New-York tribune., 1909-04-30
SEIZE $4,000 In GEMS
MEXIC4N SENDS THEN
ASHORE BY V4LET.
Customs Inspectors Trace Them 10
Hotel Seville WOman and T7CO
Men ParOIed.

Celso del vnlar, Mexican who said he was
worth million pesos'' to New York
from Mexico on the Ward liner Moro Castle
on Saturday to dispose of some antique jewelry.
He disposed of it all right, but the who
agreed to take it and did take it n United
States customs inspector, who took del Niliar
and his jewels, valued at $4,000. before the Sur
veyor Of Customs yesterday. The antique gems
We're held and del Villar paroed in the
custody of the secretary of the Mexican Con
sulate in this city.
There were other persons involved in the dis
posal of the Jewels and their stories as well as
that of del Nillar told yesterday before
Edward Barnes. the Collectors assistant
licitor. Celso del Villar is about forty years
old. He said he had inherited considerable
money from his father and worth a mill
ION Mexican pesos" which in English means
close to $oO0,UO. He held a mortgage of S2I,-
oVp he says. on old hacienda Mexico
city, and one day the owner called to pay il off.
The visitor had nothing to offer but heir
loom consisting of necklace and a bracelet
of diamonds, set in gold and platinum.
The Jewels were accepted in payment of the
mortgage, del Villar says. but there was 90
much of them in one bunch to suit him and
hoped to dispose of them. He met JOSS NADIA
riaga, a Spaniard, who had once acted a
motel runner and interpreter in various hotels
in New York, and he told del Villar what fne
prices were paid for Jewels of that sort here.
Tickets were purchased by the man worth
million pesos" and. accompanied by NADIA
riaga and Mrs. Auraia Calderon, an opera
singer, he sailed for New York from Vera Cruz
the MORO Castle. The Spaniard acted as a
valet and took part OF the jewels ashore when
the steamer docked here Saturday. Del VII
lar and his party declared no dutabIe goods,
paid no duty and left the pier.
Mr.. CLARKSON GETS TIP
Within twenty-four hours after the MORO
Castle docked tip was sent TO Surveyor Clark
son. who assigned the case TO George Smyth.
special deputy surveyor OF customs The In
formation was vague and Smyth forced to
put Inspector Charles H. Sagel and Inspector
Joseph Gillespie his best men. the trail of
del VHlar and Madariaga. The inspectors
searched all the Spanish American hotels in the
city. but the hunt revealed nothing. The jew
ery stores gone over, well the big
hotels. and Monday the inspectors found
their cIew at the Hoffman House They learned
before this that Latin American had tried
have an expensive bracelet repaired at Tnanys
and Saks, and they heard that the man was
at the Hoffman House After days watch the
trail led 10 the Hotel Seville. and II was there
that del Villar taken into custody.
sageI and Gillespie sat in the lobby Of the
hotel early on Tuesday morning, and 1l:30
O'Clock they saw two men come downstairs and
walk 10 the street Gillespie kept his seat and
Sagel followed the strangers. Meanwhile Sagel
learned that one of the men was del Viar ana
the other vas Amado Garcia, a man del Fillar
had met on the MORO Castle. Sagel approached
the smaller man and asked If he was Mr.. del
Vinar. The smaller man replied in the negative.
in
was the gentleman
Then according to Sagel the following con-
versation ensued:
Mr. del villar." said sageL Il understand
that you have some jewels to SELL
..yyho said so?" asked del Vilar.
u .Tovonstein, diamond dealer OF Maiden
Lane"
L don't know why he should say so. l don't
know such man.
We'll" explained Sagel "Lowensten deals
onIy in unmounted jewels and he always tells
me where l buy mounted je"eiry. / nave
q shop in Chicago and will leave for my home
on the >: 80 p m. train. II you want to dispose
" your goods can make you an Offer"
Il have a beautiful necklace" said del Nillar.
but it Is very expensive. and I will not let
60 for less than 10000"
The three men went back to the Saville. and
within a few minutes, according to Saeel del
Vi1Iar came down to the womens sitting room
with one-halr of the combination necklace
which at the will OF the owner could be con-
verted into two bracelets.
TAKES DEL vILLAR IN CHARGE.
The inspector and the Mexican haggled over
the price until the latter produced the other half
SaCel saws Del Villar dropped his price To
g. 600 and finally. the inspector says. agreed to
pass upon the necklace and the owner is said to
have suggested Tiffany's Sagel insisted on go
ing 10 Maiden Lane, but the Mexican declined to
go downtown. Sagel then showed his badge aud
took del Var down to the Custom House Tho
necklace is said to be worth $4,000.
Sagel and Gillespie obtained much informa-
tion from del Villar and next directed their ef-
forts to find Madariaga. who had been living nF
the Hoffman House. The detectives say they
learned that Madariaga had Quarrelled with del
Vfllar and had in consequence kept away from
the Seville Being out OF touch with del Nillar
who supplied him with money. it was found
SapeI saws that Madariaga had tried to borrow
money on the diamond bracelet appraised at $1,000
(which he still held in his possession The in
snectors traced him to lodging house In Har-
len, but found that he had left that place. Then
tbev fixed their vigilance the Seville. Sagel
watched the windows OF the del Nillar apart
nants from Madison avenue and Gillespie be-
came a fixture in the lobby
SareI had a warrant to search the rooms and
when he saw man answering the description
Of Madariaga appear at the window he and
cueenia went up In the hotel and demanded adj
mittance. After much tala in Spanish within
fine door was opened. The inspectors say they
found Madariaga, del Villar and Mrs. Caideron
inside and when they demanded the bracelet
Mrs Calderon produced it from her clothing.