Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-16
sMUCcLEO A BRICK BUILDING.
4 Oniccr's Discovery Near the
Mexican Border.


One OF the most remarkable seizures
ever made by a customs-ofticer in any
uart Of the country was recently made
by Mr.. r. .. Hannum, a special Inspector
IN the Office of Special Agent Wagstan
at III Paso. Tex. Mr.. Hannum Is an old
Pittsburgh and Washington newspaper
man. Mr. Hannum was directed 10 go
over into Arizona and look into certain
matters indicated in letter from the
Treasury Department. But the knowledge
oi IL never came to the public till few
evenings ago, when Mr.. Hannum'S en-
'oyment Of the ludicrous overcame his
uodosty To- such degree that he related
the story 10 Il trio Of friends.
well I got over To- Nosdles." said he,
"and transacted the business 1 was sent
% look after and was preparing TO leave
Without any dream Of becoming a marked
.lan In the government service. But one
morning fellow came 10 me and re-
marked in a most mysterious and conti-
Dental way that he could put me onto
eomething.' OF course. in my innocence
| had no idea what he meant cnless he
had some new and more deadly method
| OF mixing drinks. But that interested me,
and / kindly allowed him the use Of my
| ear. Jerking his thumb over his shoulder
toward the CustOm-HOuse, he Kissed,
'smuegled' AS he pointed exactly In the
direction Of the Custom House, | was sur
prised and shocked Then | thought that
| in all probability he was an cx-customs-
officer and wanted to get even with his
| successor But on closer inquiry 1 found
that he was intending TO point nAt at
| the Custom House, but at a brick store
| house beyond"
what kind of goods do they smuggle"
[ asked.
"'They don't smuggle goods" he ener-
get.cany declared, but The house was
5mUggled'
"To say that I was interested. IS put
| ting It mildly. l knew at once that II he
| was not a most glorious liar, / had a
great SCOOP and went in TO examine the
| subject. The house he pointed out was n
| long brick. and situated a few doors from
| the Custom-House, and in the same block.
Tho idea OF a man smuggling a brick
| house into this country and that, too,
under the very nose OF the customs~col-
lector. began 10 be very funny 10 me, and
| | went at II with a great deal Of inter-
| est. I found that, as matter OF fact,
| the owner OF the house had been doing
| bl esncss In Mexico, which was some ten
| or fifteen feet away, and that he had con-
| cluded 10 move over under the waving
| fclds OF Old Glory He could not sell
|
| build another so he simply tore II down
| and moved the whole outfit, goods and ALL
into the United States. The goods went
| through the Custom-House right but
| thA secondhand house was carried over
| without notice.
| We'll | seized the house and put 1t In
the hands OF newly appointed Inspector
| that had been discovered on ranch, and
| who was not familiar with the CONNER
! clal terms. l told him 10 take care of the
/ horse. but not to interfere with the
| stock When he came 10 report TO me
| the next morning. he said that the house
| vas stlll there. but that he couldn't ind
| any stock except three ducks and two
| pigs In the backyard"
| After the laugh had gone round-the
stcry-teler joining In with his peculiar,
| open-mouthed, quiet smile-he added: But
! | collected the duty on a whole house, and
| that Is all my fellow-servants can accuse
me OF having done wrong In the way OF
wcrk tina. remunerates the government.