The morning call., 1894-06-01
EXPOSING FRAUD.
Trial of Commissioner
PiersOn.
Valuable Laces Sent From Belgium
TO the Fair Sold to Pedd!ers in
Violation of the Law.

The preliminary examination Of J. Person
Belgian Commissioner 10 the Midwinter Fair
who is charged with unlawfully removing duti
able goods from the exposition grounds and
with practices calculated TO defraud the Gov
ernment. was commenced before United States
Commissioner Heacock last night
Several cases of goods came from Chicago on
February nominally consigned to NJ. IL. de
Young, but actually consigned to Person
Some Of The boxes contained good. that were
free and others were filled with dutlable silks
satns and laces. The latter came in sealed
car, which was open, by Customs Inspectors
Johnson and Eager. One of these boxes OF
dutlable goods was marked G. L. &. Is.
Under the regulations adopted at the fair by
the Customs othcers none OF the cases of
dutiable goods could be opened by the importer
without permit from The Supervising Agent OF
the Collector. He assigned this duty to Inspec-
tors Eager and johnson. OniFebruary 8, TWO
days alter the arrival OF the goods, Pierson sent
for the inspectors 10 open case ID. They testi-
fed last night that they performed this duty
but when they examined case 13 they found
none of The merchandise described in the IN
voice. but In their place lot OF free goods OF
little value.
Pierson was unable 10 give any explanation.
but suggested that there was anOthrr bonded
case Which might contain the goods. IL was
examined, but 1t was found that its contents
were described in another invoice This left
the disappearance of the goods that were in the
nfSt case unaccounted Tor. The goods that
were in the other cases were placed on exhibit
tion and the boxes were broken up for the cou-
struction OF shelves and roofing for the Office
No further investigation appears TO have
been made by the Customs officers for several
weeks, when G. de Breyn, who had been en-
ployed as secretary and interpreter by Person.
and who had also acted as Belgian Commits
siOner. quarreled with his employer and made
disclosures to the Customs officers OF certain
condolences which had been reposed in him by
PiersOn and of facts that had come under his
observation ia relation TO the missing meT-
chandiSe.
He stated to them and repeated his testi-
mony at the trial last night that PiersOn had
| told him that fan case had been substituted
| Tor tile box OF satinS, pushes ana laces; that
! case, which was II, to 13, which was the num-
! Der OF tie duttaOle case. He himself had seen
! Pierson removing Tie stickers and labels from
| the bonded case and had seen the stickers
! alter their removal in his possession.
Inspectors johnson and Eagn testified that
| armed with warrant they had searched Pier
sons lodgings and found a large quantity of
| laces plushes and satiDs corresponding TO the
missing merchandise. The goods were seized
and ale now In The custody OF tile officers.
j. PeIisr and c. Perquin, employees of
| PlerSou, were placed on tie stand aud testified
| that they assisted him in exchanging the free
| for the bonded case. as testified 10 by Dr.
Breyn. piece of a box found at Persons
/ exhibit was produced IN evidence. Tie num-
| Der ID marked upon IL had been changed
| from II.
With This testimony the hearing was ad-
| iOurned until next Tuesday evening, when wit
nesses Will be produced TO testify that they
| have been employ ed 10 peddle laces by Pierson
| and that they lave received their supplies from
| him. 1t is conceded that District ATTORNEY
Garter has woven very strong web around
the Commissioner, To whom tue testimony of
Pelter and Perquin was most unwelcome
surprise.
by Plerson tbal DE Breyn out OF spite has fab
ricated the whole case.