The San Francisco call., 1909-04-16
Return of Famous Generals
Granddaughter Followed by
Sending of Trunks
COntraband Worth $4,000 Is
Not Claimed ard Inquiry
Discloses Deception
Band Is Frightened Away When
Officials Begin Their
Investigation
l5-ae.ai Disaotch to The Call


TEW YORK. April l5.-The- e-discov-
N cry Of an international plot, in
which the conspirato4s boldly
planned TO use the names OF Miss Nellie
Grant. daughter OF Jesse r. Grant and
granddaughter of General Ulysses
simpson Grant. and Of Mrs. John E
Mason. her aunt. both OF whom are now
-lhing at 37oI Washington street, San
Francisco. in smuggling into this coun-
try free of duty gowns and laces worth
thousands Of dollars was admitted to-
DAY by customs officials.
Three trunks containing $50 French
gowns formed the greater part Of the
illegal shipment captured by the in
spectors and sSo.ooo viii not cover the
value Of the articles Miss Grant and
Mrs Mason were communicated with
when suspicion was aroused that their
names we're being used by the snug
Cling band as q means of getting val
|. TABLES into the United States free of
2 charge. and then the conspiracy was
e fscIosed
Trunks Not Claimed
Miss Grant and Mrs. Mason arrived
ct 11ew York early in March from CAL
cutts. where they had heen residing
for more than two years. They came
on the steamship Kroonland. and, be
cause Of their residence of more than
the prescribed year abroad, were al
lowed TO bring in all their personal
effects. wearing apparel and house
hold goods free Of duty.
The two ladies continued their jour
ney 20 san Francisco. but on the Goth
land. the next steamer to arrive from
Europe after the Kroonland. three
trunks came addressed to them The
trunks were not disturbed by the Gus
toms inspectors. being given the same
privilege accorded the other baggage,
but after three weeks had passed with
out a call for the trunks TO be for
warded. Jesse Grant in New York was
notified by the customs officials, and
collector Stratton, at San Francisco,
vas wired to ask the two women
whether or not they had any baggage
awaiting them or expected any de-
lsyed baggage. The question was put
10 them here. and. in surprise. they
answered that they had brought all
their baggage with them.
Plot Is Revealed
That reply showed the customs Off
cials that plot to defraud the gov
ernment had been hatched and that the
names Of Mrs. Mason and Miss Grant
had been decided upon as the ones TO
use in the attempt 60 get the snug
ried goods past the customs officials,
because the two had been away from
the United states more than year.
Somehow the plot miscarried on this
Isfde Of the water. and those who were
= supposed TO call for the trunks did not
do so. It is known. however, what
F,uropean shop keepers are concerned
in the plan.
Mrs. Mason and Miss Grant at their
residence. 37o1 Washington street, told
Of their innocent part in the smugglers'
plan last night
collector stratton communicated
with US" Miss Grant said. and asked
us whether or not we expected any de-
laved baggage. When we told him we
cid not he Immediately communicated
with New york They broke open the
trunks sad found them filled with laces
and gowns. The smugglers must have
got our names from the passenger list,
and decided TO ship some goods ad-
dressed 10 Us, and then have agents call
for them on this side. Ny father writes
me that the officials have been search
ing for smuggling gang that is carry
ing on this sort of traffic. and I sup
pose the search frightened whoever
was expected to get the goods in New
York so badly that he was afraid to go
near"