The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-07-17
SEIZURE OF GOODS FROM THE
ORIENT
Lady Passengers who Secreted Arti-
Giles of Great Value-Bolt of silk on
Jap Women.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 15.-Mrs. II.
d. Green, a woman of wealth and So
Ciai position of Portland, Or, suffered
the Inconvenience and humiliation Of
having a lot of valuable personal prop
erty seized by the local customs au-
thOrities yesterday afternoon and had
a narrow escape from being arrested
on a charge of Smuggling. The trouble
ell grew out of an attempt on the part
of Mrs. Green to avoid the payment of
duties on a valuable importation of
silks, embroderies and other wares
which she had collected in the Orient,
and when the goods were found inge-
riOusly seCreted in her baggage the
fact created quite a sensation at the
Mail dock and caused Mrs. Green's
fellow passengers on the steamer Do
rio oren-eyed establishment.
When the passengers and baggage
from the DoriC were landed at the Mai
uOck early yesterday afternoon the
customs inspectors found that Mrs.
Green had not declared any property
in her possession as dutiable, and as
She was, to all outward apurdSdnCes,
a woman Of wealth. Judging from the
lavish display Of diamond rings on Ter
fingers. Inspector LOTanzen determine
cd to make a car ,ful search of her bag
gage to determine if she had secretei
anything dutiable
Mrs. Green nelvOusly watched the
inspection of her trunks and nearly
tainted when Inspector LOrenzen
brought to light a large quantity OF
Chinese silk, embroideries, silk crepe
and other articles of value. She had
purchased the goods during an eX-
tended Oriental tour, and to avoid the
I ayment of duties, had seCre.ei them
in a manner which she believcu would
defy thu most careful scrutiny. Yards
and yards of rich Oriental silks and
cmbrOideres of great worth were
/ found seWed within the Innings Of
dresses. They were promptly seized
by the Customs Inspector, and Mrs
Green then turned over to Mrs. Adams,
the inspectress OF the customs service,
to see whether she had anything duti
able concealed about her person. The
lady inspector found concealed in a
small bag that hung suspended from
chain about her neck a valuable as
sortment OF diamond jewelry. one ar
ticle of which was estimated to be
worth $500. Mrs. Green declared, how
ever, that the iewelry had all been
bought in this country so it was not
seized.
Deputy Surveyor of the Port Chaur-
cey NJ. st. John had an interview with
Mrs. Green after the seizure Of her
siken effects and she prOfessed to be
greatly surprised that an innocent at
tempt to evade the payment OF GUS
toms duties should be regarded as a
serious infraction of the law.
Madame" said St John with all Of
his official serenity, "why didn't you
declare your duuable effects?"
None of the oLner passengers on the
steamer seemed disposed 10 declare
anything" said Mrs. Green, $50
thought l wouldn't.
WELL why did you endeavOr to con-
ceal them? Didn't you know there
was a penalty for such practices?'
argued the Deputy Surveyor.
Il hid Them explained Mrs. Green,
quite convincingly, because l thought
if they were not found l would nOs
have to pay any duty"
st. John then Informed her that as
penalty for her thOughtlessuess she
would be required, according 10 the
customs regulations, to pay duty IN
three times the value o. the goods seiz-
ed if she cared to recover them.
Mrs. Green was not the only passen-
ger on the DOriC that ran atOul of the
vigilance of the customs inspectors A
Japanese woman was searched by the
lady inspector after being landed by
the immigration authorities ana bolt
of valuable silk was found wrapped
about her person. The Japanese wo-
man carried a 2-year-Old child in her
arms, and when the child was search
ed a bolt of silk was found wrapper
about it's body. The silk was seized.