The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-15
SUING ALLEGED SMUGGLER.
GOVERNMENT WANTS DUTY DUE ON
MAX LlSAR'S DIAMONDS

Civil Trial Opened Yesterday, Criminal
Action to ne Tried discretionary
Agents Seized 980,OO0 Worth Of the Din-
monde, Brought Here from Montreal.
The suit brought on behalf OF the Govern
ment In the United States District Court to de-
ter1nine whether or not Max J. Lasar of "a
Maiden lane paid the proper duty upon about
S0O.000 worth OF diamonds which he is alleged
to have brought into this country. came to trial
yesterday before Judge Addison Brown and a
jury. United States Di strict Attorney Burnett
and Assistant United States District Attorney
Baldwin represented the Government, and ex-
Judge Dlttenhoefer. Abraham Levy and ex-
Police Commissioner Murray appeared for Ia
sar. Counsel were 30 particular az to the
character OF the jury that It took all the fore
noon to all the box.
This civil suit Ia an outcome OF the arrest Of
Mr.. Lasar and his wife in December last upon a
charge OF smuggling. They were admitted to
ball. subsequently they were indicted by the
Federal Grand Jury and are now awaiting trial
n the Criminal Branch OF the United States
After recess NJ. Baldwin told the jury that
the CUSTOMS laws REQUIRED an Importer to
sul at the port from which goods were. sent to
t Fl the son gsif 3, e. r. s sse ss,S ShSST ss Z snd value ni.S
the assistance OF Mr.. and Mrs. Emanuel j.
b Ssar e and others; brought sbto int this %country.
monds, without having made any decIaration.
Lasar. had sailed from, Liverpool to Quebec on
the steamship labrador. under the name OF
from here to the Windsor Hotel. Montreal. he
lyp." There she met Lasar.
ernment's hlleEetions regarding Mr.. and Mrs.
Emanuel Lasar's work In bringing the dia-
m4o1ds to this city. The firm OF Reichman /
Jordan occupied the same offices with Max J.
man had sold many diamonds at prices lower
than the market rete, he said. and the bills
nad been made out In Lasar's name and checks
IN payment had been made out to Lasar. The
latter. Mr.. Baldwin stated, had made q trans
fer OF. hissbuBlnesss to Reichman & Jordan to
avoid paying. alimony in certain divorce pro-
Special Treasury Agent William H. Theo-
bald. the. first witness called. told Of the seiz-
ure OF about 100000 worth OF, diamonds In q
the seizure. witness said. he and Lasar. who
was PRESENT at the time. went to Collector Bid
welps, office. where, Lasar said, the diamonds
At this point there was a wrangle among the
lawyers over the admission In evidence OF dih-
mond wrappers and other articles found In
they constituted private memoranda. and were
not admissible in the case. They were marked
for Identification pending further evidence to
Then. there was objection BY Mr.. Levy to
Theobalds ,testifying as to what Lee Reich
man had told him. regarding the diamonds. on
no evidence connecting Reichman with Lasar.
Judge: Brown sustained this. and Theobald
was temporarily withdrawn from the stand
up GEN su Geo sSase@ae " M TSi Ilfe Examiner of jewelry
at the Appraisers Stores, testified to having
examined the seized diamonds and the num-
He had found the weights generally correct.
The trial will be resumed to-day, and will
probably continue Throughout the week.