is nothing in this charge against me, and will be discharged when the facts are heard. l am not 8 smuggler and my family has been disgraced. My reputa- tion, which had been without stain for to years, is gone. am poor and can not givel bail. This thing is a con- spiracy."