The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-08
BOX BROKE OPEN.
How Revenue Officers Discovered
Unstamped Cigars.
DeRobbio Arrested by Deputy u. s
Marshal for Selling Them.

The Deputy United States Marshal ar
rested Guissepe DeRobbio, an Italian
storekeeper on Acorn street, late yesteray
afternoon, on writ sworn out by officers
in the United States Internal Revenue
office. charging him with selling cigars
on which the special tax had not been
paid by the manufacturer.
It Is n civil case and it Is the one re-
ferred TO in The News last Saturday,
where the officers made an unsuccessful
attempt to find the contr4bnnd goods.
The officers have been working on tho
case since that time and they are now of
the opinion that they have the offender
where he can be reached by law
The discovery Of the unlawful traffic
was brought about in a peculiar way.
A box was received at the ADAMS ex
press Office addressed TO DeRobbio Satur-
day morning. In transportation the top
of the box had been broken off and Ger
tain part of its contents was exposed To
view. A friend of Internal Revenue
Officer Gilmartin saw the cigar boxes
underneath the broken top OF the express
package, and he observing Oflicer.Gilmar
tin in the street nearby, told him about
what he had seen. The officer was satis-
fed that unlawful traffic was afoot and
he took steps TO apprshend the offender.
He secured the assistance Of the United
States Deputy Marshal and the
officials went TO DeRobbio's store
to await for the arrival of the ex-
press packages Unluckily for tho govern
ment officials the box was delivered by the
express company before their arrival and
the Italian by some means ascertained
that the sudden disappearance OF those
cigars would prevent trouble in his family
and they were disposed of accordingly.
When the officials appeared on the
III
secured as evidence. In the search OF the
premises however. the officials came
across cignr boxes that appeared TO be used
for cigars which were not the original
goods contained in the boxes This was
n violation of the law and the boxes and
their contents were confiscated. The
officials came noross other evidences Of un-
lawful trade and this led TO the issuance
for the arrest of the suspected stcrekeeper.
DoRobbio insisted that he could not speak
English and the officials had a monkey
and parrot time of 10 trying TO establish
communication with their man. The In
terpreter seemed disposed 10 proceed in the
interests of his fellow countrymen and for
time the officers weress.in quandary
Their discontinue appeared TO he "A
source Of qualification 90 large number
Of the residents OF Federal Hill, and the
Italians all rejoiced because the govern
ment had been "trun down.
They viewed the matter In dlHercnt
light yesterday when DO Robbie was ar
rested and had to find surety for his an
pearance in tho United States Court TO
answer 10 the charge Of unlawful busi-
ness. Section 3405 Of the internal revenue
law reads to this effect:
Every person who purchases or receives
for sale any cigars from any manufactures
who has not paid the special tax, shall ba
liable for each offense 90 penalty OF SlCO
and To a forfeiture of all the said articles
so purchased or received, or Of the full
value thereof.