The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-03-04
JACK TARS JEWELS.
Customs Officers Overhaul
the Cargoes of the
Steamer Lahn'S
Sai1ormen.
DIAMONDS FOUND GALORE
Watches Go Too -Systematized
Smuggling at Last
Exposed.
DIAMONDS FOUND GALORE

An important seizure by Custom House
inspectors was made in Hoboken last
night. Two sailors, who are known to be
in the employ of New York merchant,
were caught walking off the gang plank
of the Bremen steamship Lam
with packages in their possession
containing diamonds and jewelry to the
value of $4,000. For the past three
months the Custom House authorities in
New York have been aware thata large
quantity of jewelry had been smuggled
into the port. Diamond merchants OF
Maiden Lane complained that sew
eral obscure jewelry firms were
selling diamonds and gold watches
at ridiculously low figure and they were
unable to compete with them. These
merchants did not hesitate to say that the
lewelry. which was of European manu-
tacture, had been smuggled.
The authorities in New York began a
rigid investigation. but although every
steamship wharf in New York was
closely watched by Custom House IN
spectors, the smuggling continued.
About week ago tne au-
thorities learned that all the
smugpled goods arrived at Hoboken on
extra detail of Custom House inspectors
was stationed ON that pier for the pur-
pose of locating the smugglers
WATCHING FOR sMUGGLERS.
The steamship Lain arrived at her
pier on Wednesday morning. Every
passenger who walked down the gang
blank was subjected to the closest
scrutiny by the eagle eyed inspectors, but
nothing was discovered until last night.
It was about half past nine o'clock that
two sailors started to leave the ship.
Leaning against the gang plank
were Custom House Inspectors Fat
rick Burns and G. M. Julian. When
half way down the gang PLANK ine
sailors saw the Inspector, and becoming
confused, started up the gang plank
again, The Inspectors were at a loss to
account for the strange actions OF the
sailors. until Burns noticed the
end of q package sticking out
beneath the heavy coat that one OF tnem
wore. Like flash the inspectors dasneo
nm the Gang plank and soon had the two
sailors in custody and led them 10 tnelr
Office on the dock.
That the Inspector had made ricn
haul was developed when the sailors were
searched. Concealed beneath the sailors,
great coats were ten hermet1cally seaieo
packages numbered one to ten inclusive;
The boxes contained diamonds anc
iewelry to the valne of Sl0,0OO.
The sailors were brought to the Hobo
ken Police Station where they registered
as Gustav Wuesting and Gnstav kuhne.
They were locked up all night
and this morning were az
raigned before United States
Commissioner Skinner in Hoboken.
Wriesting refused to talk. but the In
spectors succeeded in getting statement
from Kuhne.
KUHNE's STATEMENT.
On "A month ago." said Kuhne, "one OF
the cabin assengers on the Lain formed
the acquaintance of myself and Wriest-
ing and treated us very literally. Before
he tleft the ship ne asked us to do him
favor; and promised to reward us iloer-
ally. We did not know what 1t was at
the time but we agreed to do it.
while we were at lodging mouse IN
Bremen messenger delivered ten pack
ages to us and told us to guard them
carefully. He said they contained pres
ents for a friend of our benefactor
in New York and he relied on us to carry
out his commission. We had an idea OF
the contents of the packages, but we
agreed to keep them concealed on the
ship and smuggle them ashore. We were
to receive $50 when we delivered them. y
Kuhne positively refused TO tell who 1t
was that sent the jewelry or to whom II
was consigned. 1t is believed by the
Customs Inspectors that this Is not the
first job performed by the sailors.
The jewelry was taken to the seizure
room in the New York Custom House.