Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-18

uldIlOUU HeCkldCe, DuI IL was Io use, VIC
seemed powerless to convince them
Finally, exasperated. We said, Go ahead
and search until you are satisfied.
1T was limited that I was probably in
highly nervous state and 1 was asked
if / was positive that my stockings had
been removed. I know I was nervous;
also l know that l was barefoOted. They
did not find anything on me, and my
statement can be confirmed through the
statements made by those woman in
spectOrS to their superior officers.
Might Have Resulted Seriously.
II do not know what would have hap
pened if they had also taken my daugh.
ter Nina into the stateroOm. l am afraid
the shock would have been too much for
her. She has been i'll of typhoid fever.
cannot understand why the govern
ment officials took so much interest in
my particular case when there were Sc
many other travellers arriving. While We
were in Paris my daughter and 1 were
too busy caring for my daughter Nina to
do any shopping, and we did not visit the
stores.
II opened my trunks and showed the
inspectors everything. ] even dug into
my trunks for toys / had bought for my
grandchild. l remarked to the inspectors:
Gentlemen. don't overlook my grand.
child's toys"
Thus Mrs. Joseph Hull. who holds a
prominent social position in Savannah
Ga, described the experience which befell
her and her daughter, Miss Eliza Lamar
Hull. upon their arrival here yesterday on
the Cunarder Lusitania at the hands OF
the customs offic. aus. who said they sus-
pected the two Of smuggling But the in
spectOrs' rigid examination, which the
victims characterized as an outrage,
failed to reveal any diamonds.
Mrs. Hull said she was related to the
Lamar family, one of the most distin-
guished in the south. In October last she
and Miss Eliza were called hurriedly to
Paris, owing to the illness Of Miss Nina
Walker Hull, the youngest daughter. Aft
er she recoverer the family sailed for
home on the Lusitania, which they
boarded at Cherbourg last week.
Complete Inspection Ordered.
Mr.. Hull and his son came here from
Savannah to meet them. while another
member of the family came from Bos-
ton. Also Special Treasury Agent Wilson
came up from Washington Thursday to
await their arrival Mrs. Hull made a
declaration of $50 in foreign purchases;
Miss Eliza declared $14s. The Hulls were
among the first on the pier and among
the last to leave. When their luggage
had been carried to the pier Agent Wilson
insisted that the inspection of the eleven
pieces belonging to Mrs. Hull and her
eldest daughter should be complete.
At once the women, who were richly
dressed, were hemmed in by a curious
crowd of customs men, Treasury agents.
railroad agents, cable operators, hotel
| runners and others. Mrs. Hull and her
For twenty minutes Agent Wilson ques-
toned and cross-examined the three
women until the situation became pain
full in the extreme. In desperation, Mrs.
Hull pleaded with Agent Wilson not to
trouble her daughter Nina, owing to her
recent illness. The request was granted.
Miss Nina's trunks were passed without
question, and she was given permission to
leave the pier.
But the rigid search of the other bag
gage did not satisfy Agent Wilson, who
thereupon decided that Mrs. Hull and
Miss Eliza would have to undergo a per-
sonal examination, and they were in
structed to step back aboard the ship with
two tnspectresses. Mrs. Clark and Mrs.
barrow. who escorted them to the Hulls'
suite, No. 6S on the B. deck. There q
search, which lasted an hour. was made.
Mrs. Hull related her experiences after the
examination had ended. Neither Agent
Wilson nor any other official would say
who had issued the order In Washington
for the search
Powerless to Prevent Humiliation.
Meantime Mr. Hull and his son had
reached the pier from the Hotel Abe
marie. Mr.. Hull is said to be one of the
richest men in Georgia. When the situa-
ton was explained to him he was appar-
entity unequal to the occasion. His
flushed face and tightly compressed lips
expressed volumes. As all were about to
leave the pier Mrs. Hull was asked If
she wanted to take a released package
with her. as there was no question con-
corning its contents.
You would better let it stay here,
| she replied somewhat testify, land be
sure to see that the government is moi
defrauded. l do not want even hand
kerchief."
Meanwhile Mrs HulFs and Miss Elias
praisers warehouse for another examina-
ton. In the afternoon Mrs. Hull and
| Miss Eliza We're given a hearing at tine
| custom house by Surveyor Henry anC
Mark P. Andrews. solicitor to the col
| lector. All the articles which 1t was
said they had failed to declare had beer
| ordered seized. In the case OF Mrs. HUI
| they amounted to $3.50 and in that of hel
daughter $l2O. 1t was said.
An arrangement was made, however
whereby they might have the goods
which consisted entirely of wearing ap
plus the duty. Mother and daughter Were
subjected to grilling examination by
| Surveyor Henry. They stoutly main
tanned that they believed it necessary &c
declare only those articles which Were
formally designated on the printed
with the explanation and approved TIT
| seizure.
Rumor Declared to Be False.
After the family had left the pier i
| Was reDorted there that the tin had gOn,