The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-22
L. s. TO SUE DIES BRIs4r e. ALIEN.
A New Turn In the Now Famous Custom House
Altered Entries Case.

United States District Attorney Macfarlano
completed yesterday the Investigation of the
alleged alt red customs entries OF Des Brisay g.
Allen. Custom House brokers at Is William
street. This investigation was directed by
Charles S. Hamlin a few days before he retired
as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. Collec-
tor kilbreth thereupon forwarded to MIR. Mao.
farlane alleged altered entries which were orig
inally in the name of Richard Jackson, and Of
which the firm Of Des Brisay & Allen apparently
had knowledge. Dies Brisay & Allen were very
angry at the new turn of affairs.
United States District Attorney Macfarlano
reported TO Collector Kilbreth yesterday that he
had made an exhaustive investigation of the
charge. and on the complaint Of the Collector.
which was quickly forthcoming, Mr.. Macfarlan0
began proceedings to compel the firm to pay a
fine of ~. 900 each for two wrongfully altered
customs entries.
The ground on which Mr.. Macfarlane is pro-
cecding is furnished by the United States Treas
ury regulations. which make it punishable BY
fine and technical arrest for persons who at
tempt TO secure from the Government rebates
on false customs entries. II the offenders are
discovered within three years they can he prose-
culcd Criminally. but the present case comes
under the six years statute Of limitation, which
provides only Tor fines and technical arrest.
of the most famous in the recent history OF the
New York Custom House. A little over a year
ago Collector kllbrcth declined to reissue q Gus
tom House license to the firm on the ground
that they had emf TO obtain from tho
Government wrongful rebates on tin which was
used for cans in shipping goods out of the coun.
try. Dcs Brlsay X Allen were very penitent at
the time. and later on Collector Kilbreth re-
stored their license on the understanding that
the firm was not to ask for rebates ON the
altered customs entries.
Things ran along smoothly until shortly before
the inauguration OF President Mckinley. Then
Joseph II. Allen, without the knowledge of his
lawyer. Charles A. Hess. wrote a singing letter
to the Treasury Department., pitching into Col.
lcctor kilhreth and declaring that his firm had
done no more lhan other firms had been allow to
do. Collector Kilbreth refuted the statements
of Mr.. Allen in IA communication To the Treasury
Department, and il WAS Then lime to fire the
second barrel Mt Des Brisay & Allen, and this
Collector Kilhreth did when. by direction of Mr..
hdmlin. HI laid the Richard Jackson entries boz
fore United States District Attorney Macfar-
lane. All this time Dcs Brisay & Allen had for
their wprmest supporter and advocate Chief
Clerk J. c. Sage Of the drawback division of tho
Naval Office.
United States District Attorney Macfarlane
will now take steps to compel the firm to pay
fines amounting 10 $4,000. The result OF the In
vestigation is considered a triumph for Collec-
tor kilbreth, but what explanation Chief Clerk
Sage can give for his conduct in supporting Des
Brisay * Allen was one OF the conundrums
asked ut the New York Custom House yestor~
day.