The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-10-07
RECENT SEIZURE IN
GRAND FORKS IS
THE CAUSE
Given a Hearing in Grand
Forks He Waived Prelin-
mary Examinations

charged with being a link in the
system that has been successfully en-
gagged in carrying on smuggling opera
lions between Winnipeg and Grand
Forks. St. Paul and other American
cities for a period of at least six
months. E. Wilkeson of st. Paul was
placed under arrest in Pembina last
night. He is a baggageman on the
Northern Pacific fast train from st.
Pau to Winnipeg and was taken into
custody by a United States deputy
marshal Immediately the train arriv-
cd there.
A~rraigned before United States
Commissioner George Robbins of
Grand Forks this morning, Wilkeson
was bound over to the federal grand
jury. waving his right to a prelim-
mary examination.
During the progress Of the brief
the prisoner signifed his intention
OF entering a plea Of guilty to the
charge lodged against him. and will
appear before Federal Judge C. F.
Amidon at the earliest possible mo-
ment for that purpose.
Struggled Dress to Grand Forks,
The specific charge against wilke-
son Is that Of smuggling a woman's
dress into the United States from
winnipeg, Can, on or about Septen-
Der 20. The dress, 1t Is charged, was
valued at about $50, and was carried
IN a suitcase with several other ar
ttcles. Seizure of the wearing appar-
81 IN question was made in Grand
Agent George w. Foulkes and Collec-
tor Of Customs Jud LaMoure, Jr., of
North Dakota.
WilkesOn v,as plorod y,dor , hona
OF $1,000 today, ]. P. Collins, 72s
Laurel avenue, st. Paul, and j. w.
Rees Of Grand Forks, signing the
bond. The accused baggageman
probably will return to his home in
st. Paul tonight.
The warrant against Wilkeson was
sworn out by Special Agent Foulkes
before United States Commissioner
E. W. Conmy at Pembina, and the
arrest was made in that city when the
accused man reached the city on the
Northern Pacific flyer from Winni-
peg to st. Paul. He has been in the
employ Of the railroad for a number
OF years. is young and very we'll lik-
ed by fellow trainmen.
System is Extensive.
There are no other charges lodged
against Wipkeson in connection with
smuggling operations. although it is
claimed that the plan that is charged
to have been adopted by him I'm bring.
Ing the n consignment across the
line has been in vogue for several
months.
Sensational Developments Expected.
Developments Of an unusual and
startling nature ma follow the ar
rest, as 1t is alleged that a complete
confession has been obtained from
"i1Roo4N Tho oI41N-~rn ~,sil .-,-
aHect persons outside Of the customs
service, but may also be extended into
that service.
The case against Wilkeson was
worked up in a clever by
Special Agent Foulkes who has been
in this district for some time, and
who only a few days ago also un-
enarthed extensive grain smuggling
In the west end of the Dakota dis
trtct. Collector Of Customs LaMoure.
Jr.. Of Pembina, has been co-operat-
ing with Foulkes in the work. and
was largely responsible for it's incep-
ton.
Canadians ire Questioned.
Yesterday members of a Canadian
train crew running into Pembina
were closely questioned by the Gus
toms officers, and some information
is believed to have been obtained from
them that will be used in the, future
operations.
Wilkeson, too. it is said, will lend
aid to the customs officers in break
ing up the system.
Under the plan Of operations it is
claimed that the consignments would
be sent across the line into the Unit
ed States to be in turn shipped by ex-
press or otherwise to their destina-
ton. and such destination was not
necessarily along the line of the
Northern Pacific from Winnipeg to
st. Paul.
Arrest Was Anticipated.
The arrest Of Wilkeson was antic-
ipated by the accused man as we'll as
by the railroad company, and j. p.
Collins Of the express company came
to this city as the company's repre-
sentative in the action.
Had Been Friendly.
In working up the cas- against
Wilkeson Special Agent Foulkes has
operated against a man with whom
he has always been on friendly terms.
The accused man. it is claimed, has
often worked with Foulkes in his ef-
forts to take care of other cases Of
alleged crooked work along the from
tier.
The Grand Forks case is merely
technical in it's nature and is brought
up only as the foundation for other
actions which will come later.
Tried to Get Him on.
That there was an effort made to
have Foulkes taken Oft the job 10 the
report current in Pembina. This ef-
fort, it Is claimed. was made yester-
day morning. but was unsuccessful.
Invariably 1t is claimed that the ar.
ticles that were smuggled across the
k~aAA~ s~x~ A. YsA C 1890
started from Winnipeg. where they
were placed in the hands Of the man
was working at the Canadian
end Of the system. The package
would be secreted on the train in a
place alleged to have been known to
and directions would also
be contained in the package or on it
it's destination.
Delivery Was Easy.
After passing through the customs
at Pembina without detec-
ton. 1t was a comparatively easy mat
ter to get the article to its proper
AS in the case of alleged
smuggling Of merchandise to a Grand
party. delivery of the package
in question IL said to have been made
to a young lad who met the train
It reached the city on the day
In question.
During their stay in Grand Forks
Agent Foulkes and Collector
Of Customs l. Moure made thorough
investigation Of the situation and
claim, to have obtained complete in
on the case OF alleged
to this city, the consign-
ment In question originating at Win