The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-13
Was Indicted for MaIfeasance While
in Office.
DECLARES THAT HE WAS INNOCENT.
Gives Bail and Says He Can Prove That
He Did Not Try TO Defraud
the Government.

| Victoria ulQ nOL agree WIFI Tie eX-DepuUN
Collector, who fled from this city three
years ago while under a heavy cloud, and
it may be that his conscience became op
pressive and drove him back to stand tria
for his alleged crime, or 1t may be
that the Government offered him easy
terms if he would come back and tell al
| he knows about others crimes as we'll as
! his own. But. for some reason that will
probably ere long be made known, he is
here and lis under bail to stand trial for
| his transgresslons.
| The steamer Walla Walla brought the
distinguished fugitive back to the scene of
! his alleged crimes yesterday orning. He
had spent the last three years of his life 10
and around Victoria and looked much
older than when he took French leave OF
his large circle of acquaintances In this
city.
The Government officials knew that he
was coming, for they had beer in commu-
nication with him for several months.
Special agents OF the treasury had inter-
viewed him on the cause of his exile and
had made promises that induced him to
return. The trial of certain persons who
with him were indicted for conspirng to
defraud the Government Is at hand and no
one will be surprised If the wanderer
turns up as The chief witness.
Malfeasance and misfeasaDce in Office
and conspiring to defraud the Government
are the charges against CashiD. He was
Indicted with others in April, 1892, in the
United States District Court for defraud-
ing the Government by making false ap-
praisements upon imports.
Four indictments were found against
him, in two of which he was charged with
having failed to dc his duty as represent
tative of the Government, and with will
fully and corruptly aiding Bernard Reiss
in a scheme to defraud by false invoices
of goods imported from Europe. These
goods which came to Nenburger 81 Reiss
were invoiced as ''dice-striped Turkish tow
els, class of manu- actnres on which the
Government levied a''small duty. This duty
the firm paid. but i. was subsequently as
certained that the cases contained wooden
goods, Italian cloth and mohair on which
the duty was much higher.
Cashin was also indicted with Jacob and
Louis Liebes, importers of tobacco. for
| making a false appraisement of large
| consignment of material for cigars. The
consignment comprised several hundred
bales which were appraised as ''fillings,
on which the duty was So cents a pound,
| when they should have been appraised as
wrapper material on which the duty
was ten dollars pound. If the fraud had
not been detected the Government would
have lost about 100000.
The charge against Reiss was dismissed
by the United States District Attorney, lie
having settled with the Government, but
the Liebes are yet TO be tried.
While the Reiss and Liebes frauds were
being investigated by the Federal officials
| Cashin, who was suspected of completely,
| fed to British Colum bia. A United States
| Grand Jury obtained sufficient evidence TO
warrant it in finding five indictments
against him and his bail was set at S70,-
| 600. When Casbin few days ago decided
to return and stand trial Judge Morrow
reduced his bail to $4,000 on three OF the
| indictments and accepted his own recog-
niZance on the other ten.
! 1t was evident that everything had been
prepared for the fugitive's return, for
when he appeared in the United States
District Court yesterday morning his
bondsmen, Peter Kelly of 235 Fell street,
Leon Myers of 721h Bush and John
Hackett of 412 Fourteenth street. Oak
| land, were with him. A few minutes
after he entered the Appraisers building
in the custody of the United States Mar
| shall he emerged and set out for the abode
of his family.
Cashin was apparently one of the jolliest
passengers on the Walla Walla. He made
friends with many of his fellow-pas-
| sengers, and was looked upon as one of
the most entertaining voyageurs on the
vessel. He was not anxious to be inter-
viewed upon his arrival, and when he
reached his home, strangers who asked to
see him were Informed that he was out.
Il have very little to say" Cashin re-
marked before leaving the vessel. II have
come back to be tried, and am confident
that l can establish my innocence. | am
also confident that before l am through
with the matter certain people whose heads
are high now will be seized with desire
to emigrate." Who those persons were
Cashin refused to say.
II do not care to review the causes that
led to my departure" he continued, ''but
l will say that / went uuder very strong
pressure. When it was announced that /
"ao ibuiCtou AoI COmDllclty III GU6 NeuDut-
ger-Reiss frauds aud my bail was set at
$150.00C, l knew that l would have to 60
to prison or leave the city, for l could not
procure anything like that amount. left
the city, and have returned prepared 10
establish my innocence.
II desire to state that would have re-
turned on the Umatlla some days ago, but
owing to the fact that matters had not
been arranged 10 suit my convenience l
concluded to wait for the Walla Wala."
The exposure Of the Neuburger-Reis
frauds caused profound sensation at the
time. The Treasury Department had long
suspected that certain wealthy merchants
of San Francisco were enrlching them
selves at the expense of the revenue, and
agent after agent was sent here to investi-
gate. Neuburger and Reiss were among
those upon whom suspicion fell. and the
accidental bursting Of case revealed
these double-dsalers to the Government
This case was parked cotton goods" but
when its side gave way there was an ex-
hibition Of costly silks and velvets that as
tonished the custom inspectors. Tim
othy Guy Phelps. who was then Collector,
empoyed a force of datectiyes nd tn q wnrl,