The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-21
HE WAS TRUSTED.
An Official Arrested for
Smuggling.
WHAT HE IS ACCUSED OF.
The Young Man Denies Having At
tempted TO Bring Opium Ashore.
Inspector Durkin's Story.
There was sensation in the Custom.

There was sensation in the Custom
house yesterday.
Customs Inspector Thomas Fl. Douglass,
a son of Police Captain Douglass, was ar
rested at the Instance OF Paris KiIburn,
Surveyor OF the Port, on the charge of at
tempting to smuggle opium while on duty.
The otfense is a very serious one, aud it is
the first time that an inspector has been
caught in such an overt act in this city.
When Surveyor Kilburn reached his office
yesterday morning ne was visited by In
spector Edward n. Durkin, captain of the
watch which had been detailed to guard
the steamer China, who told the astonIshed
official a most remarkable tale.
Inspector Durkin said that about half
past O'Clock in the morning Inspector
Douglass. who was stationed at the bow of
the steamer. changed places with the In
speetor in the boat, which is in accordance
with the regular practice. After Douglass
got in the boat, which is stationed on the Off
shore side, 10 patrol the steamer to see that
no opium islthrown overheard, Durkin stated
that Douglass r0wed toward the stem. He
watched him for a while, and then became
suspicious of his actions. Finally he con-
cealed himself near the side and saw
Douglass steer near the vessel and heard a
whispered conversation. Then something
was thrown to Douglass, who rowed away.
Durkin said he saw Douglass rowing far
beyond the usual limit of the patrol and
called TO him to come back. II am on to
your jOb." he said.
Douglass rowed back, and Durkin said
Give me that package you have" The
captain of the watch lowered a line and
Douglass tied it TO a package which was
hauled up. When Durkin examined il on
the deck he found that it contained 900 five
tael boxes OF opium, valued at about $24OO.
Douglass had been caught In the act, and
stood condemned as Federal official W no
had been openly detected in doing the very
act which lie was there to guard against
The culprlt broke down, and Durkin says
he pleaded hard not to be exposed and dis
graced, saying that he would resign. He
begged with tears in his eyes not to be
given away.
Durkin was in a. uandary, as he is rela-
ton CT Douglass and the families of the two
men have been very intimate, and he hated
to place Douglass in the hands Of the law.
Being an honest and reliable Federal
officer. however, he placed the case In
report before Surveyor kiburn in the
morning. Durkin pleaded hard with the
Surveyor To give Douglass chance to get
out of the scrape, but Surveyor Kilburn
WAS angeIed at Douglass malfeasance and
said Come what may, the law must take
its course" He accordingly sent two of
his INSPECTORS to Douglass home and had
the official smuggler arrested. afterward
Au2hihS nm OfSA W luC Oulicu CiHt6S N d.
shall.
Douglass was taken before United States
District Attorney Garter and questioned by
that official and Special Agent of the Treas
ury Evans. Douglass brazenly informed
the authorities that there was no opium in
his boat, and that none had been taken
from it. He denied he had been guilty of
smuggling.
1t was evident that he did not know that
Durkin had told all he knew, relying on him
Ia EnRn his shut n n Of hafr
relations hip and The fearful pleading he had
made not to be dsgraced. The Federal Off
Gals allowed him 10 remain in ignorance Of
what they knew.
complaint was filed against Douglass
charging him with an attempt TO smuggle
opium. 1t was sworn to by Durkin. The
bail OF the prisoner WAS fixed at 5000.
After the arrest of Douglass there was
wonderful amount Of zeal displayed in the
offices of the United States District A ttOr-
ney, the United States Marshal and the
United States Circuit Court. When the
complaint was asked for iu the latter court,
although Douglass had been in custody for
hours, the clerk refused to give up the COM
plant until he was convinced that the
story was out. lie stated that ne had orders
not to give the complaint out. Although
Douglass had been for some hours in the
charge of Deputy United Marshals, who
were allowing him to try TO get bail, it was
stated at the MRrshaPs Office that there was
nothing new"
There was none Of this screening and
shelterng or prisoner arrested and
charged with most serious crime in the
Custom house. Surveyor Kilburn came out
plainly and told of the entire transaction,
saying that while he was in office there
would be no screening of criminal officials.
lie was much put out at the occurrence,
and said that nothing so bad as that had
occurred during his administration.
The watchers on the China on Wednesday
night were as follows: From to u o'clock
(mldnighO gangplank, Simpson; bow,
Moore; stern, Hendricks; boat, Burgess.
From II o'clock to a. M, gangplank,
Fuller; bow, Douglass; stern, Harbenson
boat, Harding.
HRrbenson, who was watching the stern,
did not witness Douglass act. The captain
OF the watch Durkin happened TO be around
just in time TO catch the culprit. In spite
Of hard pleading, as an honest official he
did his duty.
Douglass, who has been In innumerable
scrapes and been cOnstantsource OF worry
TO his father, was appointed as night in-
speclor OF customs at salary of So night
In September. 1890 At one time he was
suspended for being intoxicated while on
duty. In March, 1892 he resigned on ac-
count OF the stabbing ARRAY he got into in
drunken saloon brawl. He escaped con-
victiou, and through the Influence OF Cap
tain Douglass and number of powerful
friends young Douglass was reinstated by
Collector Phelps in September. 1892
The customs officials think it will go hard
with Douglass on account of his record
The crime lie attempted to commit while
acting as q sworn officer of the Govern
ment Is very serious one. They think
they bave very sIrOng case against him.
The denial he made TO the United States
District Attorney of all knowledge OF the
crimG is held to have been an exhibition of
bad judgment and to have placed him in a
hole. If he had acknowledged that he
really had the opium. had found it on the
water, and was about to report its d Iscov-
cry, he would have had some chance of
escape. But with his denial, and Durkin's
convincing story, the outlook is considered
very black for him.
Strenuous efforts are being made to dis
cover the accumplices of Douglass who
threw him the opium from the steamer, but
thus far no clew has been obtained.