The sun., 1908-08-20
MYSTERY IN Big ART SEIZURE
OBJECTS SAID TO BELONG TO
MRS. JACK" GARDINER.

Mrs. Chadbourne, VINO IL 10 ALLEGED Made
False Declaration, Disappears-0f'
flcials Said 10 Have Got Heavy Penalty
Mrs. Gardner's lawyer Doubts It.
CHICAGO, Aug. 1s.--Mrs. Emily Rockwell
Crane Chadbourne. daughter Of Richard T.
Crane and former wife Of Thomas l.. Chad
bourne, who. with Mrs. Jack Gardner OF
Boston, 1t is said may have to face charges
for the alleged smuggling Of valuable works
Of art through the United States customs
office, has disappeared from the ken OF
relatives and friends.
While Mrs. Chadbourne knew some time
ago that she was facing trouble and that
certain goods brought over by her had
been oonfscated by Customs Collector
Ames. she said nothing to members OF
her family with whom she had been at
Lake Geneva, but made the excuse OF a
visit to friends in the East for her disap-
'pearanoe.
Mrs. Chadbourne, to whom the art treas
ures, it is alleged. were consigned, was not
at her home at Lake Geneva to-day. She
is a close friend Of Mrs. Gardner.
@As understand it, said Mr.. Crane,
Mrs. Chadbourne's father, "the facts are
these: Some years ago Mrs. Gardner bought
the goods, and It was her intention eventually
to present them to the Boston Museum.
but she delayed bringing them to the United
sented by the duty charges.
Il do not know how 1t came about that
Mrs. Chadbourpe undertook to bring the
goods in for Mrs. Gardner, but 1t may be
stated positively that she acted purely from
motives Of friendship and benevolenoe,
not realizing how improper was her course,
II Is scarcely necessary for me to say that
neither Mrs. Chadbourne nor any other
member Of the Crane family has one dollars
interest in this affair
The goods are said to have been shipped
from Paris to Mrs. Chadbourne in Chicago.
The special agent In Paris, who was watoh-
ing the movements Of Mrs Gardner, 1t ID
said. Immediately sent his tip to the
authorities at Washington. The goods
came direct to the Chicago port Of entry
to receive the attention Of the customs
collector here.
When Mrs. Chadbourne had made her
O'Shaughnessy made thorough examina-
ton and reported in accordance with his
findings and Collector Ames oonfscated
the property, demanded the payment OF
$4,000 duty whish was s,, paid demanded sis aed
then reported the matter for further in
vestigatlon to the Department OF Justice
1t is customary when false statements OF
value have been made for the collectors TO
demand one-half the amount Of the real
the regular duty. This constitutes the
penalty that, IL is declared, Mrs. Chad
bourne has been compelled to pay.
Now the goods are looked In Government
vaults in one OF the Chicago warehouses
awaiting the action Of the istriotAttorney.
All the papers, data and information In
the case, including the explanations OF Mrs.
Gardner and Mrs thadboume, have been
turned over TO the District Attorneys
office, from which full report has been
sent to the Department OF Justice at WASH
ington to-day
An offer OF a compromise to secure pos
session Of the goods which have been oon-
fisoated and which are now held by the
customs officials 10 being prepared for Mrs.
tatively agreed that the Department Of
Justice will accept the compromise.
By the compromise arrangement the
Government can compel tho owner OF the
seized goods to pay the full value OF the
Tho $40 600 paid to the customs officials
the total to be paid to the Government
may amount to more than $500
BosToN, Aug. 1o.-Henry W. Swift. Mrs:
John l.. Gardners attorney and personal
represen ntative, said he had heard nothing
whatever OF such case against Mrs. Gard
ner.
Il doubt" he said, that Mrs. Gardner
knows any thing about it. Mrs chad
bourne might have brought over some
that, but hardly think she knows that
they have been seized by the customs
authorities.
Il am quite sure that Mrs. Gardner has
paid no money In fines or penalties, or ad-
ditional duties, for il she had the money money
In other words | should have made any
payments that were to be made