The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-08-24
One Of Considerable Magnitude
Unearthed in Arizona.
Five Arrests Already Made,
With More to Follow.
FEDERAL OFFICIALS
Combine For the Purpose Of
Making Money
By the Admission of Chinese
From Mexico.

Washington. Aug 24.-The treasury
officials have unearthed what they al
lege is a wide conspiracy in Nogales.
Ariz. to admit Chinese to the United
States Thus far the collector at
Nogales. William Hoey. and Deputy
and Chinese Inspector 3. IT, Joseph,
Frank Pow and another Chinaman. who
lives at Clifton, Ariz-, have been ar
rested Other arrests viii follow. It
Is charged that the Chinese in large
numbers have been permitted to cross
the border upon the payment to the
collector of anywhere from $50 to 5000
a piece Hoey was appointed about a
year and a half ago from Indiana
Il IS stated that with two OF three
exceptions the whole customs and inn
migration administrations ata aNogales
are involved. Some time ago an official
of the treasury department having
Nogales as his headquarters wrote the
department that he had reason to be-
lieve the official force at that point was
corrupt and that Chinese in large mum
bers We're being smuggled across the
border for q consideration. A secret
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 5000.
The secret service men also arranged
with one or two employees whose hon
esty had been tested to go into the col
lecrOr's Office at q certain time and de-
mand a share Of the money being re-
ceived from Cinnamon. and to be ad-
mitted into the combination so that
they might get their share Of the pro-
ceeds of future deals. This was reluct-
antly agreed to and cOnsidera BILE sums
OF money were handed over in the
presence and full hearing of a secret
service man who had previously secret
ed himself in q nearby office closet
THE LETTER a.
The OFFICIALS soon found that Cinnamon
Who presented a eertiheate marked with
the letter A We're allowed to proceed with
Gates that did not bear this "a faifsfic
mark We're turned back without cere-
the letter a on certificate indicated
that the amount demanded had been paid.
Several Cinnamon We're sent through with
made by one of the secret service men.
The utmost care and secrecy was main
tanned from the hrst to secure positive
proof against each man under suspicion
A special United States attorney will be
detailed to prosecute the persons arrested
HOey was appointed collector about a
year and a half ago. His home is in Nun
Washington When Hoey received his ap-
pOlntment he came to Washington To re-
ceive Instructions as to his duties. and at
that time Secretary Gage took occasion
10 talk with him on the subject of the
duty of public officials He was eau
toned to avoid every temptation of wrong
doing, and that to a certain limited ex-
tent the honor Of the government was
placed IN his hands Secretary Gage ex-
planned that his predecessor at Nogales
had been displaced because of certain all
legged violations Of the civil service rules
and regulations, and warned him that his
administration Of the office must be at am
times clean and above suspicion for his
own honor and that of the country
The number of Cinnamon which have
bought their way into the United States
through the alleged connivance of the No
gales OFFICIALS is not known. but it is be-
lieved to be large. A special agent has
been ordSred TO Nogales to take charge
of the office if he finds it necessary.
HOEY'S RECORD.
indianapolis, Ind. Aug. 24-William
HOey. arrested at Nogales. in connec-
tiOn with Chinese frauds. was appoint
ed from Muncie. Ind He is widely
known among Republicans of the state.
Before he went to Arizona Hoey was
foreman in a steel mill and his an
pointment was regarded as a recogni-
tiOn of the labor interests