The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-06-08
SMUGGLING.
The Oldest and Most FavOrite
Means of Defrauding the
Government.
Senior Class Grafton OF Lang COnard
Showing the Different Meth
DDS and Risks Run for
Gain.

OF all the forms of cheatery by which
the United States is robbei annually
perhaps there is none by which the gov
ernment is defrauded out of more money
than by smuggling. Why it is we can
not say, but this class of dishonesty is
upheld and even practiced by our most
moral people. Perhaps they receive the
impression that it is right from the fact
that in one of the custom laws, there is
a statement to the effect that the gov
ernment is entitled only to such por
ton of the tariff duties as it is able to
collect, and that anybody is at liberty
to withhold payment if he can do so by
the exercise of deception.
Smuggling has been practiced in all
ages. In olden time it was considered
an industry, endangering life, wealth
and all, in fact there was a continual
warfare waged between foes of the rev
enue and the coast guards. All of this
is past and gone, and while there may
vet be certain amount of excitement
connected with this unlawful practice,
yet it is nothing to be compared with
that when the art was carried on by
groups of outlaws for that purpose
wholly. Very little smuggling is now
done in this country by organized gangs
1t is rather to be regarded as a pursuit
OF travellers into foreign lands than as
means of individual gain. Yet on the
other hand there can be no doubt of the
fact that good business is still carried
on by comparatively few professional
smugglers, who are extremely clever
people, their industry requiring quick
wit and high order of intelligence.
The oldest experts in this line are
women, some of whom are we'll known
as such to the government officials and
yet are so skillful as to be rarely caught
One of the cleverest smugglers is fash.
ionable milliner Of New York. AS is
we'll known the duty on laces, gowns
and other feminine finery is large, hence
there is great temptation to defraud
the United States in this line. During
the slacs season this milliner sends
abroad number of girls each with
measurements for many elaborate cost
umes. The girls return in the fall as
fine ladies, each with costly wardrobes
and fine toilettes, personal property. OF
course, when quizzed by the custom Of
ficers. Evidently it is not customary
for the officers to compel :he young
women to try on the dresses in order 70
discover if they fit.
The government itself can only guess
at its own loss by smuggling, as there
are no certain means of finding out. 1t
has been asserted that $l,O0O,00O worth |
of diamonds are brought into the United |
States annually by unlawful means, but !
this is only surmise and in all prob
ability greatly exaggerated.
Diamonds seem to be the chief article |
which encourages smugglers to become
such. There have been several shrewd |
plans brought to light by which precious
stones have been imported free of all
duty. Really ingenuity has been ex-
hausted in devising hiding places for
One man is said to have
employed with great success hollow
zane with which he made twelve trips
across the Atlantic, on occasions carry.
ng as much as $50, 900 worth of stones
n this, way. An exceptionally clever
person bought dog for dollar in Lon
ion and before going ashore at New
York, gave hunk of fresh meat to the
.nimal. 1t was instantly swallowed, to-
yether with several big diamonds which
t contained. After reaching home the
log was killed and the gems restored.
Another genius removed the explosives
rom revolver cartridges and placed dia-
nonds in their stead. This plan was so
good that he had to tell of it, which later
ed to his arrest and imprisonment. Any
person who gives information that re-
,ults in the seizure Of smuggled goods is
entitled to 25 per cent of the proceeds of
heir sale.
Accordingly, there are many persons
abroad who make Q regular business OF |
'spotting" intending smugglers. Work
If this kind is done by employees Of
arge jswelry houses in Paris and Lon.
Ion. Such IN individual viii send
notice to the custom officials on this
'ide thst dsssignatsd traveller carries
! lot OF jewels, or what tho articles may
DO, with the intention of smuggling
hem. Maybe they have been purchased