The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-25
SMUGGLING CHINESE
OFFICIALS DETECTED IN vIOLAT-
ING EXCLUSION ACT.
BOUGHT THEIR WAY ACROSS.
PRICE PAID WAS FROM $50 To
$500.

Plans Laid to Secure Evidence
Against Persons Under Suspicion
Were Observation-Disclosures, Fur
nished With Money, Experienced
No Difficulty i'm Purchasing Their
Entrance Into United States-Cer-
tificates Marked with Letter "a
Constituted n Passport-ImpOrta-
tion of Chinese Believed to Have
Been Extensive.
Washington. Aug. 24.-Probably the
most important arrests ever made in
connection with the smuggling of Chi
nese across the Mexican border into the
United States were made yesterday In
Arizona, when William M. Hoey, coll
lector of customs at Nogales; b. F.
Jossey, an immigrant inspector; Frank
How, a Chinaman, living in Nogales,
and another Chinaman living at Cliff
ton, Mex, just across the border from
Nogales, were taken into custody by
special agents of the treasury and Sc
cret service operatives. Other arrests
are expected to follow within day or
two. 1t is stated that with two or
immigration administration at Nogales
is involved. Some time ago an Off
cial of the Treasury Department hav-
ing Nogales as his headquarters, wrote
the department that he had reason to
believe the official force at that point
was corrupt. and that Chinese in large
numbers were being smuggled across
n ncfd daP A
service operative was sent there at
once, and plans laid to secure evidence
against the persons under suspicion.
Several Cinnamon were furnished with
money and sent on to buy their way
through the official Gordon. This was
accomplished without difficulty, the
price demanded being from $50 to $500.
The secret service men also arranged
with one or two employees, whose hon
esty had been tested to go into the coll
lectors office at a certain time, and
demand share of the money being
received from Cinnamon, and to be
admitted into the combination so that
they might get their share of the pro-
ceeds of future deals. This was re-
luctantly agreed to and considerable
sums of money We're handed over in tho
presence OF a. secret service
man who had previously secreted him.
self in a nearby Office closet. The Off
cials soon found that Cinnamon who
presented a certificate marked with the
letter "A" were allowed to proceed
without question, While those having
certificates that did not bear this caba-
listic mark were turned back without
ceremony. Later on it was developed
that the letter "A" on a certificate indi-
Gated that the amount demanded had
been paid. Several Cinnamon were
sent through with the requisite "a"
mark on the certificate made by one
of the secret service men. The utmost
care and secrecy was maintained from
the first to secure positive proof
against each man under suspicion. A
special United States attorney will be
detailed to prosecute the persons ar
rested. Hoey was appointed collector
about year and half ago. His home
is in Muncie, Ind. Jossey came from
the state of Washington.
The number of Cinnamon who have
bought their way into the United
States through the connivance of the
Nogales officials is not known, but it
is believed to be large. A special agent
has been ordered to Nogales to take
charge of the office If he finds 1t neces-
Sary.