The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-21
QUARTS OF SHAM PEARLS.
CUSTOMS OFFICERS CATCH nook
BRINGING THEM IN

He Pretended to Manufacture Them in
Providence, but Really Struggled Them
They We're Taken For Real, and He IL
In Ludlow Street Jail Under $4,000 Bail.
Francois Book. who has been selling In Provi-
dence recently artificial pearls which he pro-
fessed to manufacture there. has been In Paris
and returned on La BretnRne which arrived
last Sunday He was arrested on the arrival
OF the ship by Special Treasury Agent Theo-
bald and Customs Inspector Cloves. who had
received word from Providence that Book had
with him thousands OF pearls which he would
probably try to smuggle. In one OF his trunks
was found a pair OF shoes. faced together
heel to toe tied and wrapped in paper.
Being separated these shoes were found
to DO crammed full OF packages OF split pearls.
whether real or imitation has not been pro-
nounced Officially. II is suspected that they
are artificial. Two more pairs OF shoes full OF
them were found and bundle containing two
quarts Of them. In Books pockets were other
packages. Mr. Theobald said that forty pack
ages In all were recovered and he estimated
that there were 10000 half pearls. or split
pearls. He would not value them. but had
sent them to the Appraisers Office. OF course
" genuine they would be worth lot OF money.
There Is duty on imitation pearls also.
Book rendered a passport to Mexico. where
retracted the statement ana admitted that he
lived In this country He was held In $1,000
bail by United States Comm issioner Shields
Tor examination this morning and was COM
mitted to Ludlow Street Jail
A despatch 10 THE Sun from Providence
SAYS: 1T IL about six months since Book
first came to Providence, and when he be-
gan business he announced that he had a
secret process for manufacturing pearls which
could hardly be distinguished from the real
article. Book came here from Paris. He soon
established good trade. as he could
turn out artificial pearls ut little or no
cost. He did business with dealers alone. 1t
Ia stated by those who have known Book that
he was very reticent about the manufacture OF
his pearls. Tho shop In which he kept his
workmen was not open to outsiders. II Ia
said that Books business was made the sub
iect 81 inquiry by the Government officials some
some time ago the iocal ONCE asked
St rsg din the Of %
ago It ia said to have leaked out that Book was
porting them from Paris. About ak week
nco he went. to Europe and since that time
his secret process Local manufacturers have
used an unusually large number Of the i,nita-
Maxine ps1 n h %qr Scds nS Dt w months in
George Taylor n saloon steward in the
tunard liner Etruria. and John Trebon. n New
Yorker. were Hrraigned before United States
Commissioner Alexander yesterday. charged
with an ATTEMPT to smugsls Photographic
lenses into this country. held In $500
bail for examination this morning and
committed to Ludlow Street jail. As
Trebon told his story he made Y
of the Etruria when she arrived on Saturday
TO see some friends. including Taylor. The
latter asked him TO carry n bundle home for
him and he consented. He was surprised
when he was arrested and the package was
opened. He said that TAYLOR had given II to
him and the latter also was arrested. The
Customs Inspectors at this port have been in
formed that employees Of ocean liners have
inspectors have been keeping q very strict
watch OF everything that goes on while vessels
m In MOI