New-York tribune., 1907-09-04
MEN HAD RARE LACE.
HELD FOR SMUGGLING.
Customs Officials Reap Rich HdrUest
as Liner Enters Port.


and the inspectors under him have been waiting
patiently for more than year for man they be-
lieved had been smuggling valuable Eces ana PANS
gowns into this country When the North German
Lloyd liner Kronprinz Wilhelm left Bremen week
ago they knew the man they were anxious TO IN
tercept had booked passage that vessel
When the steamer stopped off Quarantine yes
terday and Mr.. Bishop made trip around the
deck he picked out his man. and from that time
until the smuggler was brought before Cofr1nls-
sioner Stanton in Hoboken and held in 5000 bail
the eyes of at least four inspectors were upon HIM
The man arrested by the customs officials is Will
lam T. Hardy, a dressmaker, of No. 35 West Slst
street. Mr.. Hardy nattiiy attired. and showed
no fear or uneasiness when rolls Of valuable lace
unwound from his limbs and chest He spoke
in a high pitched voice and seemed TO take his
arrest a sort of Joke.
He was not the only arrested yesterday by
the officials, Burton Baldwin, who
shared the stateroom with Hardy. and who, 1t IS
said, travelled with the dressmaker throughout
his trip through Europe, also locked up in
S2ooo bail accomplice.
AS the inspectors about to hurry the men
10 the City Hall Inspector John Francis
breathlessly TO Mr. Bishop. saying that man
had offered him 500 TO pass the trunk OF a second
cabin passenger. The deputy surveyor went with
the inspector TO the who had offered the
bribe and ordered him detained until the trunk
of the second cabin passenger examined The
trunk, which belonged TO Frank Graf, head waiter
at Little Hungary. was opened and found TO con-
tain. carefully tucked away near the bottom, Jew
elry and diamonds appraised roughly at Iooo
Mr.. Bishop waited until an inspector found Graf.
the owner of the trunk, and then ordered him TO
accompany Baldwin and Hardy to the City Hall
Meanwhile an inspector brought befor Mr. Bishop
Samuel Rich who said he the manager of Little
Hungary. who had been accused by Inspector
Francis OF having offered the brbe of 500 TO pass
the trunk brought over on the Kronprinz by Graf.
Rich protested that he was & friend or Marcus
Braun, former Special immigration Comrnissoner'
StYrNr .
and order him TO join the Baldwin -Hardy-Graf
trio.
According to the customs officials there has been
q sort of clique certain dressmakers in tnls
city who make a business of smuggling into port
Paris gowns Of great value. Their method Is 70
put the gowns and laces in rough looking trunks,
called "seepers" which are thrown careIessy on
the pier until nearly all the passengers are gone
Frequently the 'sleepers'' tossed about on the
pier for days, during which time an agent OF the
smuggling dressmaker brihes an exrressrnan to re-
move them Two such trunks came in on Friday
on the French liner La Lorraine, and are still on
the French Line pier. under constant watching.
Over a year ago. according to the customs Of
fCals Mr.. Hardy went abroad and returned with
twenty-eight exper sive gowns. which he distributed
TO various passengers on the passage from Europe.
His method cultivate the acquaintance or
many passengers until he found enough who lived
permanently abroad. had lived abroad suf-
fcently long 10 give them immunity from duty on
the ground Of foreign residence.
1t Is alleged that Mr.. Hardy succeeded in Undue
ing number OF passengers 10 take the gowns into
port. hut one Of the number. who later found a
grievance against the dressmakeT. informed the
customs officials and Mr.. Hardy's
tered the suspicious list.
AS soon as the Hardy baggage was put upon the
pier yesterday and his declaration was read over
carefully an inspector was sent at once to guard
his trunks. AS the dressmaker stood beside his
baggage. ready 10 open It for Inspector Sagel.
Acting Deputy Surveyor Tierney up and
told Hardy he would have to 20 aboard and be
searched
What for?' asked Hardy; I have made my
declaration"
That may be true" returned Mr.. Tierney but
want TO look you and the person of your
room mate. Mr. Baldwin. Let's see what you have
in the overcoat you hold your arm
Hardy protested that there was nothing in II but
personal effects but the inspectors found several
rolls of beautiful lace eight inches wide and worth
$40 a yard.
The discovery brought no sign of uneaslness TO
Mr.. Hardy. and he followed the deputy surveyor
and two inspectors 10 his stateroom. On dlsrob-
ing the smuggler the inspectors found that he
was carefully padded with countless yards OF
pensive lace. His limbs and body swathed
tightly and abundantly that the inspectors
marvelled that the able TO walk.
Well 1 might as well admit that I did not de-
clare what you have found. gentlemen" remarked
Hardy. Il assure you that you have got it all
now
I'VE may find sixth of yard more in your
trunk you know
On opening the trunk the top tray revealed an
array linen shirts. included the per
sonal effects" list Hardy looked placdly while
an inspector opened UP Of the shirts and pulled
from out the bosom many yards of lace.
| Tierney cast glance Of disgust at Hardy. The
latter said:
| Needn't go any further. gentlemen. They're all
! like that.
| Hardy's companion Burton Baldwin. professed
| ignorance Of Hardy's attempt 10 smuggIe bat he
was taken along with him to the City Hall on
the way Baldwin was asked If he helped swathe
| his room mate in his lace shroud. the inspec-
tors believed from the way the lace was pinned
between Hardy's shoulders that he could have
done It himself Baldwin said he had not assist
ed Hardy. the latter averred that he had had
no help
The dressmaker told Commissioner Stanton that
he did not know the value of the lace. as he had
made many purchases In many different parts
of Europe that he could not specify any amount
as the purchase price.
Commissioner Stanton was inclined hold ;he
man in $1,000 bail. but when Hardy said. Il don't
why 1 should be held Commissioner. because
! a reputable business man. the Commissioner
fixed the q go.
The four arrested on the Kronprinz yester-
day were arraigned TO appear trial on Friday.
Baldwin suggested to the Commissioner to fix the
hearing for to-day, he wanted ito have the
whole horrid affair over possible
Late last night Hardy Baldwin, Rich and Graf
were released. The entire seizures made yesterday
on the North German Lloyd pier are said to be
worth about 5000 including the $1,000 worth OF
tewelry found in Graf's trunk.