The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-08-18
FRAUDS PERPETRATED
 ON CONNECTICUT COURTS
WIDESPREAD TRAFFIC IN NAT
 REALIZATION PAPERS

Wealthy syrian Merchant of Hayti Ar
 rested in New York-Hundreds of
 Citizens of the Black Republic In-
 yoIved-Big Prices Paid for Papers
 Issued from Waterbury Where a
 Band of conspirators Has Made Its
 Headquarters.
 New York, Aug. 17.-When Habor J. Afiak, a wealthy Syrian merchant of Hayti, was arrested to-day in connec- tion with the alleged naturalization frauds upon which the United States officials in this city have been at work some time, it was announced that widespread traffic in fraudulent natu- ralization papers issued by the courts of Connecticut had been brought to light. Hundreds of citizens of the little republic of Hayti are involved in the alleged frauds, said a representative ot the United States district attorneys of flee who made the announcement. Ac- cording to the official, the papers were secured by wealthy residents of Hayti and other South American republics for protection purposes. Well-to-do men there learned that they could es- cape the taxations of the little republic and be accorded the protection of the United States flag if naturalized citi- zens of this country.
 h some way unknown to the federal authorities band of men, chiefly for eigners, who have made their head quarters in Waterbury, Conn.,, have been engaged for some time in supply ing citizenship. papers to natives of Hayti. The name of the applicant would be forwarded to the leader of the band in Connecticut, who would promptly have a man apply for citizen ship papers under that name. All the necessary formalities would be for warded to the Haitien agent, who re- ceived in payment therefor sums rang ing from $20O to $75O each, according to the wealth and standing of the appli- cant.
 Assistant United States District At torney Marx said the first intimation that such traffic was being carried on in Waterbury came to his office some time ago through the attempt of Hai- tien, Alexander Seferschayan, to land in New York as an American citizen He presented certificate of natural ization to the immigration authorities, but as he could speak no English nor describe Waterbury, where his papers had been issued by the county court on November 1S, 1903, the official became suspicious After much questioning the man said he had never been in the country before. He was then arrested and an investigation was begun. Some time ago an attempt was made to ar rest certain members of the gang in Waterbury, but the men got wind of the trouble and escaped. The authori- ties in Waterbury, however, according to MT. Marx, have continued to work on the case and hope to make arrests soon.
 To- day as the Prince Wilhelm II. was about to clear for Hayti a special em- ploye of the department of justice placed Af1ak under arrest. The pris- oner denied he was citizen but in his effects the officer found a letter from the state department in Washington, directed to Aflak, refusing to grant him a passport on certificate of natural ization, issued in Hartford, dated No- vember 19, 1903.
 When arraigned before a United States commissioner he pleaded not guilty and was held in $2,500 bail.