The Irish standard., 1908-08-22
SMUGGLING PLOT IS
Barred At chicago
CONSIGNMENT OF ART TREA4.
URES BELONGING TO MRS.
"JAck" GARDNER SEIZED.
ALLEGED ATTEMPT TO
EVADE CUSTOMS DUTIES
Haul for Secret Agents Of Govern
ment Said to Be Only Part Expect.
Cd shipment-society Woman 81.
lent Regarding Case.

's 'sSS"' Wow
Chicago. Aug. 20.-The consignment
Of art treasures belonging to Mrs.
Jack" Gardner Of Boston, seized In
Chicago by the secret agents of the
treasury department for the alleged
attempt to defraud the government
Of customs duties. itself the biggest
seizure in the history Of the depart
ment, is believed to have been only
the first of number OF still more
valuable shipments contemplated by
the Boston collector of rare works of
art.
Mrs. Gardeners name Is one that Ia
familiar to the collectors OF customs
because OF defiant attitude toward
the treasury department While she
has been charged with no previous
attempt to elude the collectors. It is
her belief that the government has
no right to collect duty on her belong
ings and that she does not regard
smuggling as a violation OF the law.
Mrs. Emily Rockwell Crane Chad
bourne, daughter of Richard t. Crane
of the Crane Company. to whom the
art treasures were consigned. was not
at her home in Lake Geneva Wednes-
day morning. She is close friend
OF Mrs. Gardeners. Mr.. Crane said 1t
could be stated positively that his
daughters part In the matter was
purely from motives of friendship and
benevolence, not realizing how highly
improper was her course.
Case OF First Importance.
All the circumstances connected
with the attempted evasion Of the Gus
toms laws are OF nature that mark
case the department of Justice has had
brought to its attention in years. II
Ia said that the discovery was made
on knowledge that what purported to
be household goods and were valued
In Mrs. Chadbourne's declaration at
$4,000 were insured for the passage at
a much higher figure.
On being confronted with the dis
closures made by experts summoned
by the governments representatives
In Chicago. it is said that Mrs. Gard
ner made no attempt to deny the own
ership OF the tapestries and other rare
works Of art contained in the cases
that had come through to Chicago.
The ownership being established,
the fact that Chicago was chosen for
the point Of import OF these goods.
which admittedly we're destined for
Boston, is believed by onicials in the
district attorneys Office to make a
telling case for the government
against the Boston woman.
May Be Settled Outside Courts.
II is said on good authority that
overtures have been made by persons
supposedly representing Mrs. Gardner
for settlement of the case outside
the courts. In the absence of District
Attorney Sims none Of his assistants
would verify this report. but IT. is re-
garded as not improbable that the
government will accept further pay
ment as sufficient punishment. 1t ia
said that $4,000 already has been
paid by agents of Mrs. Gardner.
Mrs. Chadbourne's part In the al
legged smuggling was discovered early
in July by G.. e. Webb, special agent
Of the treasury department in Chi
cago.
Mrs. Chadbourne II is declared,
brought the Grated and boxed goods to
Chicago and, complying with the re-
quirements OF the customs laws.
placed them with Collector Ames and
his assistants. She made her sworn
statement. It is alleged, that the ar,
ticles were household goods worth but
$4,000, and then the boxes were turned
over to United States Appraiser
Thomas O'shaughnessy.
When Appraiser O'shaughnessy dis
covered what the goods we're. and
their value, Collector Ames confiscated
the property, demanded the payment
of $4,000 duty, which was paid. de-
manded an additional $4,000. which
was paid. and then reported the mat
f., ter for further investigation by the
department Of Justice.
It is customary. when false state
! ments OF value have been made. for
the collectors to demand half Of the
amount Of the real valuation OF i'm
ported property. besides the regular
duty. This constitutes the penalties
that. IT. is declared, Mrs. Chadbourne
has been compelled to pay.
Now the goods are locked in gov.
eminent vaults in one Of the Chicago
warehouses, awaiting the action of the
district attorney and It may cost both
Mrs. Chadbourne and Mrs. Gardner
more money before the government
will release the goods.
Mrs. Gardner Silent.
Boston, Aug. 20-Mrs. John L.
! Gardner, the owner Of the Isabella
! stauart Gardner museum in the Fen.
way, Wednesday refused absolutely to
receive any newspaper men or to dis
cuss in any way the report that art
goods valued at $4,000 and imported
~ household goods" in the name OF
| Mrs. Emily Rockwell Crane Chad