The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-08-29
WHOLESALE SMUGGLING AcRoSS
THE MEXICAN BORDER AT
NoGALEs, A. r.
CUSTOMS OFFICERS CROOKED
Collector Hoey, Immigrant Inspector
Jossey and Two Cinnamon Already
Under Arrest and Others VIII Be
Taken Into Custody Later-ceIes-
tiaIs Allowed to Enter tho United
States by Paying From $50 to $500.

Washington, Aug. 26.-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 in Art-
IONA when William M. Hoey, collector
Of customs at Nogales. B. F. Jossey.
an immigrant inspector, Frank How, q
Chinaman living in Nogales. and .
Chinafnan living at Clifton. Mex,
just across the border from Nogales.
were taken into custody by special
agents of the treasury and secret serv-
ice detectives. Other arrests are ex-
pected to follow within day or two.
# is stated, that with two or three ex-
ceptions the whole customs and ad-
ministration officials at Nogalss are
involved. Some time ago an officer
of the treasury department having No
department that he had reason to be-
Iieve the whole official department at
that point was corrupt and that Chi
nese in large numbers were being
smuggled across the border for con.
sideration. A secret service detective
was sent there at once and plans were
laid to scure evidence against the per
sons under suspicion. Several China,
men were furnished money and sent
to buy their way through the official
Gordon. This was accomplished with
out difficulty, the price>demanded be-
ing from $50 to 5000. The secret serv-
ice man also arranged with one or two
employees whose honesty had been
tested to go. into the collectors Office
at certain time and demand q share
Of the money being received from
Cinnamon and to be admitted into the
combination so that they might get
their share of the proceeds of future
deals. It was reluctantlNagreed to and
Considerable Sums Of Money
were handed over in the presence and
full hearing of a secret service man,
who had previously secreted' himself
in an office close by. The officials
soon found that those Of the Cinnamon
who presented a check marked with
the letter "a" were allowed to proceed
without question, while those having
checks that did not bear this cabalistic
mark were turned back Without cere-
monE.
Later on it was developed that the
letter "A" on a certificate indicated
that the amount desired had been
paid Several Cinnamon presented
marks made on their checks by secret
service men. The utmost care was
maintained to secure positive proof
against the men under suspicion. A
special United States deputy attorney,
who has been detailed to prosecute
the prisoners, has arrived.
'Hoey was appointed collector about
a year and half ago. His home is
in 'Muncie, Ind. Jossey was appointed
from Washington state. When Hoey
was appointed he went to Washington
to secure details as to his duties and
at that time Secretary Gage had a
talk with him as to the dirty Of pub
lie official. He was cautiened to avoid
temptation to wrongdoins and told
that to a certain extent the honor OF
the government was int his hands.
The number of Cinnamon brought in
through the crookedness OF the. No
gales officials is not known but 1t is
believed to be large. A special officer
has been sent to Negales to take
charge ;khe finds it necessary.