Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-05-21
RICH WOMAN
FOUND GUILTY
OF SMUGGLING

Trenton, N. J., May 21.-Accompany-
ing It's verdict with a recommendation
for mercy, the Jury in the case of Mrs.
Matilda M. Chesbrough, charged with
smuggling jewelry into this country
from Europe, found the woman guilty.
She is the wife OF wealthy lumber
dealer and steamship owner of New
ton, Mass, and did not have the usual
temptation of,those who seek to evade
payment of the government duties.
1t is believed that the recommenda-
tion for mercy precludes any possI-
bility of the courts sentence including
term of imprisonment, this being the
evident intention of the jury, which
was out four hours.
The maximum fine which may be
imposed is $4,000. and the court will
be asked to fix this amount upon the
ground that the government has been
put to heavy expense in conducting
the proceedings. The trial consumed
three days.
The conviction of Mrs. ChesbOrough,
who was one of the several tourists
trapped by the customs officials about
year ago, will be followed by pro-
ceedings to confiseate pearl necklace
which has been appraised as high as
$30.400, together with other articles
found In her baggage
Attorney Wardner in summing up
for the defense submitted that there
had been no attempt upon the part
of Mrs. Chesborough to deceive the
government officials or to escape the
payment of duties, and If there had
been any violation of the laws it had
resulted from ignorance rather than
design With some bitterness he criti-
cised methods of customs officials.
81 submit to the jury" said Mr.
Wardner that there Is no one so
naughty, so proud, so affected with his
own Importance as to the inferior gov
ernment official" He asked the jury
to compare the conflicting stories told
upon the witness stand by the customs
officials with the evidence given by
Mrs. Chesbrough, asserting that while
the testimony of the woman had been
straightforward and frank that of the
government witnesses manifested an
evident desire to secure conviction
regardless of the facts.
District Attorney Vreeland dwelt
particularly upon the fact that in the
largest trunk of Mrs. Chesbrough, in
which number of the durable artf-
cles were found, there was false bot
tom. He asked the jury to discredit
the statement that Mrs. Chesbrough
had beeu led to purchase the trunk
because she thought the false bottom
would make good ironing board. He
made a last effort to bring the $50, 400
necklace into the case by referring to
the fact that it had been seized and
that while no evidence had been per-
mitted as to the fact, relating to the
seizure 1t was still circumstance that
might be considered by the jury In de
termlning the guilt or innocence of
Mrs. Chesbrough. Sal 81
Mr.. Wardner objected to, this sum-
ming up, and Judge Relstab instruct
ed the district attorney to make no
further comments regarding the more
valuable necklace.
Judge Rellstab in charging the jury
said that In order to find the defend
ant guilty the jury must conclude.
first, that Mrs. Cheshrough had
brought into the country dutiable arti-
cles with her baggage which had not
been mentioned In her declaration,
and. second. that she must have
brought them in with the knowledge
that they were dutiable and with in
tent to defraud the government