The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-20
UNCLE SAM SWINDLED.
WHOLESALE FRA I'D ULENTE VAsION
or CUsT0M DUTIES.
Syphtr, the WeLknown Brlc-a.Brac Deal
er and Customs Oricsr Honeywell are
Held Rsspons bic for a.

NEW YORK. April l9.-One of the
most startling stories OF fraudulent eva
SIGN of customs duties which has develop
e1 in the port Of New York for years.
came to light To-Day. IL involves the
name OF one of the best-known bric-s-
Gates possibly one or more customs en-
ployes who have until now enjoyed the
unlimited confidence Of the collector OF
the port and the heads Of the various de-
partmeuts. The prominent customs offi-
Gals have net been so disturbed over a
case OF the Kind for a long time, and for
the last two weeks thorough unre-
mitting Investigation of the matter has
been going on. The discovery OF the
frauds came from the former secretary
and more recently, head salesman OF the
house Of .. l.. Sypher and Company, or
Firth avenue and Twenty Sixth street
The informer is l.. h. Todd, who, while
the concern was a corporation. acted as
secretary. Todd was discharged January
last. It Is said. for drunkenness. Two
weeks ago he appeared at collector Kill
breth's Office and astOpnded that official
with information 80 startling that he
hardly credited the mans statements.
His statements. however. have since been
verified. and, with the assistance OF Colo
mel Phelps. Of the law department, and
Appraiser Bum. the customs authorities
have gathered ndisputable evidence that
Todd's statements are true. and that q.
L. Sypher and Company have prohted
10 the extent of many thousands of
dollars during the last fifteen years. at
ha ~ hQ
with what looks like collusion OF one
or more customs employees.
ISyoIcfp As old SILVER
Todd claims that for the last fifteen
years Sypher has been importing into the
port bric-a-brac. tapestry. antiques, artis-
tic silver articles. and relies. at rats
of duty abnormally below heir proper
vatu. ton. aud sftes numberiess tniporta-
tiOns Of artistic and valuable silver ar
tcles from Great Britain. including trays.
living cups. valuable tables. pieces. and
other silver articles. which were invoiced
as "old silver" and valued at shillings
and sixpenco per ounce. The customs Off
cials ala not receive detailed invot,e OF
the impOrtatons as the whole consign-
ment was invariably invoiced In lump
as "old silver"
Sypher would. however. receive de-
tailed invoice, containing "A list Of the
tcles and the real value OF the same. and
I'm nearly all cases, said one of the GUS
toms officials to-day, the true value or
these articles would be ten or twelve
times as great as the amount specified In
the customs invoice Most OF the silver
ware passed through the second dlvis-
ion of the appraisers department. in
which cyrus \. Stevens was assistant
appraiser until a year ago, when he was
succeeded by IL. w. Hart. who hss
charge OF the department at the present
tine.
HONEYWELL. THE SUSPECT.
Eugene HONEYWELL, wrp-ss< rr-f If-ts<-
customs service fifteen years, 10 rne
man through whose hands the sypher
property passed. and upon whose head
now falls the suspicion that Sypher was
assisted in soInGling the customs by one
inside the service. Collector kilbreth has
always had implicit confidence IN this
official, whom he describes as absolutely
above suspicion until 1t is clearly proved
that he is guilty.
The case has many ramifications. and
hints at smuglins and the implication
Of steamship employees are given.
Sypher has made strenuous efforts to
mgke light of the charges. On Wednes-
day last he was closeted with Collector
Kilbreth. Colonel Phelps. and Appraiser
Bum, and tried to explain matters. He.
it was learned to-day. had secured pas
sage on an outgoing steamship. which
sails tomorrow. bu, his counsel, ex-Judge
Dlticnhoefttr, prevailed upon him to stay
her. and face the matter
The amount OF money Of which the
Goyernmen has been swindled will rua
into the hundred thousand collars but
the customs authorities are not now IN
position TO state the exact amount.
SgnHFr
extensive enterprises Of the kind In the
world.