Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-24

It is learned here that Mrs. DeForest
Allgood. the well known Georgia woman
who was subjected to serious annoyance
and trouble by the delay in the appraisal
by customs officials of luggage with
which she arrived from Europe last Sep
TENDER. now contemplates a suit for dam
ages against officials of the customs
service.
Her experiences. as she relates them,
represent the ultimate bounds of the dis
comfort to which returning Americans
can be subjected to through methods at
present in vogue for the collection of 1u-
ties on the effects of ocean travellers.
Two trunks filled with gowns and hats,
some of which were OF American make,
were sent backward and forward between
New York and Atlanta. packed and I'M
packed half a dozen times by unskilled
hands OF inspectors. and finally returned
10 their owner in condition she termed
unfit for wear" Even if this much of
her wardrobe were longer presentable it
would be completely out of style, for
garments which she intended to wear
this winter are at last released from
the government inquisition with the COM
ing OF the spring
The fault of being an American of
wealth and position dates back in the
case OF Mrs, Allgood for many gener-
ations, for she is a member of one of
the oldest and best known families of
both In Atlanta, and in New, York, where
she resides. at No. % Washington Square
West
The New York Herald in a recent issue.
tells the following interesting story of
Mrs. AligoOd's troubles:
Mrs Allgood had been in Europe for
two years when she arrived here on Sep
TENDER is last on board the Arabic, of
the White Star line. She had not been
in good health. and, in fact, her return
was on the advice of physicians. who
suggested that she try waters at Hot
Springs. Ark. Her baggage consisted OF
four large trunks. She was asked to
make a declaration as to the value of
the contents. and said that she would
leave that to the Judgment of the in
spectors. She surrendered the trunk
keys. The contents of two of Mrs. ALI
goods trunks were spread out on the
pier Mrs Allgood was then told she
could pack her goods again, a process
which she fatty refused TO undertake.
saying that she had come home i'll and
was unable TO make the exertion.
One OF the inspectors finally restored
the rumpled garments TO the two trunks
The owner felt by that time that she
could not stand the nervous strain Of
further customs house proceedings and
she paid duties amounting to 500. so on
the brace OF trunks which had gone
through the imnost mill. and arranged
to send the other two trunks In bond to
Atlanta. which although inland is ac-
counted a port.
She was assured that this arrange
ment could be adopted without the
slightest Inconvenience. From that mo-
ment she became involved in a series of
complications from which she has just
emerged with the ruins of her winter
wardrobe.
ATLANTA GETS BUSY.
She remained a day or two in New
York and then went to Atlanta, near
which is her birthplace She stopped at
one of the hotels. and on September q
last she called on MarceIlus o. Mark
ham. surveyor of the port at Atlanta.
Three days In succession Mrs. Allgood
saws she was obliged to answer ques-
lions concerning the contents of her
trunks. the value of the goods, and con-
corning what she had paid for every
article among the many which were in
the two pieces OF luggage.
All of the clothing had been worn be
fore the owner arrived at New York. &C
cording to her sworn statement. Mrs.
AIigood. as she had done in New York,
asked that the articles be appraised,