The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-14
ART DEALER HELD
 ON FRAUD CHARGES Members of New York Firm
 Are Put Under Bond
A MILLION DOLLAR LOSS
Government Is Said to Have Been SwindIed Out of Customs Dues By Means of False Consular
 Invoices


 Fifth avenue establishment of the four Duveen brothers and an uncle, who make up the firm, known the world over as dealers in rare art objects and antiques, was seized by federal officers late this afternoon and Benjamin J. Duveen, the only member of the firm in the city, was arrested, charged with conspiracy to de- fraud the government of customs dues.
 Henry A. Wise, United States district attorney, in asking for heavy bail, said the frauds would reach more than $,- 00O, 900, and that all four brothers were implicated. Bail was fixed at s50,000. which was promptly given and Duveen was released.
 Special agents of the department of jus tice, armed with warrants, conducted the raid on the aristocratic establishment. After placing Benjamin J. Duveen under arrest a search for under-valued articles was begun and more than van load of suspicious goods was found. It was decided to place the entire establishment under surveillance and leave the customs inspectors in charge of it for the night. Duveen surrendered the keys of the safe and desks and was taken to the federal building. He asked permission to send a wireless message to his uncle, Henry J. Duveen, aboard the Cunarder Lusi- tania, which is due to dock late tonight. The request was granted
 When the prisoner was taken before United States Commissioner Shields. Att torney Wise said the case was the most important one the government has thus far had to deal with in connection with importation frauds. He said he was in possession of evidence concerning a series of revenue frauds aggregating more than s1,000,000 which had been sys- tematically carried on by the four broth CTS and another man mentioned in the complaint.
 MT. Wise, explaining the case tonight, said that information was recently placed in his possession tending to show that the Duveens had for years been defraud- ing the government out of customs duties on works of art and antique furniture imported from abroad by means of false consular invoices. The records at the custom house were hurriedly overhauled and the records seemed to substantiate the charges.
 Collector Loeb was communicated with and he detailed Edwin R. Nor wood, acting deputy surveyor of the port, and two customs inspectors to assist in the investigation which was conducted with the greatest secrecy.
 Mir. Wise declined to give out the name of his informant tonight, but admitted that the identity of all the parties will be disclosed at the hear ing in the case. He said that while the complaint was based on the illegal entry of three vases the government ~r =. fxa. dulent importations. He added that the consular invoice gave the value of three vases at SHOT, while their real value was $2S,000.
 The firm of Duveen Brothers is com posed of Henry J., Joel J., Louis J.. Benjamin J., and Joseph J. Duveen. They have establishments in New York, London and Paris.
 The London house was first opened by Joseph Joel Duveen, father of the present members of the firm, and about three years ago the Fifth avenue store was started. The Paris establishment has been running about five years. Last year the Duveens were reported to have paid half a million dollars for Franz Hals painting and at the recent sale of the Yerkes art galleries the same firm paid s129,000 for Rockets and Blue Lights" by J. M. W. Turner.
 While waiting for the bail bond to be made out Benjamin Duveen said he knew nothing about the importa- ton of the vases alleged to have been undervalued.
 Henry J. Duveen was arrested on the Cunard liner Lusitania when the yes sel reached Quarantine late tonight. H. was taken off on revenue cutter and hurried to the federal building for ar raignment.
 Bail for Benjamin Duveen was fixed at $75,000, which was given by a se- curity company.