New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-20

A. INVESTIGATION BEGUN nv CUSTOMS Az
ruoRrrIES- MEN AT THE APPRAISERS STORES
MAY ne INvoLvEp-A DISCHARGED EM-
rLoYE THE COMPLAINANT 90 DE-
NAL BY THE DEFENDANTS
An investigation has been begun by Collector Kill
broth INTO a case OF alleged differentiation OF i'm
ported goods by the furniture importing mouse OF
Syphor 3 Co. No 20 Fif,h-ave. II the charges
which have been made against the hrin prove 10 De
correct. certain customs officers OF previous Admin
i-trations AZ well a Sypher CO.. are involved IN
A serious case OF swindng the Government
Collector Kilbreth. Appraiser W. II. Bum ana Colo
ne. Dudley r. Phelps had a conference yesterday
In regard 20 the case and the facts 30 far collected
were carefully considered and different men from
the Appraisers stores were examined
Several davs ago "A complaint was lodged with the
collector by l.. H. Todd. who was until last Janu-
AIRY the secretary OF the firm OF Sypher q o. 70
the effect that the firm had been underNaiu'hs
goods" Imported into this country for the last M
teen years and that the nrm had especially uh'er-
valued Invoices OF old silver. furniture and other
antique articles for household use and decoration
In the complaint. IL Is alleged that the hrn W'u'n
present invoices FOR goods a greatly underVa'nei
prices and then receive private invoices OF the re
value ami sell the goods according 70 the real val
uatI3u
Todd further alleges in his complaint that the
urri smuegci vases into this country several years
,eo worth 500 and sold them To Giovanni T.
N,rosIui lie also alleges that al one time. when
~p.cli rrcagur, agents Of this port proposed H"h-
iur am investigation " certain charges against '"e
nr,n az Svpher n CO.. a Zip was gwen 10 ~"
nrm AS ID In. in,cudri Investigation, ana thc
iuVnl... of tho goods under suspicion ana thrr
hacks of The rrm Mere removed 10 me mouse ol
tb. b,nkk,rprr A Mr.. Stewart. who lived In Mount
\rru1n There ar, other charges in the coWpia"',
All 80 To-. sliue nature. ana covering a perol OF
yrlrs. ana involving u Is thought. large sum Oh
'rIc examiner who passed the goods imported
t.r. h, S,nh.r A 60 tx Eugene HuneywelL Mr.
Irurs,seii vas al the Custom House yesterday.
Toll alleges in his complaint that the customs ON
cills Nrr,. in COLLISION with the nrin. tolIector
l(ubretl has instructed he Appraiser Bunn. 70 IN
.a.fie,te the case far as II affects HuneyWeIi,
ana Colonel Phelps who Is In charge or the Gus
tom Uoiisr aw Division. has been put IN charge OF
90 Colonel Phelps has been at the hrms place
of business for several days, and although ne ma )
found a. Vet nothing to support the present
charges he has learned from admissions by the
firm that charges were once made against IL Tor
alleged underValuation
Members OF the firm OF Sypher & 60. said yes
trr,lav that Todd had been discharged from the
employ OF the nrn and that his charges were I'M
trir and the result of spite. The hrm has put the
case I'm charge OF eX-Judge Dlttenhoefer, VINO said
Yesterday that there nothing In the CHARGES
and thai there was absolutely no foundation for
them collector Kilbreth had this To say: I'VE
have had charges lodged with MS that Sypher was
Undertaking. his imports OF furniture. and We
have an investigation under way. The exact
amount OF the loss to the Government, X the
charges true. cannot tell. but II Is not