The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-06-05
sMUGGLERS FEW NOW.
SECRET SERVICE so STRICT THEY
MAKE SMALL PROFITS.

some Notable Recent Cases-Indfg-
nant Frenchman and the Splendid
"Opera singer"-How n Clergyman
InnocentIy Defrauded the Gov
ernmcnt.
From the New York Mail and Express.
There never-was time in this country
when systematic smuggling was so diff
cult as it is now. Insignificant amounts
of contraband goods are probably brought
in constantly by tourists and employees of
steamers and railroads, but when the vol
ume of such importations becomes suff-
cient to attract notice in the channels of
trade investigation soon discovers the cul-
prit. A smuggler once detected must
abandon this calling, for the stock-in-
trade of a professional smuggler is his
power to travel without exciting sus-
picion.
An illustration of the way systematic
smuggling works out its own suppression
is to be seen in the arrest year or two
ago of a deckhand on German steamer
who had been bringing small quantities
of phenacetine into the country without
paying duty. He disposed of the stuff TO
u
more dlficIk task OF finding a market
for it.
A young man was found who undertook
to sell il to retail druggists in this city
He was successful in many instances
One wholesale drug house had the Ameri-
can agency for the goods at the time.
Their orders suddenly fell off in certain
quarters Of the city, and their statesmen
began an investigation. The end was
swift. The young man who sold the goods
was arrested and confessed. The deck
hand was arrested when next he stepped
ashore i'll this country, and the business
was broken Up.
Ii is not always so easy to detect the
smuggler, however, even when his guilt
and identity are morally certain. A Gus
torn House officer of many years expert
ence relates story of not very long ago
to show this
The jewelers. of this city complained
thas certain mer were disposing of dia-
munds at prices possible only by import
ing them duty free. The government Sc;
It's foreign agencies at work to unravel
the mystery, and one day a cablegram
came from Paris notifying the inspectors
of the Custom House that the culprit
was coming as a cabin passenger on
certain liner with the usual consignment
of gems, which he would undoubtedly
neglect to declare.
But He Was Caught.
Two inspectors were sent TO quarantine
to board the vessel and apprehend the
smuggler This they did. They found him
to be Frenchman who would easily pass
for a gentleman. He was indignant. He
protested. He explained that this was his
first trip to this country. He was coming
here he explained, to go into business
He had no dutiable goods in his possess
sion.
Despite his protests he was thoroughly
searched His baggage was searched
Everything in his stateroom was search
ed. The soap on his washsta and was cut
in two. His mouth was examined. But
the diamonds could not be found. He
professed the greatest disgust at his re-
ception and declared that he would not
come to such country. He refused to
go ashore, and re-engaged passage back
30 France on the same steamship, retain
ing the same stateroom.
Some of his friends in this city called
on him on board and tried to shake his
resolution. 1t was in vain. He sailed
away again. Bus the diamond market
affected Immediately thereafter by a
large amount of cheap diamonds.
Thoroughly chagrined and angry, the
inspectors subsequently captured the same
man with unmistakable evidences of his
guilt and, while awaiting sentence, he
confessed 10 them how he had managed
to outwit them. He had bored hole in
me wall Oh MS SldleFOOIn ana SuSp0Hu-
ed the gems by a string between the
woodwork and the iron plates Of the hull.
The hole he had filed during the voyage
with wax and had painted 1t over so
skillfully that the spot was indistinguish-
able from its surroundings. While I'M
der surveillance he had not disturbed the
hiding place, but in the confusion Of sail
ing he had withdrawn the diamonds and
placed them in the hands of pretty
French woman who had called with 9TH
ers of his friends here to bid him bodily
The Opera Singer Cnse.
Women often make expert smugglers.
The customs inspectors will not soon for
get Mime. Leonie Jouvin. the opera sing
er." 1t was during the time when tools
of trade" were admitted duty free, and
operate and theatrical stars were allowed
to bring in their costumes for use on the
stage as tools of trade. Nine. Jouvin-
was an extreme beautiful woman and
she made sensation on the steamer on
which she came over by her magnificent
costumes and her sprightliness and wit.
All the passengers understood that she
came over under a six months contract
with Maurice Grau and when the fnspec-
tors came aboard the steamer they were
completely fascinated by the talented wo-
man. She took the trouble to show them
her contract with Mr.. Grau, although it
was scarcely necessary The contract
was an elaborate one, and detailed not
only how much salary Nine. Jouvin was to
receive as prima donna, but also what
Motel accommodations she would have
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