New-York tribune., 1910-09-11
FOUR IN CUSTOMS CLUTCH
One a Dressmaker on First Trip
Others Also Are Women.
BIG RUSH FOR INSPECTORS
Four Liners, Bringing 5000
Passengers, Make Port Within
Two Hours of One Another.

The customs officials had a strenuous
time yesterday examining the baggage OF
some three thousand passengers who ar
rived here yesterday on four big transat-
lantic liners that managed 10 come into
nort within two hours of one another The
Surveyors department was not able 10 ssIi
on the men in the discharging division
for assistance. as it did on Sunday, and
the work had to be handled by 1I5 men
The cabin passenger compliments OF the
Arnerika the Carnpania. the ST Paul and
Ia Savoie were filed with wealthy travel
lers. but they gave no trouble TO the GUS
toms officials in the examination of the
baggage. The deputy surveyors and deputy
collectors in charge OF the piers said that
the declarations were well prepared, but
four women made an effort to get through
the Zines with undeclared articles.
Miss Ida NJ Smith was the first traveller
TO fan into the clutches of the customs
men She is a dressmaker, of No 305 Fifth
avenue She was first cabin passenger on
the Ham burg American liner Amerika- re
turning from her first shopping trip abroad.
She declared dutiable goods amounting to
sia0 the amount each passenger is per-
rnitted 10 bring in free Of duty. but when
the inspector who examined her baggage
overhauled her trunks he found modei
gowns appraised at 500 This aroused the
susricicns of the deputy surveyor, who
asked Miss Smith many questions concern
ing her purchases abroad
Silk on Her Underskirt,
When the interview was ended she told
him that she had also brought in silk val
ned 81 so. which was found sewn arouno
IN Underskirt-
When these articles were discovered Miss
Smith told the Deputy Surveyor that she
had nothing more to declare, and her word
vas accented During the conversation
with the customs officials the dressmaker
WAS asked why she had brought over the
gowns without declaring them. and she re
r71ie5 that she knew there were wealthy
1,ersonS on board who were bringing III
much more than she without declaring il.
and she felt that If the rich could bring IN
goods without being caught she also had a
righr 70 try it
rhis statement aroused the curiosity OF
.he 0enl11v surveyor. and he asked her 10
give him the names of wealthy passengers
on the Ar7lerika who were trying TO SNUG
ele and ht would make an effort to mo
the ursleclared goods
Miss Smith hl1lshe7 and answered that
she ,<-n7lld not tell on any one Her
gowns were sent 10 the Appraisers Stores.
nur i IS thought that she will be able 10
PET them bv the payment Of the duty
Mrs Theresa Forster, OF No. a37 Knicker-
hooker avenue. BROOKLYN. also cabin pas
sencer On the Amerika- was unprecedented
bv 2 customs inspector after her trunks
had heen examined. Her declaration was
ir accord with what was found in her
trunks and bags. but as she was about TO
depart from the pier the inspector grssred
E steamer rug she carried on her arm and
asked TO examine it It felt bulky. and
on opening it he found many yards of fine
lace that had been cleverly hidden in its
folds The lace was seized and sent TO the
uEbiC stores.