The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-12
BOUGHT BAYRUM
STRUGGLED HERE
FOR FEDERAL GRAND JURY
BARBER EDWARD TISCHLER HELD
By U. 5. COMMISSIONER.

| Special Assistant Attorney General,
william II. Ieaken Uncarths Al
legged scheme That VIII Rival
Famous Cigar SInuGGI ling Case.
Bayrum On which Duty Has Not
Been Paid Brought Here, 1t Is
Claimed, by Steamship Company
Employees.
Through the vigilance of Special
Assistant Attorney General william
r. Leaken, there are indications that
a smuggling case will be soon unrav-
eled that will equal in interest and i'm
portance the famous cigar smuggling
cases of a little over a year ago, and
which are still pending trial This
time the smuggled article is alleged
to be bay rum.
The facts in the case developed yes
terday at the preliminary hearing of
Edward Fischer, a white barber, be-
fore United States Commissioner w.
r. Hewlett. Mr.. Fischer is charged
with buying eight bottles of bay rum
that had been smuggled into this
NVGAANi - AiO oilIuS6 lClS uOQSlllS the
duty charges.
1t was known for some time by Mr.
Leaken that smuggled bay rum was
being sold in Savannah, but he pre-
ferred to postpone the arrest of the
parties buying ii until he discovered
clue to the smugglers A few days
ago his case was practically made out
and the arrest of Mr. Fischer follow
ed. At the hearing the defendant
was bound over to await the action
of the federal grand jury, which
meets the latter part of this month.
Owing to the fact that the defendant
is we'll known here his bond was made
merely a nominal one.
At the conclusion of the Fischer
case Mr.. Leaken stated that more ar
rests would follow within a short
time, but that as yet he was not ready
to announce the names of the alleged
guilty parties. He stated, however,
they are employees of a steamship con-
Germ and that the chain of evidence
against them is complete.
Made in West Indies.
The bay rum that is being SNUG
gled into this country is made in the
West Indies, close to the place where
the smuggled cigars were made. From
the place of manufacture it is taken
to New York, Philadelphia and other
Northern points. says Mr.. Leaken, and
there distributed.
Employees of a steamship company,
he charges. have been in the habit
of buying the smuggled bay rum in
these Northern ports and bringing 1t
with them to Savannah. Here they
dispose of it at a price lower than
bay rum on which the full duty has
been paid can be sold, thus making a
profit themselves and also allowing the
barber to make a profit.
AS in the famous cigar smuggling
cases, the fact that the full duty will
be paid now that notice is given that
the smugglers and their assistants are
being watched, will not relieve the
men. They are still liable under that
section of the federal statutes which
provides for the punishment of all who
assist in smuggling goods into this
country. and in selling them or aiding
in procuring sale for them after they
have been brought i'm. The penalty is
a heavy one.
The FISHER Case.
Edward Fischer is charged with pur-
chasing eight bottles of the bayruno.
knowing it had been struggled into this
country. Mr.. Leaken claims. and his
Claims were SuHTclentIV well eStab-
lished to make the commissioner hold
the defendant for the grand jury, that
from the manner in which he bought
the struggled goods. and from other
attendant circumstances Mr.. Fischer
knew the duty on the article had not
been paid.
His case is only the first of a num-
Der that are to be instituted at once
against Savannahians. Mr.. Leaken
intends to do what he can to break up
the practice of selling smuggled goods
in this section, as shown by his course
in the cigar case. and in the bayrun
matter. Arrests for knowingly DUR
chasing smuggled goods will be made
early next week. and it is probable
the employees of the steamship line that
assisted i'm the distribution of the bay-
rum will be taken into custody before
many days have passed.
The penalty for knowingly receiving
or purchasing smuggled goods is a fine
or not less than $50 nor more than S.
600. or imprisonment in the United
states pententiary for not less than
six months. nor more than five years,
or either. or both, in the discretion of
the presiding Judge.