The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12
CAPT. GULLY SURPRISED.
Thought the Quarantine Officers |
Permission All That He Needed.

Permission All That He Needed.
Capt. F. Gully Of the British bark South
African returned to the city yesterday on
the Tallahassee from New York. Capt.
Gully is the master whom Collector Beck
with has reported to the treasury depart
ment for certain violations Of the customs
laws under which he is liable to heavy
fines.
Capt. Gully had no knowledge Of the
charges and the fines 10 which he was LA
Bile until he arrived at the wharf. He took
advantage of the little time he had to
make a hurried trip to New York to see
his wife and family whom he had not seen
in eighteen months.and having seen them
was in a pleasant frame of mind. He had
momentarily forgotten his cares, and all
the way down from New York was think
ing Of his visit home
His surprise may be imagined when
upon landing he was handed a copy of
the Morning News containing the ae-
count of the charges against him of the
violations of the customs laws, and stat
ing the amount Of the fines to which he
might be made liable. There was COM
plete change in Capt. Cullys countenapce.
it is said. His air of pleasantness disap-
peared, and he could hardly have been
more completely shocked by the loss of
his ship. The idea of making himself LA
BILE to 5000 in fines by merely going to
see his wife was something that by the
remotest possibility could never have oc-
CURED to him. He was doubtless glad,
therefore. to learn that the matter may
not be so bad as at first thought.
1t was stated at the custom house yes
terday that Capt Gully would be report
ed only upon two charges, first under sec
ton 8 of the passenger act of 1882. for
landing passengers without a permit,
which makes him liable TO a fine of 81 900,
and second for not having all of his pa
pers, his manifest not appearing, for
which under section 2314 of the Revised
Statutes he is liable TO a fine of $780,
After receiving this Information at the
custom house, Capt Gully said he would
make out g statement OF the case on Mon
day, to be forwarded to the Secretary of
the Treasury along with the report The
matter will then be taken up for consider
alton by the treasury department.
Il was completely dumbfounded when I
saw the statement that 1 was liable to
such heavy fines for violations of the Gus
toms laws" Capt. Gully said yesterday.
Why l never had any more idea of vio-
lating any law than you have now. l
thought the quarantine officers knew their
duty, and when l secured their permission
to go, as l had not seen my wife in some
time thought, of course, had a perfect
right to do So 1t was the same in the
case Of the passengers. The baggage be-
longing to myself and the passengers was
taken in charge by the quarantine author
tiles who opened it, looked all through it,
and thoroughly fumigated it, so there was
absolutely nothing to conceal. When
this was done, and I had their permission
to leave l was satisfied that all the law
had been compiled with. Under these cir
cumstances l can only trust that the au-
thorities will look at the case in that light,
and l hope the penalties will not be en-
forced
1t seems evident that Capt. Gully had
no intention of violating the laws. AS he
states he thought he h&s complied with
every law when the quarantine officer got
through with him, and allowed him to
leave the station. The object of these
laws are to reach those, who are bent on
violations, and since IL is apparent that
Capt. Gully hnd no such intentions, there
is little doubt that the treasury depart
ment will take that feature Of the case in
to consideration. In cases of this kind
fines are often RENTED or made only NOM
inal. 1t is expected that q decision in the
matter will be received from the treasury
department by the latter part of next
week