The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-09-02
RICH WOMEN SMUGGLERS.
TREASURE WORTH $4,000 ARE
SEIZED IN CHICAGO.
Customs Officials Charged That Mrs.
Jack Gardner, of Boston, and Mrs.
Emily ChadbOurne arc Guilty.

Emily ChadDOurne arc Guilty.
Chicago, Aug 20.-The United States
authorities in Chicago, Boston and
Washington for the past eight weeks
have been investigating the most re-
markable attempt to "beat" the GUS
toms laws ever brought to their at
tention. The audacity Of the scheme
and the standing of the participants
breaks all records.
Mrs. Emily Rockwell Crane Chad
bourne, who is now living on the north
shore, daughter Of Richard T. Crane.
president Of the Crane Manufacturing
company, and Mrs. Jack" Gardner.
OF Boston, are the unlucky persons
involved. Mrs. Chadbourne brought
into this country as her household
goods. under false declaration, near
ly 100000 worth or articles OF virtu
belonging to Mrs. Gardner, on which
she placed a valuation Of $4,000.
There are few persons in this coun.
try who read the newspapers who
haven't heard at one time or another
OF Mrs. Jack Gardner, the eccen-
trio Boston widow, and her famous
Venetian palace. brought to this
country. stone by stone, pilaster by
pilaster, 5000 miles from Italy. This
palace. erected at great cost in Back
Bay Fens. and known as Fenway
court, is filled with rare paintings AMI
statuary and other works Of art that
Mrs. Gardner collected in various
parts Of Europe, but chiefly in Italy.
Perhaps more than half Of Mrs. Gard.
ner's fortune OF 100000 has gone
into this beautiful building and its
contents. which have been so often
described.
For years Mrs. Gardner has tried t.
evade the payment Of duties on the
art treasures that she has brought to
this country on the plea that her
home was a public museum, works Of
art for exhibition purposes being ad-
mitted free.
Some years ago she was permitted
by the government to bring in a large
quantity Of things on this assumption,
hrst. however. putting up a bond Of
100000 to pay duties If she should
not comply with the law.
Although she claimed that hel
beautiful home was a museum, open
to the public. the authorities soon
found out that 1t was not the easiest
thing in the world for the public to
gain admission to her home. She put
on charge Of 81 or 50 for admission
tickets and then had open days only
once or twice month. In addition to
this she, ,Eas exclusive in her ideas as
to what coastituted the general pub
lic." and many q person who would
like to have feasted his or her eyes
upon the art treasures that she had
collected. even though willing to pay
the 81 or So charged for admission.
was denied entrance to the Venetian
palace.
When Leslie NJ. Shaw, who then
was secretary of'the treasury. heard OF
this he descended on the $200,0
which she had deposited and started
proceedings to forfeit 1t. He asked
Attorney General Knox whether Mrs.
Gardner's display constituted q public
exhibition. and Mr.. Knox decided that
1t was not in the sense that the law
contemplated.
Mr.. Shaw then gave Mrs. Gardner
the choice Of throwing open her
house to enable the public to view the
art treasures without restrictions that
were unreasonable or paying $500, 900
duty. and she choose the latter alter.
native,
Since the row with the treasury de-
partment Mrs. Gardner has purchased
literally In the art markets OF Eu-
rope. She has kept up a constant
fight to secure free admission for her
purchases. but has failed.
Some time ago the government
learned that she had stored in Paris
nearly quarter Of a million dollars
worth Of treasures. marbles, oil
paintings, armor and other gems from,
various European collections. The
tapestries in question were registered
and are just as we'll known among ART
collectors and connoisseurs as paint
ings Of Titan, Raphael, and Ve-
lasquez
About two months ago one OF the
treasury secret agents in Paris learn
ed that a large shipment OF Mrs.