The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-04-29
SLEEPER TRUNK TRIAL ON
INFORMER SAYS INSPEC ron
HANDLED TEE GRAFT.

schwartz Puts the PIER smusglmg Cp 90
Faweett. NOss Dead. and Phlllipsen.
the Observation-Disclosures Grant saws the
Trunks m lser Name weren't HeTs.
Robert Schwartz the former baggage
master Of the American and Red Star Line
piers who was indicted by the Federh
Grand Jury ON January =. 1910. along with
former Inspector Philip A. Phillipsen and
twenty-seven dressmAkers OF this city,
Boston. Philadelphia and Chicago. for
conspirinR 10 smuggls IN costly French
gowns. laces. silks. &c. was the principal
witness Yesterday In the trial Of Phillipsen
and two OF the accused dressmakers
before Judge Martin and a Jury4n the
United States CIRCUIT Court Schwartz
has been helping Assistant United States
Attorney Dorr ~ the preparation for this
trial. He was allowed TO plead guilty
hefors the trial got under way and proba-
bly, will be released on suspended SEN
tence
OF the twenty-seven dressmakers In
dicted all but two have pleaded guilty.
These two are now on trial with the al
legged principal. Philhpsen. They are
Mary 8. Moore and Isabel Holland OF
Boylston street. Boston. The conspiracy
in which they are charged with p&rttct-
pating vas exposed in March, 1899. when
| I'VE large trunks containing PArie gowns.
dress materials, laces &c. subsequently,
appraised &C 80. seS. we're forwarded on
the steamship Cortland % the Red ss=g
Line in the name Of Miss Nellie Grant, the
granddaughter Of Gen L y. Grant. who
I had arrived hero on the kroonland With
her aunt Mr~. Mason, few days before
. the GOthland reached this port
MISS Grant said on the witness stand
/ yesterday that the trunks did not belong
to her OF 90 her aunt that neither OF them
had left ANY baggage IN France 60 he
| forwarded here
According 20 the Government the plan
by which smuggling was carried on
through the medium OF the so-called
| sleeper trunks provided for a resident
agent in Paris whose business was 20
negotiate with American dreesmakers
come 10 the French capital TO make pur-
chAses for their customers These women
were told that their purchases would be
passed through the customs inspection
without duty on the payment Of so per
cent Of what the duty ought to be.
Schwartz testified yesterday that he
had been IN the employ 81 the American
and Red star lines for twenty years As
baggage master ne took charge OF all
baggage after " had been inspected and
the left over baggage were given 20 him.
I he said. by the second officer OF the steam
shap with the manifests % the other bag
gage These werv in duplicate. one going
/ to the Custom House and the other 90 the
| second Officer after IL had been checked up
Edward r Wright. general superinten-
| dent 81 the American and Red Star piers.
had previously testified that he gave
! Schwartz authority 10 sign orders passing
baggage through the watchman AZ the
gate
Did not the baggage have 70 have
some mark 81 having been inspected by
g customs Inspector asked William
Rand. JT counsel for Miss holland and
I Miss Moore
/ Not AZ that time replied the witness
Schwartz testified that Frank Fawoett.
who prior TO the summer Of 1905 was q
customs inspector and with whom
schwartz had entered into an agreement
TO pass sleeper trunks. worked with
Philhpsen Schwartz said he met Fawoett
IN he summer q i@ss and had several
conversations with him. When Nj Dorr
attempted TO get these conversations on
the court record. both Mr.. Rand and
George Gordon Battle. PhllhPsen.s con-
SCI objected because Fawcetf was dead.
4 The objection wns sustained Mr. Dorr
( said that the conversation would prove
. that FaWCett and PhIlhpsen entered
into an agreement before Schwartz was
approached
B fawcett went abroad that summer.
according 10 schwartz. and on his return
told Schwartz that trunks would I've
coming IN a. once They came and we're
sent hy schwartz TO addresses furnished
from Fawcegts memorandum Some
OF these trunks were sent out OF the city.
schwartz said, and none Of them was
inspected
schwartz testified tina, PhilIpsen came
into the agreement IN 1904 and that trunks
we're cent 20 addresses supplied by him.
SchwartZ said he received $50 from Phil
ipsen for each trunk passed. The plan
worked well until the fail ~ 1907. when
for the time being u fell through be-
cause the inspectors discovered four
trunks sent over IN the name ~ Mr.
bingham These and three other tTunks
we're sent IN the appraisers stores.
In the spring ~ 1898 however. the
PhIllip~en. A. usual supplied the adj
dresses. according TO the witness. and
Schwartz after talk with Philhpsen
received 9lS for each trunk PASSED
In the following summer Fawcett died
in New York hospital. and IL was then
Schwartz wanted To give up the scheme.
Philhps"n told him that the thing could
60 on Just az well without Fawcett as with
MIN and ne succeeded IN inducing
SChwg ritz 10 stav. Schwartz said
After Schwartz had told 81 several con
sIgnments % trunks brought IN on vari-
Gus ships court adjourned for the day
4. G. Wall special a gent Of the Treasury
Department who went Pbroad 70 get
evidence against dressrnakers and Mill.
ners under Indictment IN this country
for smuggling. returned Yesterday bv
the White Star liner Adriattc He refused
70 talk hut " ~ known that he was una ble
10 get several ,hings that he had gone for,
including copies ~ the original bills 81
sale II some unAervalued finery The
Partisan miuiners would not give their
American customers away. He did get
some evidenoe that will he used