New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-15
AN IMPORTANT ARREST.
rEANCIS C.. HEWITT CHARGED WITH UN-
DERWEIGHING SUGAR.

THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SAID TO HAVE BEEN
IA1p FOR THE FRAUDULENT WORK PROB
ABILITY OF TROUBLE FOR IMPORTERS.
Ever since the arrest Of Edward W. Simmonds, the
United states weigher at the Custom House. who was
charged with undcrw"ghing quantity OF hrecrachers
assigned TO Carl Won Pustau Co., the Federal
authorities have been on the lookout for men who
b,ve been bribing Custom House officers. Sim
mond9 confessed that he had accepted brides. and
he was released upon the condition that he would
assist the Government In bringing the bribers to
Justice.
Yesterday Francis c. Hewitt, city weishcr was
arrested at his Office, No. 100 waDst., by Deputy
United state, Marshal George Holmes upon the
general charge OF brblng a Government oflcer. Inc
arrest was made on the authority Of an Indictment
by the United states Grand Jury. which contains
o,,btoop counts OF five specifications each. Thomas
r. Harris signed IIewt's bail bond for 10000, and
qualified in $4,000. Hewitt was released. The
arrest Of Hewitt may lead to the exposure of system
Of bribery, and may implicatc many W'hKnown
firms II Is charged in The Indictment that Hewitt
bribcd slmmonds to undcrweigh sugar. and that lie
Maid the cx.Unitcd states wcchcr certain sum for
every 1000 pounds taken from the true weight
The sucar was first weighed by oimmonds and then
bv tbo city wcIChcr Mr.. Hewitt, by whom It was
CONSIGNED TO the sugar companies. Whether Hewitt
or the men to whom he consigned the sugar p ohteh
by the transaction + hard to tell The city "eigher
in each count OF tho Indictment Is charged as follows
with having n sum Of money 10 influence the weighcr
to make n false return OF weights; with intent to
Influence tho weighers decision and action With
Influencing the wcigher TO return weights less than
tho actual weight II the goods with unlawfully
giving money 10 influence the weigher to make re-
firms Of weight less than tho true weight; With
making pavmcns 10 influence the weighcr In Weigh
ing subsequent importations.
In The counts Of the Indictment the names OF the
firms 10 which the sugar was consigned are GlNen'
The frauds are alleged to have been committed be-
tween November 1855, and April. 1900. The ship
ments Of su-ar men Toned are: To II. IrowbrlngeS
Sons oonslgnmcnis on bark Monslta steamer Iropic,
brirs Robert Move, Reindeer. Eastern STAR Vic
tora. American. Britannica and barks Golden Fleece
and American: to l.. ". 81 r. Armstrong barks
Morning Light aud Albert schultz, brtgs Rising sun,
Pearl and Scud bark Clara Wilbur schooncrs Mabel
Thomas and George X. McDouCaI and steamer Iropic.
Tho cXac, amount Of profits mode by Hewitt or
those for whom he NAV have worked Is not definitely
known bnt II was believed that they amount TO
thousand, Of dollars. The transactions ceased about
tho tim. that sugar placed on the free llS
Ecrore that time the duty was cents pouhd. Inc
first violation Of tho law committed by Hewitt Is Sain
to have taken place March 81. 1eeS, when ne
govo >mmonds money 10 fa,ify the weight Of the
bark Monsitn consigned to II. Trowbridge's sons
rho amount OF money paid 10 simmonds and the
oxtent of the frauds p1csed upon tho 'ov'rhmch'
will not be known until searching ilVcSueht,,n ,,s
hrrn made The case will be heard on MONDAY
morning at 10 o'clock.