New-York tribune., 1909-03-29
TROUBLE FOR PURSER
DCTI4BLE GOODS SEIZED
IN HIS ST4TEROOM.
Customs Officials Take Package of
GOWns from X. ID. U7Iliams, of
american Liner ST. Louis.

The close watching which the customs officials
have been giving the steamers Of the American
Line IN an effort to stop smuggling, and which
recently led 10 the arrest Of baggage superin-
tendent. centered on F. d. Williams. the
purser OF the steamer ST Louis when she
docked yesterday. Contrary to custom. four
special inspectors were sent down TO Quarantine
yesterday on the revenue cutter when the St.
Louis ready to start for her pier The men
had special instructions to make complete
search Of the steamer from stem to stern. in
Guiding the quarters Of the crew and the state
rooms Of officers.
The search, which was thorough revealed
nothing until an effort was made to get into
the room Of Mr. Williams the veteran purser OF
the boat. II said that the inspectors had
difficulty in getting into the purser's room, and
when II was finally opened to them a search re-
vealed some gowns believed to have been made
IN Paris and TO be worth something more than
$1,000.
The finding Of the gowns in Mr.. Williams 3
room and the fact that they were taken from
him by representatives Of the Surveyors staff
caused considerable surprise among the pas
sengers on board and among the baggage agents
and hotel men on the pier. Mr. Williams. who
has been IN the service Of the American Line for
many years IS exceedingly popular with thou J.
sands Of transatlantic travellers who have
crossed with him, and il is believed that he will
give a reasonable explanation when he appears
before Surveyor Clarkson to-day at 10 a. m
TWAS said recently by Assistant United States
Attorney Dorr who has charge OF the case IN
which Schwartz. the baggage superintendent. is
involved that the American Line was 10 be COM
rnended for the way it had assisted the customs
officials in running down the smuggling that
seems 10 have been going on from American
Ti-e steamers for some time The line Of sur
--Af1lance has been drawn unusually tight since
the arrival OF a trunk containing $4,000 worth Of
dut!able stuff on the American liner Philadelphia
On March 6. which led 70 the arrest Of Schwartz.
The customs officials had information that
the trunk had been put aboard the Philadelphia
hut when the steamer wes searched on arrival
= could not be found. About ten days later II
WIS learned that the trunk had been taken up
town After the Surveyor recovered It, with
SIS contents Il was learned that the trunk had
never landed on Pier *. where the Philad delphia
vas docked. but had been swung across the
dock 70 The north side OF Pier Il Of the Red
Star Line.
tn. friends Of NJ Williams are confident
thai there was no effort to sn1uggle on his part
and that he was not q party TO any system OF
getting goods into this country without the
ravn7ent of duty. One explanation Of the find
ing OF the gowns .n the pursers stateroom Is
nat cut OF courtesy to an English woman,
,a--o, rs The line who Is booked 20 sail for
co,,+rar,,-on on the St Louis. Saturday. ne
brought the gowns over for her use on the re-
turn passage.
The woman Il Is said. came over here several
,.eebs ago and is now IN this city The sup
,,osi,io, IS that as she wanted 70 wear the gowns
a, dinner on hoard the St Louis while returning
- ENGLAND they were sent 20 her in care Of the
,,,rser. who would keep them locked up in his
room, until she could board the steamer on
ca-u-dav Mr. williams L Is said. did not in
tend that the gowns should leave the steamer
hut the customs officials took them from him
PENDING the settlement Of the case.
Several friends Of the purse- said last night
thai In a typicaIly generous effort 70 DO faFor
fer 2 friend he had become involved in an un-
comfortable but not serious situation and that
when he got { hearing he would prove his inno-
cence Of any intention 20 snuggle the goods into
the country.
The two uacxHSes containing the gowns re
maiued on the American Line pier during the
night guarded by Inspectors Rogan and Sulli-
van, ex-cavalrynlen, who permitted no one 70
enter the covered pier except with proper Gre
dentsals The larger package was about three
feet long and two feet wide. and bore the label
'Pauquin Ltd. Paris. London" etc 1t was
addressed 10 Miss Hutchins. care OF r D.
Williams steamer St Louis. November "A,
1868" The smaller package was bound in heavy
taper and was about q foot square. 1t bore 10
address. but was almost covered on one SIDE
with iliegibIe writings in chalk
The rnaster-at-arrns OF the ST. Louis said that
Mr Williams war not arrested and was still on
board the ship.