Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-30
MYO[VED:1:A:.:SCAhDAL
- a. .sif-s.4 s= = -f.t :
s-ps--fJ
: szfo9'.s % t-
Smuggling Cases at Porto
Rico Being Probed.
= "a "a g. -F- -
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
VIZ Id
ADDUcED AT HEkR1Na AT SAN
JUAN YESTERDAY.
Other Arrests May Follow - Liquors
Brought to Island In Large
= Quantities.
IMPORTANCE TESTIMONY

heretofore pleasant skies, and unless des-
perate efforts now being made to hush up
the affair succeed some careers. If not
blighted, will long suffer stigma
Customs Collector Cruzen started the
trouble for the, wrongdoers, when he last
week seized big lot Of liquors which were
brought here from St. Thomas by the Light
House Tender Laurel. The packages were
addressed to well-known San Juan people,
and consisted of hundreds Of cases of wines
and liquors, including Old Tom gin, char
treuses. liquors and benedictines Of the
finest qualities and on which heavy import
duties should have been paid. Collector
Cruzen refused to discuss the case, but one
Of his subordinate said: -+.- 49, ''
!. Violations for Many Months.
For eighteen months we have known
that fine wines were being brought into
the port, and the custom house was not re-
ceiving any duty. All our efforts were un-
available to ferret out the leakage. We
posted men along the water front and had
thought could possibly be used for bringing
in the liquors. But our search was not
awarded with success. These high class
wines continued to come In, and without
paying the duty. <' .-- ~
II am not at liberty to tell you at present
how the Information as to how the snug
Cling was being accomplished came to the
knowledge OF the customs authorities, but
1t came and no sooner were they In pos
session OF 1t than they acted.
There can be no harm In telling you that
the light house tender Laurel, the station
ship, was the boat which brought the
liquors in. The shipment which was
seized came by her from St. Thomas. This
was the method of getting the goods ashore:
At night. when no one would question the
authority of a man in uniform carrying a
box. the cases were brought ashore and
put into army wagons and then delivered
about town to persons. The public know
well these persons, and 1t will be surprised
when 1t hears the names.
!; Il am very sure that the collector feels
badly about the matter, for it will and
must bring to light goings on of many per-
sons whom he would rather not put in the
public eye. know2that the collector has
no intention of making,the reading Of the
customs law too str1cthin regard to army
and navy officers, but am also sure that
If these same officers play fast and loose
with his kindness. he will shut down on
them in way that will bring them to a
sense of the gravity Of what they are or
have been doing" ,ianc ,. 1na-.,r... - g..
Clubman Arrested. .-,>-a
Last Wednesday the United States au-
thorities took further action and made the
first arrest. that Of Bsn3amin' 2. Butler,
formerly. Of Boston and now supervisor Of
elections Of Porto Rico, Mr.. Butler is a
society leader ndafhis ralieged connection
with the matter Is said to have arisen
through his being an official and having the
management Of the Country Club.
1t Is said that the liquors. secured from st.
Thomas as alleged, were purchased for the
club and were those used by the club. 1t
is also said upon reliable authority that
other persons connected with the Country
Club will also be arrested and prosecuted
upon the same charges which stand against
Mr.. Butler . ~ ...-.
1t is not only the officials of the Country
Club whom rumor involved, however, for II
Is alleged that the liquors were carried
around town and delivered to several diff
ferent persons in town for home eonsump-
ton.
The arrest of Supervisor Butler was fol-
lowed two days later by the apprehension
Of Capt. George w. Mentz, commanding the
naval station at San Juan and of James
Brennan. steward Of the Country Club.
They were arraigned before United States
Commissioner Anderson and held in 81 900
bail each for further examination. Both
prisoners pleaded not guilty. The arrest of
other prominent men is expected at any
hour.
Mr. Butler, Immediately after his arrest.
on a charge of smuggling, was arraigned
before United States Commissioner Ander
son and pleaded not guilty. The commits
sioner bound him over under 81 900 bond in
each case for the preliminary hearing,
which was held yesterday.
LII PO4 ISAI 4SSL1uOAys
The testimony Of ten witnesses was
taken. Transfers testified to having re-
moved fifteen or sixteen boxes from the
naval station here to the barracks and
others to q private house in the suburbs of
Santurce. which was identified as the home
of Robert Giles, a government road con-
tractor, also under charges Of smuggling.
The teamsters said they were working I'M
der the orders Of Lieutenant Stewart McC.
Decker. commissary of the Porto Rico regi-
ment, who was present at the station when
the boxes were removed. Capt. Joseph T.
Crabbs of the quartermasters department,
his chief clerk and Lieutenant Decker tes-
titled that Captain Crabbs had said he was
complying with a request from the naval
station for oonveyances' but that the cap
tain was not present at the time Of the oc-
currence in question and had no record Of
the orders relating to it.
Lieutenant Decker refused to testify con-
corning the loading Of the wagons at the
naval station He was asked II GOODS be.
longing to him had been removed, and an
swered NO" Commissioner Andrews then
requested Lieutenant Decker to answer the
question whether or not he was in charge
This the lieutenant refused to do. The COM
missioner then ordered Lieutenant Decker
to appear before a Judge and show cause
why he should not be punished for con-
tempt Of court. 49, =
Other Arrests rests NAV Follow.
1t is understood that warrants are out for
the arrest Of other propnineGt men and ON
cials. and that they will bsr arraigned be-
fore the commissioners Isdons The charges
are based upon tWts Inherent sections Of the