Bisbee daily review., 1907-05-24
MORALES WOMAN DIDN'T PAY
 DUTY
Nov She Must Defend Suit al Tombstone to ConfiScate Her Diamonds Valued at S856, Bought in Mexico.
Especial to Review.

PHOENIX. May 23.-Pleaing that she did not know it was necessary to pay duty Miss Fannie D. Brent wore
 SS56 worth of diamonds across the
 international boundary on AprIl 20,
 which are now in the possession of
 Myron H. McCord. formerly of Phoe-
 nix and now collector of customs at
 Nogales.
 i Under instructions from Collector MeCord. Deputy Collector W. w. Car i peHIer seized the sparklers. which he turned over to his superior, who has
 safely locked in a big safe at Nogales, I fRheie their bfflliancy Is blushing un- seen.
 | Asked about the seizure of the dia- monds. United States Attorney J. l.. i B. Alexander stated that he has filed
 suit in the second judicial district at Tombstone. demand the forfeiture of { the gems to the government. Tn his complaint United States At ! torney Alexander alleges that the stones were brought into the United
 States without the formality of duty, and therefore should be forfeited to 1 the government which will sell them | to realize the duty due.
 | Miss Brent is one of the popular residents of Nogales. and purchased the iewelry on the Mexican side of the line in Nogales, on April IS, at La Moda store.
 1 Two nights later she crossed the i international boundary, and went to the Monteznma hotel. She wore the diamonds while crossing, and for that reason supposed it to be unnecessary to pay Uncle Sam for the privilege of bringing her ornaments into this country.
 But Collector McCord thought oth- erwise. in fact, he felt convinced that Miss Brent should have paid duty. He ordered Deputy Carpenter to search her apartments at the Mon tezuma hotel, where he found the dia- monds. Miss Brent gave them up tearfully. but without resistance. As soon as the diamonds were in bis possession, Collector McCord noti- fled United States Attorney Alcxan- der at Phoenix. and the latter on learning the alleged facts in the af- far. prepared the papers and has Just filed suit at Tombstone.
 Miss Brent's diamonds were much more valuable on this side of the line than they were in Mexico. She bought them in Nogales. Sonora, ;or total of S525, but on this side they are valued at SS56.
 This marked increase in value Is due to the heavy duty Uncle Sam ex- acts under the high tariff on such luxuries as diamonds. It amounts to G0 per cent of the value of the bau- bles brought into the country.
 Miss Brent's jewelry. which is now in Collector McCord's hands, consists Of two diamond earrings and a beau tiful gold bracelet, set with an emer- lld and about twenty small diamonds. She bought the earrings in Mexico for s250 and the bracelet for $456.
 The only explanation Miss Brent has been able to give the customs officers at NOgales is that she did not think it necessary to pay duty on the jewelr.-.
 But the customs officers have not reached the Boint of permitting peo- pie to say whether or not it is nee essary to pay duty, and frequently seize dutiable goods brought in with out paying the duty to remind others that they must pay or run the risk cf losing their valuable property.