The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-20
UneoYering sumatrn Tohnceo Frands

CHICAGO, April 19.-Extensive ramifica-
lions of the San Francisco customs frauds
are said to have been discovered in Chicago
and other eastern cities. Last night
United States treasury agents seized 81. 200
worth Of Sumatra tobacco at the establish
ment of j. Mayor & Sons here. Tobacco
from Liebes & Companys New York house
was bought by Mayor & Sons at remarka-
bly, low figures.
Hitler q Koblenbach, another Chicago
hrm, were visited by treasury agent but
were found to have not closed the contem-
plated trade with Lebes' agent Seizures
OF goods that have escaped full duty at
San Francisco are expected at Cincinnati,
81. Lopis, Detroit and Minneapolis. Enor-
nous quantities of contraband tobacco are
believed to have been disposed OF in Chi
eago by Liebes & Co., and the purchasing
nrm is not charged with guilty participa-
ton In the frauds, the San Francisco i'm
porters being held as culprits.
The tobacco seized last night was part
of an enormous quantity entered at
the port Of San Francisco where
customs frauds have been so ex-
tensive lately. The appraiser there,
Learey, short time ago was dismissed,
and 1t was discovered three big tobacco
importers had been importing Sumatra to-
oacco dutiable at 81 per pound, and
through the aid of Appraiser Learsy had it
entered as cheaper grade used for filings
ana on which tns duty was but 20 cents n
pound, The method pursued was tc have
one Dale IN g large consignment used as
sample of the rest when the appraisers ex-
amlned thesgoods, and the big importers
always saw TO it that the bale to be ex-
amined contained cheap tobacco, and 40
cording TO the custom in vogue. this exam
los,o !
entered at 40 cents pound. Liebes & Co.
OF New York, were said TO be the agents of
the San Francisco importers, and agreed to
dispose OF It. A great part of the contra
oand tobacco sent east was distributed to
various cities IN order to confuse customs
officers who were after the goods. 1t was
an agent Of Liebes & Co., who had been In
Chicago recently and who, it ia said, sold
enormous quantities of Sumatra leaf Mt
prices which legitimate dealers could not
touch. All the firms SO far involved in
are merely victims. 1t is limited
some one squeaied and through this person
the various firms which purchased goods
were located.
1.-THE government has been at work on
these tobacco frauds for months.n said
Collector Clark, land 1 believe the men
who are guilty are in a fair way to the pen
ltentiary. Some of those fellows in San
Francisco at least will have hard WORK
keeping out of jail. Frauds have been very
extensive in San Francisco and enormous
quantities OF tobacco which were brought
in under low duties have been sold. All
the Chicago firms who purchased, l am
convinced, are innocent parties.n
treasury Agent Sachengen learned this
afternoon that Crenz Brothers. of San
francisco, some time ago shipped a HUI
dred bales OF Sumatra wrapper to Gin
clnnat to be distributed. The federal
officlals at Cincinnati were apprised and
determined to hunt for the alleged contra
oand goods, which were all entered at 20
cents per hundred.