New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-28
WOMAN IN CUSTOMS TOLLS
Detained for Not Declaring
$1,000 Worth of Gowns.
CHICAGO LABEL DOESN'T GO
Mention of John Powers as Once
Husband Causes Mix-Up on
Windy City Politics.

Mrs. Mayme McKenna. of No. 1922
Michigan avenue, Chicago, went before
the special deputy surveyor at the Gus
tom House yesterday to attempt to ex
! plain why she had not declared $1,000
worth of Paris gowns in her baggage on
the steamship Mauritania. The pres
ence, firmly affixed. of a Chicago Ia bel
on one of the garments, seven in num-
Der, and the statement on the part of
the woman that her husband. who was
John Powers, used to make out the dec
larations for her, caused the customs
officials to get Chicago politics all mixed
up. Some one whispered that Mrs. Me
kenna was the widow Of "Rathhouse
John.
Not one of them knew whether Bath
house John" was dead or alive, nor
whether his name was Powers, and there
was more bewiIderment when some one
said that "BathhouSe Johns" name was
not Powers but CoughIin. There was
O. had been a John Powers, alderman
from the 18th District of Chicago who,
with Alderman Brennan. did at one time
run that ward as effectively as Bath
house John and "Hinky Dink' did the
1st Ward
Weeps During Inquiry.
There was DISTINGUISHED looking man
with Mrs McKenna. She said that her
name was Mckenna. and not kenna.
eliminating "Hinky Dink' from the pro
ceedings at least for the time being,
and as the examination proceeded she
shed a few tears. Mrs. McKenna wore a
great black picture hat, and she had to
turn her head sidewise to get into the
examination room Her gown was also
black. She is tall and handsome. and
did all the talking. her companion stand
ing near with compressed lips.
The proceedings began with the swear
ing off Of a bout 81 800 worth of jewelry'
bought in this country, she said, and
taken abroad. Her home had been in
Chicago all her life. She had been
abroad several times. and her husband
Jobn Powers. had always attended to
the declarations for her. And then she
said platntiVely:
ct have had lots of trouble: had money
stolen from me, and [ wanted to get
swsv and back to Chicago as soon as
possible"
Solicitor Andrews was sent for MI
smvth. the special deputy surveyor,
found that there were declarations on
file signed by John Powers, correspond |
TING with Mrs Mckenna story. Inc
latter under further examination. would
nor DENY that she had affixed the Chi |
c.go label to the gown. 1t was then
saoided tn nut the case in the hands |
- tho United states Attorney, and Dep |
+,, SURVEYOR O'Connor called d taxicab |
and with Mrs McKenna and her com |
nanion. went to the Federal Building
Mr WempIe, Assistant United States
ATTORNEY. went with the party to the
office of Commissioner Hitchcock who |
at first wanted $4,000 bail. When this |
u,as not forthcoming it was agreed to
nostpone the case for further nearing |
on Tuesday. and Mrs. McKenna and her
companion left the building.
Gowns Appraised at $500.
The woman was a passenger on the
Msuretania on Thursday night and one
of the inspectors would not believe her
statement that the seven handsome |
gowns were made in Chicago, despite
the one label in evidence. He said that
the garments were all at least six
months ahead of Chicago styles. The