Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-08-24
Collector Hoey of Nogales and Others
in Custody
CHARGED WITH SMUGGLING CHINESE
Admitted Them From Mexico at
So Much Per Head.
PROOF SEEMS ABUNDANT

Probably the most important arrests ever
made in connection with the smuggling of
Chinese across the Mexican border into the
United States were made yesterday in
Arizona, when William M. Hoey, collector
of customs at Nogales; B. +. Jossey, an
immigrant inspector; Frank How. China
man living in Nogales, and another China
| man living at Clifton, Mexico, just across
the border from Nogales, were taken into
| custody by special agents of the treasury
and secret service operatives Other ar
rests are expected to follow within day
or two.
1t is stated that with two or three excep-
tions the whole customs and immigration
administration at Nogales Is involved.
Some time ago an official of the Treasury
Department having Nogales as his head
quarters 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 the
border for consideration. Assistant Sec
retary Allies took the matter up. A secret
service operative was sent there at once
and plans laid to secure evidence against
the persons under suspicion.
Cinnamon Used as DecOys.
Several Cinnamon were furnished with
money and sent 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 honesty had
been tested to go into the collectors office
at certain time and demand share or
the money being received from Cinnamon
and to be admitted into the combination
that they might get their share of the
proceeds of future deals. This was reluc-
family agreed to and considerable sums of
money were handed over in the presence of
ma w G
secreted himself in nearby office closet.
Certificates Marked to Show Payment.
The officials soon found that Cinnamon
who presented certificates marked with the
letter A were allowed to proceed without
question, while those having certificates
that did not bear this cabalstic mark were
turned back without ceremony. Later on
it was developed that the letter A on cer-
tificate indicated that the amount demand
ed had been paid Several Cinnamon were
sent through with the requisite mark on
their certificates made by one OF the secret
service men. E..
The utmost care and secrecy was main
tanned from the first to secure positive
proof against each man under suspicion. A
special United States Attorney will be de-
tailed to prosecute the persons arrested.
HOey Was Cautioned.
Hoey was appointed collector about a
Gle. Ind. Jossey came from the state of
Washington. When Hoey received his ap-
pointment he came to Washington to re-
ceive instructions as to his duties and at
that time Secretary Gage took occasion to
talk with him the subject Of the duty
Of public officials. He was cautioned to
avoid every temptation to wrongdoing and
that. to certain limited extent the honor
of the government was placed in his hands
Secretary Gage explained that his prede-
cessor at Nogales had been displaced be-
cause of certain alleged violations of the
civil service laws and regulations and
warned him that his administration Of the
office must be at all times clean and above
suspicion for his own honor and that of the
country.
The number of Cinnamon who have
bought their way into the United States
through the connivance of the Nogales Of
ficials is not known. but it is believed to
be large. special agent has been ordered
to Nogales to take charge of the Office If
he finds 1t necessary.