Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-12
JOHN z WILKlE
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Louis may be another A policeman In
Norfolk may be third. The New Yorker
may drop into NV Orleans and put W
at the fashionable clubs, make FRI ends
with the elite. drink gin fixes with til,
importers The reporter may arrive about
the same time. and go to work on one or
the local papers. The policeman will blow
into town on the trail of some hypothet
zeal criminal Other men fitting into
other grades of society will augment
these. The flying squadron will go
through New Orleans with tine-tooth
comb. If there is anything amiss they
will find il out
Then there is the shadow OF the secret
service which will hang over the special
agents. This latter organization will be
aware that it's chief is also the head OF
the old organization. and that there may
be possibility of those dreaded seuths
hanging ever in the offing. The secret
service may never investigate the special
agents, but Chief Wiikie might call upon
them at any time. There is safety only
in activity and honesty.
1t Is held that this organization will
be able to cope with any band of snug
glers that is likely to be developed. OF
course, they have no mean task. Take
such cases that of the smuggler, Hill,
the young Chicago blood who brought in
fifteen of the han6someSt diamonds that
ever came to the United States. Hill got
past the customs officers all right, for
his was the most perfectly developed and
executed scheme that the service has
ever known.
Three beautiful diamonds were lately
sold by Denver merchant A special
agent Of the government knew OF this
sale, and was unable to find a record OF
their importation. Some months later
three more diamonds. identically like
them, were sold in Chicago. These sales
continued until fifteen diamonds alto
sether had been Sold They were finally
traced TO dill. He was a young society
man OF Chicago, of good standing, and
with $1,000 year that he had inherited
from his father.
some months previously he had gotten
into poker game in New York and had
won $4,000. Some stir was made about
1t. for he told the tale to the reporters at
the pier, and said he was going abroad
TO nave good time before his creditors
could take the money away from him.
In Europe the young American society
man attracted some attention and got
into the papers through love affair with
an actress. Finally he was stranded and
forced to go to work. which facts were
also recorded.
The next heard OF him he was beach
comDing along South America. He had
slowed away and got wrong I'm his at
tempt to reach New York He met the
mate of fruiter bound for New York
ana ana bought that officer many drinks with
MS remaining funds. In confidence over
their cups he told the second officer all
ms sad tale and pc. suaded that officer
to take him to New York He was a
good fellow. the life of the party. the
bosom friend of every man on board.
Two days before the boat reached New
York the stowaway, while apparently in
toxicated, fell down a companionway
and broke his arm. The ships doctor
hastened to put it in plaster OF paris.
In the course OF this operation the patient
became faint and urged the doctor to go
for some stimulant. leaving him alone
During that absence, it afterward de-
veloped. the injured man imbedded in the
still soft plaster cast the fifteen magnif-
cent diamonds.
When the boat reached New York its
officers vouched for the harmlessness OF
the stOwaWay and the genuineEess OF his
injured arm. The customs officer passed
him without taking of the cast, which
is often done when any suspicion IL
raised. The diamonds got through. 1t
afterward developed that the whole affair
was framed up I'm Chicago long before
the winning Of the $4,000 in the poker
game and that all the incidents that fol-
lowed were arranged as a stage setting
for the big COUP
But this very story goes to show tho
dangers of smuggling. even after the
goods are gotten past the customs OIL
Gals. The smuggler must sell his goods
cheap in order to realize quickly. II he
does this he arouses the enmity and
suspicion Of his competitors and they
report him. A merchant who has lost
big sale abroad often reports the pros
pective purchaser to the governments
special agents. Were the customs officers
at the ports done away with smuggling
would still be a dangerous business. The
airship offers an apparently easy means
of avoiding customs on light but valuable
material, for it is a comparatively easy
thing to fly over from Canada with
million dollars worth Of jewelry. But
the smuggler will be caught In the mar
keting of 1t.
Already the shopkeepers abroad are
complaining of the falling off OF the
American trade. Americans can save
av be es sye an sss o, sna tn. :e
abroad have been due to the knowledge
of the ease OF smuggling. With SNUG
Cling made impossible the American
merchants will get the business. Europe
is even now making a horrible howl.
Likewise is the honest American ner-
chant taking heart. When he had to
compete with smuggled goods or under
advantage. Now he is coming into his
own. for competition Is to be open and
above board and the business with the
best man.
To make these claims q reality. In the
task to which the rejuvenated special
agents of the Secretary of the Treasury
have set themselves. Chief Wi1kio 10
after the mscreants with all the author
ity and all the backing necessary. IL
they refuse to take to the tall grass they
are likely to be plunged into the dark
and musty dungeons of the federal
prisons. For there is new ginger in the
customs service