The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-21
TIE OPIUM sMUGGLERs.
+. Il. Handle and May Bclden Not
Known in seattle.


Tacoma, Jan. 20.-Speciai.-The arrest OF
r L. Handle and May L. Belden, charged
with smuggling. both of Seattle, at Port
Townsend. Saturday. by Special Inspector
Il. +. Jossey. is regarded here among Fed
eral officials as the most important In a
long time. The prominence of the parties
gives the case unusual interest, Mr.. Kan
die being the outside buyer of the Seattle
firm OF Hibbard q Norton. The Belden
woman is the divorced wife of ]. S. Dyer.
OF this city. who is superintendent of the
Northern Pacific coal bunkers here. The
Dyers lived for some time on North
street, in a fashionable neighborhood. They
came here from Ashland, Wis, where Mrs.
Dyer or Miss Belden, was raised. The cou-
pie were divorced in October, 1884. and
the Wife, who came from a good family,
was allowed TO resume her maiden name,
May T.. Relden.
Miss Belden Is a well-formed. handsome
and attractive woman. She dresses styl-
ishly, and would attract attention any
where. After being divorced, she moved 10
Seattle, where she has since resided. she
came to the notice of the special agent
force of inspectors several months ago. ana
was finally landed in the tols with cohciu-
siVe evidence against her.
The trunk containing the opium was dis
covered here by Inspector Il. F. Jossey on
Friday afternoon. II was in the baggage
car OF the Seattle train. arriving here at
l2:45. 1t was checked through TO Portland.
Inspector Jossey opened it, and discovered
seyenty-five 5~tael cans OF high-grade
opium. AS Miss Belden was parading up
and down the platform the officer conclud-
ed 10 keep dark, remained in the baggage
car and went TO Portland at o'clock. Ar
irving in that city at Sis. Mr.. Jossey never
lost sight OF the trunk, watching all night
for the owner to appear.
He called 10 his assistance inspectors
GALLAGHER and Black, and they shifted on
the watch TIL Saturday at $3.50, when an
expressman came with check and TOOK
the trunk away.
The officials followed the man 20 build
ing at the corner OF Fourth and Morrison
streets. The trunk was taken TO room 10.
unfurnished. on the second hoor. The CT
hcers waited twenty minutes, and then the
Belden woman and HANDLE came up the
stairs and entered the room. The inspect
ors followed them, and asked them II the
trunk was their property. They replied in
the affirmative. and Were taken into Gus
tody.
Both the man and the woman pleaded
p!teo,lsly not 10 have their names publlshed.
They were taken before Commissioner Hay
den. and the preliminary examine ton had
on the SPOT After hearing the testimony
OF the officers the commissioner held them
both for the May term OF the Federal court.
Bonds were fixed at $50 each, and were
quickly furnished. Barney McCauley, pro-
prietor OF the 81. Charles hotel, went surety
for both.
For some time past II has been apparent
10 the treasury department officials here
and elsewhere on the Sound that large
amount OF opium was being brought into
the country. and that the smuggling was
being done IN a clever and systematic way.
The arrest OF Mss Belden and Handle. II
&c believed. will result in the detection OF
others equally guilty.
The opium seized will be sold In the
regular channels. It's value is $3.50.
HIhbard & Norton denied yesterday that
anybody by the name OF HANDLE was IN
thelr employ. They say they have no out
side salesman. No trace could be found
OF the Belden woman.