The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-02
NEW SLEUTHS LACE CASE.
HE OPENED a GIRLS ART SCHOOL
NEXT Door TO THE IMPORTER.

|
HE OPENED a Girls ART SCHOOL
NEXT DOOR TO THE IMPORTER.
Cultivated Rnberssn ana went 10 Chureh with
wirs. nsa yhes Beisea All Mts Inoes for tho
Custom I~ueuse-Csussei Demnnas Them
Bask-The Arrest 81 Little - Biunder.
Laces valued at many thousands Of dollars.
which were seized on Monday. afternoon at the
office of Thomas EMERSON, 923 Broadway,
were still In the seizure room at the Barge OF.
fee las. night, though A. J. Dittenhoefcr, coun-
sci for EMERSON, had made n demand for their
release and asserted that there was no evidence
to show that they had been %smuggled. Robert
Little. the chic: engineer of the refrigerating en-.
gines on the American line steamship. Paris, who
was arrested by Secret Service Agents Nc.
Manus and Flynn on Monday night, ms con.
cerned In smuggling the laces, was discharged
from custody yesterday without having been
arraigncd before a Magistrate.
1t was stated yesterday morning by Col. Dud-
ley +. Phelps, Deputy Collector in charge OF tho
Law Division, that the seizure was the most
important in years. Later in the day, how
ever, there appeared to be a decided change in
tho situation, and, after the discharge Of Little.
Col. Phelps remarked that the arrest was un.
warranted.
Prior to that Emil Phillipson. a special ON
ployee Of the special Treasury agents Office. had
told the reporters in detail of the circumstances
leading to the seizure of the laces. Phillipson
said that lace importers had been endeavoring
for n long time to obtain track Of heavy SNUG
CLING which they believed was in progress be-
cause large quantities of laces were being sold
below the market.
Detectives employed by the importers, - said
Mr.. Phillipson, had rented a room at 92S
Broadway. across the hall from Emherson's
Office, and had opened nominally a patent office.
Emberson had no use for patent agents. how
Treasury agents.
Agent @. F. Cross detailed mo and Special
Employee William Lee Haskins to work up the
case. Detective B. +. Hindes, who had been
representing the importers. was directed to rs.
sist us.
Il am really an artist by profession, and
studied abroad. In fact, l have a decoration
which 1 received at an art exhibition in vienna.
While abroad l learned typography, that is,
terial. at the present time quite q fashionable
cult among young women. / decided to open
Em sSeool n wi,S @y pssoo astoss s. the sssi hsll nj from rom
fessors. thought that Emerson doubtless had
o soft side for art. because of the beautiful
the more easily be obtained had the follow.
Ing advertisement published:
WANTED-Young ladies to receive instruction in
- eSS'hAAab ehN ~ iiihb III
ART SCHOOL, e2s Broadway.
school was soon fourisshing. With e,de dozen = scbol,
airs. My assistant professors knew nothing
about pyrography, but that didn't make much
difference. knew how to teach the scholars.
and within, three weeks we were taking in 5000
q week. including what we got from tuition fees
and from orders for work that were sent in to
us by various concerns. The Gorham Manu-
featuring Company gave us a large order for
engraving cane handles. we didn't take pay
from the DuDilS after thpy got prpticipnt ennruh
to do good work, but allowed them to work out
their tuition fees in executing, orders. Ember-
son, whose acquaintance ! had been Industrious
~ endeayoring to cultivate. became greatly In
tereSted In the progress Of the art school and It's
In a week he invited me to go to church with
him. He had a pew at DIR. John Hail. church.
| went TO church with him that Sunday three
Ono day I went into his room across the hall
and remarked that ] had a chance to draw the
chiefs, He remarked that he might help me. as
he had q rare lace handkerchief, worth 500.
could copy the design. / took the handter.
chief which he lent me to the Importers, who
h Mss S %erth susSp peS Is;d him MT and md. they he, said that j.
was In chests. ! was careful to note what he
experts in'such matters said. there appeared to |
be no question that he had in his room a great
Typography also took to drawing race.horse
scenes to help keep Emberson interested, for he
told me no was Interested In horse races. One
who was introduced 20 me by Emberson as
Engineer Robert Little Of the Paris; subse.
cial Agent Williams. stationed in Paris. was di.
rected TO go to Southampton and walt for the
The Paris reached here again on Saturday. i
had an engagement for church on Sunday with
BosS hs and T IitfIe' v eSws %sacb. ! did dB not Mo ksHp;
usual. A lot Of new laces were delivered TO the
room nNrnaa fha UNIV " III n1i,nR I nn
tered to the room. I wore my Vienna deco.
rasi9p; pointed to it and remsrked;
Hero is one you haven't seem
AT the same time threw back the lapel of
ny, coat and showed him my customs service
pay. a word for ivo minutes. Then he said.
hsssitatingly, You are joking. amt your re;
that in the name of the Government T took
charge of his stock. Then / seized the goods, |
oo9, e the seizure room at the Barge ONCE"
PhiniPsop Is said to be n relative of Secretary
FOR Sse about nT forty Tea nSs Sed f On The The l isst business
dve years has been a wholesale dealer. He said
yesterday that tho charges against him were |
had not been arrested AS the best evidence that
the customs oficers:knew thar his business was
iegltimately conducted. Lawyer Dittenhoefer. |
II have talked with Mr. Emerson and la We
made as careful an Investigation Of the faots as
laces. It was the outcome Of vague suspicious
and evidence that would not be accepted even |
in a French court. The officers found a mares
were seized. and ] have made a demand for |
them and they will be returned. / have de-
manded the release OF the laces. but the Gus
toms authorities have replied that the matter |
was still being investigated. The laces nre
worth between 100000 and $25. 900. Mr.. EN-. /
berson has been u merchant in this city TWEEN
five years. and is a man OF honorable repute. |
II an attempt TO arrest him is made we will be
Snecial Treasury Agent Cummings said yes.
terday afternoon that Little had not been
arrested, but simply detained. Little thinks
this is a distinction without a difference. as he
was deprived OF his liberty and taken to the
Church street police station. When seen on
tho Paris after his release he said the officers |
told him he could 60 and they would send for |
him when they, wanted him. He saw no war.
rant ordering his arrest. He denied that no
had struggled laces or anything else.