New-York tribune., 1909-06-13
W0MEN'S GOODS SEIZED
At HOBOKEN PIER
HAD JEWELRY IND FURS
FALUED At -, 900.
Ud1Caukee WidozC and T1ro Daugh-
ters Searched by Inspectors from
Custom House.

American liner Anerika was made fast yester-
day three women. wearing furs and also carry
ing them on their arms. walked ashore to ths
pier in Hoboken- The unusual heat OF the day
and the wearing Of furs attracted the attention
Of Isaac Harris. the Acting Deputy Surveyor OF
Customs. who was close by. and he watched ths
women closely. Mr.. Harris. believing that the
proper place for furs day like yesterday
was in 4 trunk. became at once suspicious OF
the wearers.
The women under surveillance werc Mrs ~
Lonstorf. OF Milwaukee. and her two daughters.
the Misses Edwiua and Camille Lonstorf They
walked over calmly to some friends who met
them on the pier. and according to the customs
officials transferred the furs to them Then tbs
women went to the place where their baggage
had been deposited and sat their trunks
One Of the women procured an inspector and
proceeded 20 unlock the trunks
Meanwhile, Deputy Surveyor Harris took a
hand in the inspection of the baggage. and
within two hours after the steamer docked the
furs and trunks and some expensive jewelry, all
conservatively estimated 10 be worth about
$1,000, were sent to the Appraisers Stores. The
three women together declared dutiabIe goods.
according TO the customs officials. amounting
TO $500. AS the law allows each passenger to
bring in free Of duty goods amounting in value
to 500. the three women had declared just
enough to come within the law without the
payment OF duty.
SAYS THEY TRIED To AVOID DUTY.
Harris went over the inspection of the bag
gage like a ferret and finally informed the
women that there were many articles OF wear
ing apparel packed away that had not been de-
clared- After persistent Interrogation Harris
was satisfied, from the explanations Of the
women. that effort was being made TO evade
duty. and he reported the case to Deputy Sur
veyor John ]. Raczkiewicz, who recently sue
ceeded Deputy Surveyor John NJ Bishop in
charge Of the second division
Mr. Raczkfewtcz and Deputy Surveyor Nc
Keen, his chief Of staff, had long talk with the
women, and asked them to make a clean breast
Of the whole affair. but they protested that they
had brought the furs 70 Europe from this coun-
try and had had repairs made while abroad. No
explanation was offered for the other dutiabIs
articles in the trunks Neither Mr.. Raczkiswicz
nor Mr. Harris was satisfied. and the women
were requested 10 return 20 their rooms on board
the steamer.
The Deputy Surveyor then ordered Mrs
Darragh and Mrs Clark. women inspectors to
search Mrs. Lonstorf and her two daughters
Before searching them The women inspectors
urged the three women TO give up whatever they
might have that was dutiable on their persons
but they declined 10 admit that they had any
goods concealed about them
SEARCHED BY WOMEN INSPECTORS
Mrs. Darragh and Mrs Clark had then no
alternative. so they searched Mrs. Lonstorf
and her two daughters When they returned
to Mr. Raczkievicz they turned over to him
pearl necklace. four gold rings. number OF
gold and silver chain purses and some leather
purses with gold and silver mOuntinss. The
customs officials declare that the case was
clear attempt TO evade the payment OF duty, and
tbs feyrelrv furs and other dutiable goods IN the
trunks were seized at once
The three women went later to the Waldorf
Astoria They declined TO see a representative
OF The Tribune last night in their apartments.
but a woman who said she was Mrs LOnstorfs
daughter, said over the telephone that tnere
must have been a mistake. no one in her
party had had any trouble OF nisundersranolns
with the customs officials
When the facts were recalled to her tbs
Young woman called another person TO the teie-
nbone whose voice suggested that the speaker
might be a man. The second speaker declined
70 give his name. but said ne was friend
of the LOnstorf family
CASE OF MISREPRESENTATION
.e-r,is Is 4 case OF unsophisticated women
"Thev were foolish enough to take the advice
-, ,,-7scr,,n,,1ous norefgners- Mrs LonsJorf and
her two daughters were persuaded by fur deal
ers abroad TO purchase flIrs because they were
cbeao In Europe and would not be subject 70
,7,,+v On entering this port They did take sons
stuff abroad to be repaired, and they also bought
some furs while abroad
Mrs Lonstorf. who is q widow, was in III
health and she and her daughters made trip
10 Italy and France about eight months ago in
ssarcb Of health. These ladies feel that the
customs officials have treated them most cour-
teousIy and kindly. and they have no fault 70
find The whole affair IS a great mistake. ara
Mrs. I.onstorf will go to the Custom House on
Monday and pay whatever duty Is necessary "
she can get back the seized goods
The friend explained over the telephone also
that the iewelry taken from the women when
searched was their own private property. Pur-
chased in this country and taken abroad by
them when they left New York He said that II
was found on their persons because it was the
habit of the women to carry their jewels in that
fashion when travelling
The customs officials made several other seiz-
,,res Yesterday among passengers on the Amer
fka but declined TO give the names. as the per-
sons involved may have some right 20 bring IN
the goods free of duty the plea OF foreign
residence
The baggage Of Mrs. Ella RawIs Reader. with
goods appraised at about $1,000 was held for
examination Mrs. Reader said she was for
eisn resident. and entitled 70 bring I'm the
goods without the payment OF duty.
The customs officials declared yesterday that
the public must be taught that they cannot
evade the customs. Under orders from Col
lector Loeb. the deputy surveyors and inspectors
fr1Tfe Of has