New-York tribune., 1909-07-10
HER TRUNKS SEIZED
BUT MRS. GL4DDING GETS
HER FINERY BACK.
Indianapolis UOmaH Had Not De
CIarcd Goods Talucd at $1,000
-HiSrcad the Blanks.


The teChnicality Of misreading the declaration
blanks which sent to her by the purser
shortly after leaving Queenstown saved the con-
fseation of the baggage OF Mrs. y. A Glad
ding first cabin passenger, VINO arrived here
last week on the White Star liner Cedric, from
Liverpool Mrs. Gladdng is prominent woman
OF indianapolis. where her husband - vice-presI-
dent Of the + e. Atkins Saw Works
She arrived here on July ,. accompanied by
ner two daughters the Misses Frances VI. and
Mary +. Gladdng. Her trunks were taken to
the pier from the steamer. and when an lnspec-
tor had overturned number ~ gowns he
glanced at her declaration and found they had
not been recorded. He searched further and
found more gowns. and these likewise had not
been declared by Mrs. Gladding. The total value
~ the goods was estimated at 81 900
The Inspector stopped his examination and re-
ported the matter at once t. Alexander MrKeon.
the deputy surveyor in charge of the pier. Mr..
Mokeou looked over the declaration and asked
Mrs Gladding why she had not declared the
dutiahle goods which filled her trunk She ex-
planned that she did not know it was neces-
sary. whereupon the deputy surveyor ordered
the goods seized and sent To- the Appraisers
Stores
Mr. GGadding. who had come from Indian
surprised at the action Of Mr.. Mckeon. and
after asking for an explanation. was referred t"
Collector Loeb Accompanied by his wife and
daughters. he went direct to the Custom House
and laid the matter before the Collector. He
said that his family wanted 70 get an early
train To Indianapolis. and asked that a trunk
containing apparel taken abroad by his family
De examined and released,
MR. LOEB ASKS QUESTIONS
Collector Loeb asked Mrs. Gladding why she
purchased dutiabI" gowns abroad and had not
declared them. She said she was not accus-
toned 10 travelling and the ways of the port
and did not think it necessary. She told Mr.
Loeb that when the steamer stopped at Queens
town for the Irish mail and passengers. a mum
bcr az Irish lacemake-E had boarded the
steamer with their wares Some 90 the passcn-
gers made small purchases but Mrs Gladdl1S
said she did not patronize the Irish venders
shortly after the Cedric cleared Queenstown
the declaration blanks distributor by Purser
Edwards ta ho filled out by the passengers
NJ their InIsur" while crossing the Atlantic She
said she glanced az the declaration blank. and
reading fr hastily. thought the words purchased
abroad" read purchased "n board Sh" OK
pfstnad to the Collector that as she had not pur-
chased anything ON board the cedric from IN"
T. sh laocrnalers she rhouE1t -ha was not obliged
- declare anything
Nr Teab believed rhe explanation "f Mrs
GIadd,nE and. as her husband said he was Will
INK % par me duty and would gladly have paid
B, had sne declared the good. ordered IN" trunks
restored to hcr ON the payment - th" duty
rnf. was done and the Gladdiucs took am even
ing train Cnr indianapolis.
Tho summary dismissal - tho G,addirc trunks
from the Appraisers stores was n"ised about
and il was said by som. persons that tho Glad
Tr-.. :. ..r-r
Fairbanks II was also reported that other
strong influence had been brought TO bear IN
the case.
Collector Loeb when asked about the case
yesterday said that such a rumor absurd
Ha stated Incidentally that he had been making
recommendations tn the disposition " seized
baScagr for several months He related the in
,.Ident Of the o;loddinE seizure and told Why ha
had recommended the release
40 POLITICAL INFLUENCE.
Pending the action Of Congress ON the ap-
roinfa-ant ~ customs court of appeals. Mr.
Loeb said he had been taking UP the matter II
seizures and making such ro""mmendatons- rs
he Thought NJ and just in the disposition ~ big
seizures Some Of them. tho Collector said had
10 do win prominent persons in this city
Il have taken up many of the hiE cases SAID
.b collector. and have made just recommcnda-
,,.. ,,,rccrring them t. the United states At
t,~rev No political influence however strong.
can affect the disposition of any s"tzur" mad" at
this port During my administration the col
Iar;nr's Office does not and will not recognize
friends Of any person who may become involved
in the bringing in Of undeclared goods. and no
uoliticai influence had anything whatsoever to
40 with the releasing OF Mrs Ciladdirg's trunks
We are not seeking to trap people We ar"
here to collect the duties due the government
and we are going to collect them. but We do not
want IN make the service obnoxious 10 the pub
H., Some travellers not familiar with the [
law as was the case with Mrs. G!adding. and, /
believing that she did not attempt to defraud
the government / recommended that her trunks 1
he released on the payment of the duty
iE, Telegraph 10 The Tribune