New-York tribune., 1909-05-23
CUSTOM HOUSEAUCTION
Officials VII Dispose of 906 Pieces
of Struggled Goods.

OF the ss4 pieces of dress goods gowns. trim
rnings and underwear in the five trunks seized by
the authorities over a month ago. 1863, or
contents of the largest trunk, brought over on
the steamer Gothland, will be put up auction a
week from Wednesday in the Civil Service exam
ination room in the Custom House. The contents
Of one trunk time will be sold thereafter on
June 4 s, 10 and L.
Appraisers have valued the es4 pieces tabulated
as lots in FIVE pamphlets issued yesterday by
United States Marshal Henkel at $1,000 With
the duty added they should be worth $4,000 1t is
believed that the government Will realize enough
to pay the duties
All the lots are not to be sold Nineteen have
been withdrawn from the contents of the first
trunk twenty-six from the second, twenty-elght
from the third. three from the fourth and two
from the fifth total of seventy-eight out Of the
9s4 leaving 9O6 be disposed Of. Those withdrawn
will be held evidence in the prosecution OF
the persons alleged TO have attempted 10 defraud
the government-that is If they are ever discoV-
cred.
The nearest the government authorities have
come to them so far when agent offered to
relieve Collector Loeb of the trunks of he would
accept S260,000 Mr.. Loeb refused the offer, and
the man at the other end of the wire too mod
est to give his the names Of those Tor
whom he acting.
There will be opportunity to inspect the con-
tents of each trunk the week day before the
sale. Marshal Henkel will have the assistance OF
women from the customs service. who will dis
to pose as models. There will also be men from
the government service who will act as floor walk
ers for the occasion. and incidentally keep an eye
the thousands of persons expected to be at the
inspection and sale. A private inspection Will be
held on Wednesday, when photographs will oe
taken for the government and the newspapers The
auctioneer will be Charles Shongood.
The sale Will begin at 10 O'Clock, but the room,
which is on the fifth floor of the Custom House,
will be open before that time. that persons VINO
were unable to see the display the day before may
get view then. A deposit will be required from
each successful bidder, and the full amount VIII
have to be paid the sale, when the goods are
delivered Persons who do not take the goods
away will forfeit the deposit. No allowances VIII
be made for damages found after purchase Tor
the goods will be sold "as they are. The con-
tents of the trunks have been divided INTO many
lots to prevent wholesale bidding.
Thousands of catalogues have been distributed
Marshal HenkeI said yesterday that he had had
inquiries from hundreds of women who would De
at the sale The room IS fairly large but Inuch OF
the space will be taken up with the display Oh the
fnery and five hundred persons Will crowd IL
To facilitate the sale minute information regard
of piece goods Iaces and trimmings. and the size
said by those who examined the contents OF the
trunks that the trimmings and other gown accesSo-
rfes belonged TO the dress goods the shippers IN
tending that the model gowns in the trunks should
have their unfinished duplicates Treasury agents
will be busy at sale among the spectators ana
purchasers. seeking familiar faces.