The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-02-09
SMUGGLING SCHEMES
TRICKS THAT ARE USED TO evApe
THE PAYMENT OF DUTIES.

The Part . Porous Plaster Played In
One Big Diamond Case-Even Cof-
Aas Used In IN Effort to Clrcunveat
the Castoms Inspectors.
The old special agent with the griz-
sled mustache took his cigar out Of his
mouth, regarded 1t critically for mo-
ment and then said slowly:
"Um, yes; suppose they have all
sorts Of new tricks and are constantly
devising. others, and 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
Of dollars worth Of things at time,
are as keen as knife blade. They're
not ordinary people; they've got all
the daring and ingenuity Of the old
time successful cracksmen, and It
takes 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
1t 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 we'll as general
description Of the stones. The steam
q 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.
The most interesting part Of the
message was the statement that the
passenger would probably have the
gems concealed beneath q 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 OF
the plaster.
I'VE 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.
I'm 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 pair of thin side whiskers
and removed his mustache. We in
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
something had stung him and then just
az calmly stated that he had no dia-
monds; that we could 60 through his
baggage, his pockets, anything he had.
He said it was most remarkable to &C.
cuse him Of such thing, but he did
not fly into rage; he acted just as any
innocent man would have acted under
the circumstances. Then we knew we
had 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
the men finally said to him that it was
useless to waste more time and asked
him to return to his stateroom for a
somewhat more complete examination.
At this the passenger raised great
protest and declared 1t was outrageous
to submit him to such an indignity.
When we reached the room we asked
him kindly to remove his clothing, say