Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1911-05-26
AN INGENIOUS
SMUCCLER
BY SAMUEL E. BRANT
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

ing from Europe said to Il New
York customs Inspector. "uIust inter-
est you greatly"
Not for their ingenuity" he replied.
'These milliCn;lires are very stupid in
their devices for concealing dutiable
goods. Our most interesting cases are
the professionals. who are familiar
with the old Godges and constantly in
venting now ullcs.
"A few years ago | was caDlcd from
Southampton by II confederate det.c-
tive that Il regular sin,lgy.er na med
KciSner--:lt least that was one Of his
nalneS-had gone aboard Il liner with
a large number of diamonds.
"On the day the steamer arrived I
WAS on the dock. and there WAS keis-
ner coming down the SanG1lank look
ing as innocent as Il thr2e-ycar-O!d
child. Usually there is an intent look
in y smuggcrs eye which if careful
~ scrutii::rd letrays him. But kci.;-
ncr did not look worried Il bit. ! had
him ard his baggage taken into Il pri-
vate room and went through both.
split his beet heels. cOnlbcd his hair
and beard. An enormous silver watch
he wore looked suspicious. for ! had
known snuy"lers to have tiny works
put in big watches and I'll the empty
space With jewels. But the watch was
genuine. demolished his cigars.
"ln short. there was nothing about
him that could be made hollow that l
didn't destroy. When had finished l
had found nothing dutiablc and had
over $40 to pay for demolished prop
ertH. | Was obliged to let the man go
through. but sent Il detective to keep
him in sight
MY man Swallowed him for two
weeks. when he WAS seen to enter Il
diamond merchants shop. When he
came out he had sold $4,000 worth of
diamonds. The next day he was shad-
owed to another shop. where he dis
posed of as much more. and so on at
intervals until he had got rid of $780,
OUO worth of stones.
"Mind you. l wasn't slladowing him
to get the duty on these stones. for
how could l prove they were SNUG
glcd? My object was to get on to an
other device in order TO scotch it when
met it again and to crafty my curl
osity l will admit that the latter
WAS my principal reason. | sent for
Kcisner ana told him knew he had
struggled in the diamonds and gave
him to understand that | had some
proof Of the fact. OF course lie de-
,,iA.l fhn chrrrn Inf I Kant tho
bluff for some time. then admitted
there was some question as to whether
the government could convict him.
offered not to prosecute him if he
would confess and reveal to me how
he had worked his scheme. He
fought shy for awhile. then told me
that if l would give him Il bend of in
demnity for himself and any other
person or persons concerned with him
he would tell me the story. pro-
duced the bond. and he fulfilled his
part of the contract.
'.As soon as he had engaged his
stateroom on the steamer he cablrd
the number to Il confederate in New
York. The confederate engaged the
IOOIII III luC tCtuIu UP lDt OtN.
Keisner went aboard on sailing day
with the diamonds. carrying in Il
satchcl Il hit and brace. a narrow saw
and little paint. He knew what
color the paint should be. for he had
visited the room before. He bored Il
hole in the floor out of sight un-
der the berth. where it would not he
Il;
small section Of flooring. put in the
diamonds. replaced the section Of
plank. dauhed the edges with the
paint and the property was safely
hidden
"When he came ashore there was no
occasion for him to betray excitement.
for he had no diamonds in his possess
sion. He had left them on the ship.
No wonder that he looked uncon-
ccrned while we We're searching prop
erty that might contain them. Indeed.
the diamonds remained where he had
hidden them till the day the vessel
sailed on her return trip.
shortly before she pulled out Of the
dock Keisner's confederate. who had
engaged the staterOOm where the dia-
monds We're hidden, went to the room
with his wife and daughters. who
We're there to see him off. took up the
section of flooring. secured the stones
and distributed them among the mem
bers of his family. Then when the
ship was about to cast off they went
ashore. bidding him goodby with tears
in their eyes. and stood waving to him
from the dock until he was out Of
sight.
"Now. wasn't this a pretty dish to
set before the collector?
1.-The confederate was obliged to go
across. lie took the next steamer
back and the day after he landed
turned the jewels over to KeiSner who
sold them and divided the profits"
The inspector paused. lighted Il cigar
Z g.