The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-27
GAVE HIMSELF UP.
Opium=Smuggler Freer Is
Very Candid.
HE SAYS THERE is A GANG.
Broad Insinuations Against the
Officers of the Steamer City
of Kingston.
HE SAYS THERE is A GANG.


Customs Wise had notified United States
District Attorney Garter that Freer had
violated the laws against smuggling opium.
and proceedings had been commenced to
effect his capture. but Freer prevented all
further trouble by walking into Mr..
Carriers office. shortly before noon yeSter-
day, and giving himself up.
The offense for which Freer is incar-
cerated in the Broadway jail was the
bringing down from Victoria, on the last
trip of tie steamer Walla Walla. of sixty
1ve-tael tins Of opium. concealed in
trunk. He is shipjoiner by trade, and
had skillfullv put a false bottom in the
trunk. Beneath the false bottom the drug
was concealed. and the trunk was then
filled with household effects.
Before Passenger Freer and his wife
and baby arrived here last Sunday, how
ever, word had been received by the Gus
toms authorities that a lot of opium would
arrive. Consequently, when the sus-
pcous bottom was discovered, the trunk
was taken up TO the Appraisers store fer
investigation.
Why can'tI get my truuk?" inquired
Mrs. Freer az the Custom-hOuse. after
almost six days had passed and her bag
gage had not reached the New Western
Hotel. where she and her little sick babe
were domiciled. The husband, by the way,
had taken the precaution TO conceal his
domiclle on Tuesday, and he either had
been out of town ever since or had effect
ually hidden himself in the city.
Mrs. Freer prOfessed ignorance as to where
he had gone, and seemed very much agi-
tated over him absenting himself so
strangely. She was referred. in answer to
her question, to the United States District
Attorney, and there she learned that her
baggage was awaiting the appearance Of
Mr.. Freer.
Freer owned up candidlv after be sur
rendered himself.
Il have given myself up. and there is no
use Of telling a crooked story" said he.
He has rather frank countenance, and
his clear blue eyes would impress an OBJ
server fayorably. He went on with his
story:
The opium is my own. 1 bought it
from Chinese in Victoria. They are too
ClannlSh up in Victoria, and an American
stands no show. | went over from Port
Townsend, two years ago last April, ana
found plenty of work at my trade as a ship
Joiner, until last January. You can see
my contracts among my goods. But |
finally got down to making only about So
day, and as things were getting worse and
worse for me. thought would come back
TO this country"
You used your knowledge as a ship
joiner in putting N the false Oottoms?"
Yes"
Freer said he was originally from New
j OK, but came around on the steamer
City Of Kingston, when that vessel was
brought around Cape Horn to be put upon
the Puget Sound route 1t was under some
arrangement with D. b. Jackson, superin-
tendent Of the Puget Sound and Alaska
Company at that time, that he came on
the)NiDgston. ana for time he was em-
nL5yed as shipjoiner on that vessel.
"Oh. | know a great DEAL" be asserted.
"a VGsluslOD to his connection with the
sougstOn. 81 know lots Of people who
'0 in the business of smuggling opium
Non the Kingston. If the authorities
viii reduce my fine | will tell them a good
many things. About four years ago, the
Captain (ROberts) received a letter from
the Collector of Customs at Port Town
send, and that letter the captain lost. The
fireman found II, and one day when the
captain did something TO the fireman the
latter mentioned the circumstance of the
letter to him and told him he knew where
it was locked in a safe in Victoria.
Il think some of the gang have put up
job on me. l have never been in the bust
ness myself and knew nothing about it,
but | had found out too much for them.
Last year / saved about $1,000 or $500 and
l had some of the money left When l
made up my mind to come to San Fran
CISCO WAS IOiO IL WAS DO IElch 10 SmuESle
opium into San Francisco, so bought the
opium and brought 1t with me, and think
they sent down word to the authorities
here ahead of me.
Il could tell a whole lot. l could tell
about the $1,000 W orth that was shipped
down here. | know the people who are
sending opium down here. and when the
proper time comes | will tell what | know.
If they will reduce my fine l will give
them some valuable information. Don't
you think that IS fair?
"1hey couldn't have caught me if |
hadn't wanted to give myself up, but [
determined TO make clean breast of II. |
thought that was the squarest thing l
could do"
Freer does not appear TO be an old hand
at the business-he is altogether too talka-
tive for an old smugger. He thinks that
by surrendering himself and giving as
sistance in the exposure OF the opium
smugglers at Victoria and on the SQUAD he
will obtain clemeDcy.
Charges have been made very frequently
that there was general opium ring en-
gagged in the business on Puget Sound,
and in the fall Of 1888 Collector Brooks.
Deputy Harmed and Special Agent Beecher
of the Port Townsend district were ali
drawn into a scandal in connection with
the alleged opium operations. j. I.
Haines, one of the most prominent attor-
neys of Seattle, now dead, was even placed
Ou Tue defensive, unueT charge tndt lie
was in the opium ring, but his trial fully
exonerated him.
1t might be that number OF persons in
Victoria, Port Townsend and Seattle have
done more or less smuggling. Occasionally.
too. an officer OF the Government has been
accused OF being in the business, and the
shooting OF Customs Officer George w.
Poor. near the Skagit RIVER. in Washing
ton, over year ago, has been explained in
such way as TO leave the impression that
certain agents of the law were not over
conscientious, but 1t is generally believed
that most Of the smuggling has been con-
fined TO persons of loose morals and ire.
spOnsible characters and the Chinese.
FreeT. however, makes some grave in
Situations. and he names a fellow-crafts
man in Victoria, one Day. as being like
wise possessed of fund of information.
Mrs. Freer also saidl t her hotel that she
could do great deal toward exposing the
whole gang Of smugglers if it would save
her husband. She left the hotel and re-
paired 10 the home Of friend about noon
yesterday.
During the forenoon Special Treasury
Employe Charming had an interview with
Mrs. Freer and suggeste ted to her that The
pest thing her husband could do would be