Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-05-10
SMUGGLING SCHEMES
TRICKS THAT ARE USED TO EvADE
THE PAYMENT OF DUTIES.

: The Part Porous Plaster Played In
One Big Diamond Case-Even Cof-
; fms Used In an Effort to Circumveni
the Customs inspectors.
! The old special agent with the griz.
Eled mustache took his cigar out Of his
mouth, regarded it critically for a mo-
ment and then said slowly:
"Um, yes; l suppose they have all
sorts Of new tricks and are constantly
devising others, and l don't doubt that
they succeed in beating the customs
house officers every now and then. But
they don't seem to be doing anything
spectacular just now. Perhaps they're
uncaught as yet.
You know, these people who make a
business Of smuggling, and mean the
people who try to bring In thousands
are as keen as knife blade. They're
not ordinary people; they've got all
the daring and ingenuity Of the old
time successful craftsmen, and ii
takes a mighty good man to get ahead
Of them. Sometimes the customs house
people, even the special agents of the
treasury, are dead up against it when
it comes to dealing with this cool and
clever class Of crooks.
"Now, just let me give you an ex-
ample Of the astuteness of one of them
at least 1t will show you the sort of
thing we had to deal with in the past
zone day a cablegram reached the
treasury department, signed with the
name Of a treasury agent in France,
stating that certain passenger on a
certain steamer bound for New York
had with him about $4,000 worth of
fine diamonds which he intended to
smuggle into the country. A full
description of the man accompanied
the notification as well as general
description Of the stones. The steam
er and the stateroom occupied by the
passenger were noted, and we were
warned that he might attempt to
change his appearance by removing his
beard, which was full and pointed at
the time the steamer sailed. d
1.-The most interesting part of the
message was the statement that the
passenger would probably have the
gems concealed beneath porous plas-
ter spread across the small Of his back. |
Therefore we were not to listen to any |
of his protestatiOns of innocence nor |
to his eagerness to have his baggage |
examined In order to establish that in
nocence. We were to take him into his
stateroom and undress him and pull off |
the plaster.
1--WE had much amusement over the |
cablegram and also at the new varia-
ton of an absurdly old device for
smuggling, because time and time
again dutiable things had been found
wrapped in bandages which concealed
supposed injuries. We also pictured
the dismay Of the man when we should
get down to his skin, as 1t were.
"In due season the steamer arrived,
and with it the passenger against
whom we had been warned. There he
was, and he had actually reduced his
beard to a pair of thin side whiskers
quired and found that he had made no
mention of diamonds upon the declara-
ton before the inspector
Before he had chance to get ashore
one of the special agents went to him
and quietly asked why he had not de-
clared the diamonds he was bringing
into the country. He jumped as il
had stung him and then just
as calmly stated that he had no dia-
that we could go through his
baggage, his pockets, anything he had
He said 1t was most remarkable to ac-
ruse him of such thing, but he did I
not fly into rage; he acted just as any
man would have acted under
The circumstances. Then we knew we
lad to do with a good 'un. {
I'VE wasted very little time over his
baggage although he hustled around [
With the keys at great rate. One Of |
he men finally said to him that it was
Useless to waste more time and asked {
Il
more complete examination.
Vt this the passenger raised great
protest and declared it was outrageous ,
o submit him to such an indignfty.
When we reached the room we asked
lin kindly to remove his clothing, say q
ng nothing, however, about the plas- r
er BY this time our man was at white 4
eat. He said he had only come to the y
tateroom to avoid q scene on deck, p
nd he refused to take off his clothing n
hen he was told he would have to be n
aiken into custody and would undoubt-
dly be searched Il
This further Infatuated him, and he f
egan Il long rigmarole about being an II
american citizen, with rights and all n
hat sort Of thing, and we stood around Fl
nd waited until he had finished. At
list he cooled down Il bit and even 81
iughed saying that perhaps, after all, o
was best to end the farce by sub :.
hitting. But he begged one thing Of 81
S, and that was patience, because, he 81
aid, he had been suffering for a long +,
me with severe attack Of rheuma- II
SIN in his back. and it was painful for d
I'm to get into and out of his clothing. g,
lie added that he had been able to OBJ q,
lin some relief from porous plasters n,
nd that he never went about without Is
ne on his back. g,
About ten minutes later we got 81
1Wu tO his skin and fhprp Uua tho ~,
aster, and. not at all strange TO re- III
tie, it was uneven and wrinkled and In
ute lumpy In places. Just at this pC
oment, the psychological moment, IL in
lere ever was one, we acquainted him ca
it'll the contents OF the cablegam
hich had been received from the In
yent in France. and you should have sn
zen the look that swept over his face
he rheumatism 0nDarpnflV douhlad