The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-20

CHICAGO, April 19.-Extensive ramifica-
tons of the San Francisto customs frauds
are said to have been discovered in Chi
cago and other Eastern cities. Last night
United States treasury agents seized 81, 2G3
worth OF Sumatra wrapper tobacco at the
establishment of ]. Mayor & Sons here.
The tobacco was from Liebes & Co.'S. New
York house, bought by Mayor & Sons at a
remarkably low figure. Hitler & Kollen-
bach. another Chicago firm, were visited
by the treasury agents but it was found
that they had not closed a contemplated
trade with Liebes' agent. Seizures OF goods
that have escaped full duty at San Fran
cisco are expected at Cincinnati, st. Louis.
Detroit and Minneapolis. Enormous
quantities of contraband tobacco are be-
lieved to have been disposed of in Chicago
by Liebes & Co., and the purchasing firms
are not charged with guilty participation
in the frauds. the San Francisco i'm
porters being held as the culprits
The tobacco seized last night is part of
an enormous quantity entered at the port
of San Francisco, where customs frauds
have been so extensive lately. Appraiser
Leayy, of that port, short time ago was
dismissed, when it was discovered tn at
three big tobacco importers had been i'm
porting Sumatra tobacco, dutiabe at 50
per pound, and through the aid of Leavy
had it entered as cheaper grade, used for
filters, and on which the duty is bat 40
cents pound. The method used was to
have one bale in large consignment used
as sample of the rest when the appraiser
examined the goods, and the big import
ers always saw to it that the bale he exam
med contained cheap tobacco. According
to the custom in vogue this examination
was sufficient, and the entire lot was en-
tered at 20 cents per pound. Liebes & Co.,
OF New York, were said to be the agents of
the San Francisco importers, and they
agreed to dispose of it. A great deal of the
contraband tobacco was sent East and dis
tributed to various cities in order TO con-
fuse the customs officers who were after
the goods.
1t was one of the agents of Liebes & Co.
who had been in Chicago lately, and, it is
said, sold enormous quantities of Sumatra
leaf at prices which legitimate dealers
could not touch. All the firms so far in
volyed in Chicago are merely victims. 1t
is limited that some one squealed, and
through this person the various firms
which purchased the goods were located.
The government has been to work on these
tobacco frauds for months. Said Collector
Clark
! believe the men who have been guilty als
In a fair way TO go to the Penitentiary. Some
OF these fellows in san Francisco at least, will
have hard work keeping out of Jail. The frauds
have been very extensive in San Francisco and
enormous quantities of tobacco which were
brought ia under low duties have been cold
All the Chicago firms who purchased, am con-
WINGED, are innocent parties
Treasury Agent Saohnegen learned this
afternoon that CrGnz Brothers, of san
Francisco, some time ago shipped 100
bales of Sumatra wrappers 10 Cincinnati
10 be distributed. The federal officials in
Cincinnati were apprised, and deter
mined hunt for the alleged contraband
goods, which were entered az 30 cents per
hundred. will be made.
NEW York, April IA big swindle of
some character has been discovered in the
custom-h0use. The facts in the case are
now in possession of Chief Special Agent
Whitehead, and he refuses absolutely to
dIvnlge any of them on the ground that to
do SO might defeat the ends Of justice.