New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-03
RICH SMUCGLERS FINED
Allen and Collins Now to Tell
of Big Customs Frauds.
ON TRAIL OF INSPECTORS
Aged Man Who Brought in Gems
for Woman Pays S12, 900,
His Ally $4,000.

Nathan Allen. tho aged millionaire and
leather manufacturer Of kenosha- WIS,
and John r. Collins. president OF tho
Southern Coal Company. Of Memphis.
pleaded guilty yesterday TO indictments
charging them with smuggling jewelry
and We're fined by Judge Hough in the
United States Circuit Court-Allen $1,000
and Collins $1,000.
Thus ended the revenge Of Mrs. Helen
Dwelle jenkins. for whose adornment Mr.
Allen had bought the jewels in Paris, and
later aided by Mr.. Collins. passed them
safely through the customs lines without
the payment Of duty. Why Mrs. jenkins
wanted vengeance on the old admirer who
had travelled with her as mir. jenkins is
still as mysterious as the theft OF her
jewelry from the Hotel Lorraine two years
ago. And the confession Of the two men
who secured the lenicncy OF tho court was
made in the chambers of Judge Hough'
and may never disclose the mems version
OF the story.
Henry A. Wise. United States Attorney
asked for a prison sentence, calling atten-
ton TO the fact that the articles smuggled
by the two men were valued at upward OF
$4,000 and that information in the possess
sion Of the government indicated that one
or both of the defendants had bribed a
customs inspector.
The plea OF W. Wickham Smith, counsel
for Allen and Collins. and the remarks
made by Judge Hough in his chambers
Mr.. Wise described later as follows:
After the pleas of guilty were ,entered
the attorneys for the defendants requested
permission 10 present their side of the case
ia the Judge. This is not at all an uncom-
mon practice. 1 was present and heard
what they had 10 say, which was COM
,Iete confession of the crime as charged.
Judge Hough said that, in his opinion
these people were in no different category
from that Of Mrs. Adriance, Mengo Nor
reptbau. Governor Rollins and others
guilty of similar offences committed subse-
ouent 10 the commission Of the acts
charged TO these defendants. The fact that
they were accompanied by a woman Of Ill
repute did not in any way have bearing
tnon the crime against the United states.
As the crime was committed prior TO the
announcement Of Judge Hand that ali
future smugglers would be sent TO prison
Judge Hough fined Allen and Collins. civil
actions for the recovery Of the value OF
the merchandise snuggled may be brought
by the government
Nathan Allen pleaded guilty TO all three
counts Of the Indictment, the first two
charging smuggling Of particular articles
and the last one conspiracy TO defraud the
government He entered the plea person
ally. while W. W. Smith stated that Collins
pleaded guilty only TO tho third count or
the indictment, as he did not bring IN the
articles alleged I'm the two first counts.
Immediately after sentence was imposed
Marshal Honkel served subpenas on the
two 10 appear before the grand jury to-day
10 testify in the further investigation OF
the jenkins smuggling case. il is known
that Mr.. Wise is anxious TO track down
the customs inspectors who aided I'm the
smuggling plot and are said TO DO still in
the governments service.
Aside from this, the jenkins case has
Jed the customs authorities 10 suspect that
ieweIry worth millions of dollars has been
smuggled Systematically for many years.
and that a man of high financial standing
has been behind the practice. The testi-
mony Of Allen and Collins IS expected 10
throw more light on this mystery