The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-12-08
HOLD MRS. SHONTS'S JEWELS
SIZE DID NOR DECLARE SfS,O00
WORTH nor GHT ~ PARIS.
Had Exchanged DUTY Paid Jewelry
bought Here Tor the New Gauds
aud Thought She Could Bring Them
In Frcr-Thcy We're Not Sei1fd.

Mrs. Theodore y. Shnnts. wife Of the
president Of the Interhnrough company.
arrived yesterday by IN" crippled North
German Lloyd liner Kaiser Wilhelm der
Gross. and got into trouble for the second
time in tn. last several years with the
customs people She had been visiting
her dau ghter. the Duchess dc Chaulnes.
widow Of the Duke. and her little grand
son Mrs. Shont~ ws.s met at the pier
10y her husband Sh" had not apparently
paid much attention To the form OF decla-
ration printed in black for returning resi-
dents IT IN" United states. which told
her that IN. must -deClar" all wearing
apupar"l. Iewelry and other articles.
whether used or unused. on their persons.
Iu their clothing or IN their baggage
which hav" been obtained abroad by
purchase or otherwise. with the foreign
cost or value Il tho same
She had in on" ol many trunks n jewel
case containing what peputv Surveyor
John }. Raczklewicz estimated to he
jewel~y valued abroad AZ about SIS 600
She made no mention q It in her declara-
ton: also she made no effort to conceal
1t Inspector Knapp, VIII" discovered
II in the trunk. immediately took IL to
Nr RACIkiewicZ. II" questioned Mrs.
Shrnts. who said she had no intention
OF cheating the Government. Among
the jewclry were one pearl necklace. one
diamond necklace and "a diamond PEN
dant. all Of which Mr.. Shonts said she
had obtained from "a jewelier in Paris
She said she supposed that the stun was
not dut.Ible because she had exchanged
for 1t other icweiry that had paid duty
here when originally imported or had
been manufactured here
Mr.. RaczkIewiCz asked for particulars
and Mrs Shonts said that she had taken
from New York when she sailed hence
To visit her daughter several months ago
about $50 600 worth of jew.lry, which
she had not registered at the Custom
House before going abroad She said
that she had put this jswelry in the hands
Of the Partisan dealer and that he had
credited il To her account. On this ac-
count which has not been closed, she
bought the jewelry that arrived with her
yesterday.
Mr. Raczkiewicz decided that under the
circumstances he would not be justified
in seizing the jewelry. but that he would
| send il To the public stores. To-day
Collector Loeb and Surveyor Henry will
pass judgment on the matter.
Mr. Shonts said that in failing TO de-
! clare the icwelry that was seized Mrs.
Shonts was laborinG under the assumption
| that since she had traded something for
the articles upon which the duty had
once been paid she wouldn't have tn pay
duty on the articles she got in exchange.
Some years ago | bought three strings
Of pearls Of wholesale firm in Maiden
lane said Mr.. Shonts. The largest
string cost about 1000 and | gave II to
my wife. while the two smaller strings
gave To- my two daughters. They cost
about S3O. 900. If | remember rightly.
The large string and one Of the smaller
ones my wife exchanged in Paris. She
didn't get the full value Of the pearls
!. in exchange. for the receipt sh" has shows
that there II still credit due her. Under
these circumstances think 1t only natural
that sh. made he mistake she did. and ono
| think any lIynan might make. or az
least that might make myself under tho
same circumstances.
Il feel quit" certain that the explanation
will Ds satisfactory. When the man at the
desk told me- ne thought he would have
10 keep the articles and refer the case
| told him | preferred tn have him do
hat rather than admit them under any
question.
In January. 1907. the resid"nc" Of Mr..
Shont- was invaded 10y customs men
under Collector Fowler. who IN the alb
s"nc" Of the family took note Of every
thing IN" Shont-.> had ~ the form Of
clothing and j"wclry. including some
presents from tn" Duo a." Chaulne-. who
married Miss Theodore ShOnts month
later. Another examination conducted
with the consent ot Mr. and Mrs. ShOnts
revealed about sl."" worth Of dutiable
stun that had not paid duty The news
papers did not learn how the matter
had been adjusted. hut II il supposed
that the duty was paid by MIR Shonts.