New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-04
A BIG DIAMOND SEIZURE.
SUPPOSEDLY sMUGGLED GEMS WORTH
100000 SECURED.

MAX T. LAsAR. The OWNER, AND HIS BROTHER
AND EsTER-IN-LAw ARRESTED ON A CHARGE
OF BEING CONCERNED IN IMPORTING
rHpM-MYsrERY MAINTAINED ABOUT
THE CASE BY THE AUTHORITIES.
What is said by the Customs off1cials to be the
largest seizure Of diamonds in the history OF
the Customs Department In this city occurred
on Wednesday afternoon at the ONCE OF Reicn-
man & Jordan, No. "a Maiden Lane. White
solitaire unset gems Of the purest quality. valued
at 800 OOO were taken from an open safe belong
ing to Max ]. Lasar. the diamond expert ana
merchant by special Custom House oilicers
MacAvoy and Theobold. under protest OF the
members O. the Arm OF Reichmsn q JORDAN
who were present, and carried to the Custom
House.
The fact hat the seizure had been made was
M. known until Yesterday when Emanuel j.
Lasar and mis- wife. Helena, were arralsned De
fore United States Commissioner Shields on the
charge of aiding abetting and being concerned
IN the smuggling into this country OF the gems
SEIZED Later. Max ]. Lasar submitted 10 arrest
IN the ONCE of Abraham Levy. his attorney
and with his brother and the latter's wife was
nlaced under IS 600 bail for examination week
hence when what is said 10 be long-suc-
cessful smuggling plot will be investigated
MAY 7. Lasar Is said to be the principal in the
n,o. II Emanuel j. Lasar and his wife are IN
anv way implicated. 1t is by way or aoettlng the
ect The latter pair live on the second moor OF
tenemept-house at No. 1s2 East Seventy -sixth-
q, and the surroundings do not indicate that
thew had many diamonds Of value lying aoou''
emanuel j. Lasar and his wife were arrested oy
Denuty United States Marshals Noon. CusKIey
and Wilkinson. In their rooms. on Ihursoay
mil n
children. The eldest girl fifteen years oIu' was
,.,t IN charge OF the other children
collector BidweN declines to discuss the case
...,r., the prisoners, and the Federal officials
viii not disclose anything about the evidence In
,he,r hands until the case Is reported to the
1rn,ted states District-Attorney. when impor-
.ar, witnesses will be produced. The Federal
authorities however admit that there has been
gang OF smugglers at work systematically
bringing diamonds into this country under the
rosas ~ the customs authorities without pay
,rr dutv upon them. II is said. however. that
stens are being taken, both In this country
and in Europe TO prevent further smuggling.
Emanuel ]. Lasar and his wife. 1t is under
stood have been under surveillance TOT some
time. and recently the Collectors office received
word that they had smuggled IN iot OF o'a-
nonds more than two weeks ago. the inlorfna-
,,or carne II "a said from the detectives en-
Moved by some prominent jewellers who pay
the regular duty on their importations. COL
lector Bidwell Immediately detailed his speciai
oflcer, Inspector Theobaid, to work up the case
Jnsnector Theobald worked in conjunction with
detectives employed by the jewellers, ana oy
closely watching the movements Of the Lasars
secured the evidence upon when the war ANS
for their arrest were issued.
of he
formation to the authorities came through
woman and II Is intinated that there Is some
connection TO this extent between this prosecu-
ton and a suit for q separation brought against
Max j. Lasar by his wife, Maine. ana SUN
pending In this suit Mrs. Lasar charges her
husband with abandonment. Lasar. IN MS an
swer, admits that he married the plaintiH i"
London in 1894. but says that as he ana MS
wife were non residents. the marriage Is Voio'
The wife is the daughter OF the senior member
OF the diamond firm of J. Dreicer Son. OF no.
292 Fifth-ave. This IS one Of the largest Ola
nlond importing firms in this city and has also
a large establishment at Saratoga .
The complaint on which the prisoners were
held Yesterday charges on information and be-
lief that Max ]. Lasar. Helena Lasar and
Emanuel j. Lasar. on December l. did unlaw-
fully receive and conceal and facilitate the
transnortation and cOncealment OF diamonds
OF the value Of about S9U.UOO. after importation
knowing the same to have been imported con-
trary to law; that these goods had been SNUG
gled ana clandestinely introduced into the unlted
States without paying or accounting lor ths
duty thereon, against the peace and dignity OF
the United States. .. ,,., ~.
May J. Lasar and his lawyer assert tnat inc
regular duty was paid on me diamonds seizeo
and that no unusual method was employed AZ
bringing them this country Exactly what
knowledge Mrs Helen Lasar had OF the trans
action the lawyer says he does not Know. ihe
only information he has on that point pcnls
the alteration contained in the affidavlt lot the
arrest of the woman which states that she aioeu
and abetted In the smuggling TRANSACTION. MI.
lew saws he knows Of no reason ior the arrest
~ any OF the parties. and is waiting ior the
hearing of the cases. when he VIII piead ho'
Guilty 10 the charges against hts chents
The business place in which the sate OF MAX
Iasar is situated is on the second moor OF NO.
o. Maiden Lane and consists Of two rooms, one
ha,nr a salesroom and the other Lasars private
once Lasar was formerly proprietor or the es,
tahlishment but in April. 1891, he transferred
the business TO Reichman Jordan. me Dusl-
ness os Reichman e. Jordan is said 10 have been
dissolved last week. and Max J. Lasar became
the nropretor The only person found IN me
Once Yesterday was the office boy. VINO knew
nothing.