Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-04-27
LATEST SMUGGLING TRICKS.
How Clever Frenchmen Evade the
Octroi at the Gates of Paris

Paris authorities are just now very
much exercised over the increase in
frauds upon the municipal customs
commonly known as the Uctroi, the
duties or toll levied upon certain arti-
cles brought through the city gates.
NJ. Camille Simon says one OF the
questions to come before the munich
pal council will be some effective meth
cd of reducing such frauds.
Many of the delegates called to take
part in the debate, however" contin-
ues NJ. Simon, are ignorant of the
fact that in garnet of one of the an
neXes to the Hotel de Vile there is
a museum of most interesting curiosi-
ties used by INSCRIPTIONS citizens to
fraudulently introduce into Paris mer-
chan6ise subject to very high duties.
Some time ago the chief inspector
received an anonymous letter, telling
him of novel method. The letter
said that at a certain hour. on such
and such day, a file of landaus, bring
ing back wedding party from the en-
virons of Paris. would pass through a
certain gate. It said that the coach
mems seats, the harness, the shafts,
would be so admirably contrived that
they would hold go liters of pure al
cohol.
AT the hour named the wedding
party arrived, and, notwiths landing
the protestations of the guests, the APP
peals of the bridegroom, the well-sim-
ulated nervousness of the blushing
bride, the whole party was forced to
get out of the carriages, a search was
made, and the information received by
the inspectors proved to be absolutely
correct
Another day an elegant private
coupe, with crests on the panels of the
doors, most distinguished looking
coachman, and inside frail-looking
gentleman, enveloped in a long cape
anu apparently doing in one corner,
was stopped before the Porte Dau-
phine.
This coupe had passed almost daily
just at this time for nearly two
months. BY an unlucky accident this
evening one of the horses stumbled.
/ ne custom house employees rushed to
the assistance of the coachman. Sud
denly one of them remarked that the
gentleman inside was strangely quiet.
Was he dead? An investigation proved
that he was made of zinc, and the
coupe was used for smuggling alco-
hol.
Still another strange seizure. One
warm autumn evening three country
men, rather tipsy. singing a drinking
song, presented themselves before the
Menilmontant 'barriere.' The man in
the middle occupied all their attention
to keep him on his feet.
The customs employees began TO
joke with him. and one of them hit
him a fine blow on the back. Sudden.
ly he collapsed. his companions fled
in terror, and the abandoned man was
found to be an india rubber manikin
filled with pure alcohol,
"A visit to the museum proved most
instructive. An enormous box was
there, holding several superb mortuary
wreaths, the moss and violets of which
it was composed admirably concealing
hollow cylinder for containing alco-
hol A very complete collection of
false hips, bustS, bustles. abdomens,
corsets, trunks etc, is here on eXhi-
bition; masons' hoas of hollow boards,
logs for hiding tobacco and cigars,
wheels and axles of earriages-in fact,
nj I'll 81,
erything."