Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-30
CLERICAL SMUGGLER
Bullying BREAST AROUSES IN.
sPEcToRs' suspicious
AND TROUBLE RESULTS

Pious Gentleman Declares He Brings
no DutiabIe Goods But Rich Col
lection is Found Upon His Per-
son-Woman Companion also
Caught in the Act.
Baltimore, Md, Oct. 26-Among the
cabin passengers landed from the
North German Lloyd steamship Frank
furt was Rev. L. Sternberg, who stated
that he is pastor Of the German
Evangelical church at Urbana, Ind,
| and Mrs. Charles Eggert of Wanetah,
Ind. The bullying appearance of the
| minister's chest attracted the atten-
ton of the inspectors, whose duty it
is to see that the United States gov
| eminent is not deprived of any reve-
! nue. in the way Of customs duties and
that all federal laws are duly OBJ
served. When Mr.. Sternberg was
asked if he had any articles about him
which were not entitled to free entry
he is said to have answered in the neg
ative and to have shown a certificate
attesting that he had no dutiable
goods. Still the inspectors were not
satisfied. They insisted on knowing
what caused the bulge over the chest
and made a closer investigation, with
the result that the following articles
| were brought to light:
Handsome gold watch and chain.
| dn7oD uo110ur
spoons.
1 pair of handsome gold bracelets.
| 1 lady's gold neck chain.
6 silver spoons.
| l gold brooch.
The minister was informed that he
would have to accompany the in
spectors to the office of Collector
Stone, where formal complaint of at
tempt to bring in valuables unlawfully
was lodged against him, and where
the glittering array of valuables was
piled up in heap on the collectors
desk. Mr.. Sternberg, who is said to
have spoken very fair English on the
voyage and when he made his declar-
alton, now let it be understood that he
was unable to express himself properly
except in his mother tongue, and an
interpreter was sent for. To him the
! preacher denied that he had attempted
to bring the articles into the country
in violation of the federal statutes. He
said that the inspector had not asked
| him in reference to anything in his
possession except his clothing, and
seemed to resent having been brought
| before the collector.
When told that the penalty was con-
fiscation of the goods and the imposi-
ton of duty Of three times their
value, Mr.. Sternberg became greatly
excited. He was finally induced to
admit that the gold watch and chain
were not his property, but belonged
| to Mrs. Eggert, and that she had re-
quested him to keep the watch and
chain and give it to her after they
had landed He stated that he had
had no acquaintance with Mrs. Egg
CERT prior to her giving him the
witch, but that she knew him, having
heard him preach near her home. The
| other articles, he said, he had pur-
cased as presents. The two brace
lets were for his daughters and the
lady's gold chain for the organist of
his church, who is very accomplished
young lady.
The collector, by cross-examination,
finally ELECTED the statement from Mr..
Sternberg that he had kept the
articles in his trunk until he reached
this side Of the Atlantic. and had then
placed them in his pocket, expecting
to take them from the ship without
objection.
Mrs. Eggert was next examined and
Inspectors Richardson and Oldfeld
handed to Collector Stone the follow
ing articles that were found upon her:
Z pairs gloves.
piece goods.
8 pieces ribbon.
1 piece applique.
pieces lace or net (neckties)
l gold chain.
1 gold watch.
2 gold brooches.
l gold brooche, with pearl.
SoIu DIOOcneS, with enamel.
1 jet brooch.
L gold brooch 6 settings).
1 bone brooch.
2 silver brooches.
1 purse.
1 pair silver earrings.
4 penknives
1 cigar smoker.
Mrs. Eggert, like the clergyman,
could give no satisfactory reason as to
why she had not enumerated them in
her declaration. She was greatly dis
tressed at being detained
Collector Stone gave both a severe
lecture and took charge of the articles, |
which were sent to the public store
for appraisal.
Mr.. Sternberg stated that he had
been on two months trip to the |
other side.