New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-28
'EDNA GOODRICH PAID
|. NO DUTY ON HER GOWNS
But Mother, Called to Custom
House, Squared" Daughter
by Paying $500.
ACTRESS HAD "SWORN OFF"
Customs officials at Paris
Learned That Nat Goodwin's
Former Wife Had Made
Many Purchases.

After three months of careful investi-
CATION by the special agents OF the
Treasury Department at Paris enough
evidence was obtained recently against
Miss Edna Goodrich, the actress, to
cause her mother, Mrs. Nellie Good
rich, TO appear at the Custom House
Yesterday and pay duty amounting to
$500.
Miss Goodrich, who was once the wife
Of Nat Goodwin. the actor, is playing
in Cincinnati. but through counsel and
her mother her affair with the GUS
toms officials was settled without the
necessity of bringing her to New York.
The actress. accompanied by her
mother. arrived here from Paris on
August 10 on the Holland-America
liner Nieuw Amsterdam, both having
boarded the vessel at Boulogne sur
Mer They had much luggage filled
with finery, and Miss Goodrich herself
had much jewelry.
This attracted attention, and interest
was aroused when IL was found that
the Goodriches had declared nothing.
Asked about the gowns and jewelry,
Miss Goodrich said that they had all
been taken out Of this country with her
when she went abroad, and when asked
oath she consented, and "swore off"
$40 800 worth of apparel and Jewelry.
Miss Goodrich thought the matter
ended She paid no duty and was per-
mitted TO take her trunks away, but
the next day, under instructions by
cable, the special agents in Paris were
on the trail of the purchases made by
the actress, and within two weeks they
had forwarded important information
TO Collector Loeb.
Meanwhile Miss Goodrich appeared
In vaudeville sketch at the Alhanbra
Theatre I'm this city and two inspectors
were assigned to watch the perform
ance While looking over the pro-
gramme they observed a notice calling
public attention to the fact that Miss
Goodrich was wearing the latest ere
atlons from Paris.
When her act was over the inspectors
visited the actress I'm her dressing
room, and she admitted that the hat
she wore that night had been purchased
abroad The programme was filed in
the Custom House with. other evidence
that cane to this city from time to
time from the special agents. and on
October / Miss Goodrich was brought
to the Custom House for hearing be-
fore Surveyor Henry. At the hearing
she denied having brought in any jew
elry or wearing apparel. and again she
was allowed to depart. The customs
officials. however, had by no means
given up the case.
Several days ago a full report was
received by the Collector from the
agents i'm Paris, giving in detail the
purchases made by Miss Goodrich from
RoulloZ. 2 costumer, and Maison Lewis
= uilliner With this evidence in theii
| possession the men from the Sur
! yeyor's Office went to the Oregon
Apartments. at West 54th street anC
Seventh avenue, on Tuesday. to tall
with the actress, but found that sh,
was playing in Cincinnati. Mrs. Nelli,
Goodrich, her mother. was at home, anC
after brief inquiry by the inspector:
admitted that foreign purchases har
been made.
She was informed that the case haC
! been turned over TO the United State:
attorney. and that II she wished Il
avoid criminal prosecution she ha'
better appear promptly at the Custom
House. Mrs. Goodrich went before
| Surveyor Henry yesterday and wal
! examinFd by solicitor Barnes relativ'
| 10 the purchases OF her daughter. Late
! she paid the duty of $500.