The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-08-21
WEALTHY WOMEN
MAY Be JAILED
CLAIMED THAT THEY HAVE DE-
FRAuCED THE GOVERNMENT
HEAVILY.
SMUGGLING IS CHARGED
Chicago and Boston Women Hunted
by Federal Officiais-Prosecuto
VIII Show no Respect for
Rich.

Chicago. August 20Search today
for Mrs. Emily Rockwell Crane Cha /.
borne, raughter of r. T. Crane, multi.
millionaire. who II is said has con.
fessed her part In a scheme with Mrs.
Jack Gardner of Boston to cheat The
United States revenue department Gu
of $4,000 custom duties, failed to dis
close any trace of her
Coupled with the original fraud, sQ.
spectors working upon the case. II u
said, unearthed a gigantic plot 10 de
fraud the goversment out OF thous.
ands of dollars In revenue by ship
ping more than $500 900 worth OF val.
uable tapestry 70 Chicago from Parts,
which II was planned to smuggle into
pert entirely free of duty.
The plot was uncovered 1t was said.
by Special Agent Webb of the treas
ury department and representative
.of either Mrs claiborne or Mrs.
Gardner has already paid the govern
ment $4,000 In fines and penalties
The first shipment of the costly tap
estFy has been confiscated by the Gus.
toms house officials and will be sold
at public auction.
No Respector of Persons.
Every effort was made by tr.eae 4
and relatives OF the society women. 10
stop lihe government s discoveries
from becoming public. In order ~
prevent Immediate arrest and prose
cution. It is declared that $4,000 was
paid into the treasury department
l-wliA ,she understanding that Aaeb.e
that amount should be forthcoming In
the near future.
Friends OF Mrs. Claiborne intimate
that she was merely the dupe of Mrs.
Jack Gardner. who originated the
plot 10 ship the tapestry 10 this conn-
TRY and who had planned to store
them In Boston
The first shipment was to have been
made the smallest of the lot. Tha
other shipments were packed in Paris
and were only waiting until 1t was
seen whether the one consigned To
Mrs. claiborne passed the custom Of
fcials
Mr.. claiborne and Mrs, Gardner are
to be treated just as any other persons
charged with the same offenses would
be- ansounced Major w III. Will
liams. special agent of the treasury de
partment. this afternoon. Their
prominence aud their riches win have
nothing to do with their case. The
federal departments involved will do
Just what is necessary"
Up to U. S. Attorney.
It is now for United States District
Attorney Edwin Sims to decide wheth.
er Mrs claiborne shall be prosecuted
as result Of her relations with Mrs.
Gardner. Mr.. Sims has turned the
case over to Assistat District Attorney
Davis and has gone on his vacation in
Michigan, and Il Is said that Mr.. Davis
will he asked to make an investiga-
tion as well as the one by the agents
of the treasury department and the
customs officials.
Mrs Claiborne. It is declared,
brought and Grated and boxed goois
to Chicago and, conforming to the
requirements OF the customs laws,
placed them with Collector Ames and
his assistants. She made her swor1
statement that the goods were worth
but $4,000.
When Appraiser O'Shaughnessy
opened the case. however he fixel
their value at $4,000 and on this basis
Collector Ames made his collection of
duties.