The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-11-04
AN INGENIOUS
SMUGGLER
BY SAMUEL f. BRANT
-~--
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.
BY SAMUEL Z. BRANT

'These cases of rich people return
ing from Europe" / said to Il New
York customs inspector, must inter
est you greatly"
Not for their ingenuity" he replied
"These millionaires are very stupid III
their devices for concealing dutiable
goods. Our most interesting cases are
the professionals, who are familiar
with the old lodges and constantly in
venting new ones.
"A few years ago was cabled from
southampton by a confederate detec-
tive that regular smuggler named
Keisner-at least that was one OF his
names had gone aboard liner with
d large number Of diamonds.
e0n I've day the steamer arrived |
WAS or he dock, and there was keis-
nes coming down the gangplank look
ing dis innocent as three-year-old
child. Usually there Is an intent look
In Ii smuggler's eye which IL careful
" scrutinized betrays him. But keis-
mel did not look worried bit | had
him and his baggage taken into pri-
vate room aud went through both.
split his boot heels. combed his hair
and beard, An enormous silver watch
he wore looked suspicious, for had
known smugglers to have tiny works
nut In big watches and fill the empty
spaces with jewels. But the watch was
genuine. | demolished his cigars.
"In short, there was nothing about
him that could be made hollow that /
didn't destroy. When Ind finished !
had found nothing dutiable and had
over $40 to pay for demolished prop
erty was obliged to let the man 60
through. but | sent detective to keep
him In sight.
my man Swallowed him for two
weeks, when he was seen to enter a
diamond merchants shop When he
came ont he had sold $4,000 worth Of
diamonds. The next day he was shad-
owed to another shop, where he dis
posed OF as much more, and so on at
Intervals untll he had got rid of $780,
600 worth of stones.
Mind you, / wasn't shadowing him
to get the duty on these stones, for
how could prove they were SNUG
gled? Ny object was to get on to an
other device In order to scotch 1T when
| / met 1t again and to crafty my curl
| osity. win admit that the latter
was my principal reason. sent for
| Keisner and told him knew he had
Struggled In the diamonds and gave
| him to understand that | had some
| proof OF the fact or course he de.
MED the charge, but kept up the
! bluff for some time, then admitted
| there was some question as to whether
the government could convict him.
offered not to prosecute him 1t hi
would confess and reveal to me how
he had worked his scheme. HI
fought shy for awhile, then told me
that il | would give him q bond OF In
demnity for himself aud any othei
person or persons concerned with hin
he would tell me the story | pro
duced the bend. and he fulfilled hi;
part Of the contract.
"As soon as he had engaged hl'
stateroom on the steamer he cablet
the number to a confederate in New
York. The confederate engaged TIN
room for the return trip abroad
Keisner went aboard on sailing da,
with the diamonds, carrying In
satcheI a bit and brace, narrow saw
and little paint He knew wha
color the paint should be, for he hat
visited the room before. He bored
hole in the floor out Of sight III
der the berth, where it would not b
noticed. inserted his saw, cut out
small section Of flooring. put In th
diamonds. replaced the section Q
plank. daubed the edges with tn
paint, and the property was safel
hidden.
"When he came ashore there was n
occasion for him to betray excltemen
for he had no diamonds In his posses
sion. He had left them on the shil
No wonder that he looked uncoI
cerned while we were searching pro-
erty that might contain them. Indeed
the diamonds remained where he ma
hidden them till the day the yess
sailed on her return trip,
SHORTY before she pulled out OF II
| dock Kelsners confederate, who Ia
| engaged the stateroom where the di
monds were hidden, went to the roo
, with his wife and daughters, WI
were there to see him off, took up Il
section of flooring, secured the ston
, and distributed them among the mer
bers Of his family. Then when U
, ship was about to cast off they we
, ashore, bidding him goodby with tea
In their eyes. and stood waving to hi
! from the dock until he was out
sight.
"Now. wasn't this pretty dish
! set before the collector?
{ 1.-THE confederate was obliged to
I across. He took the next steam
: back and the day after he land
! turned the jewels over to keisnef. w
| sold them and divided the profits"