New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-27
CUSTOMS OFFICIALS
IN SMUGGLING RING
ontinued from first page.

Paris. She bought considerable stock.
including models and merchandise used
i'm the dressmaking business.
Deputy Surveyor Leonard Was IN
charge Of the pier when the Carpathla
docked. Miss Brcnnan's baggage was
unloaded in the customary fashion, but
no one made any effort 70 ask that il
be examined.
II bore special marks known TO an
agent Of the system. The marks on II
could not be connected with the initials
Of any one on the ships passenger list.
and Leonard assumed that it might be
what is called sleeper baggage
Within ten minutes after me deputy
surveyor had first looked over the locked
trunks he saw them on truck being
wheeled outside the custom lines HIS
susuicions were aroused when he saw
uasteG upon them customs labels in
dicatjng that they had been examined
and passed.
The trunks we're promptly seized and
I
ination. When they were opened the
array Of dutiable fnery within them
bore no marks that would suggest the
owner.
Leonard had nothing to work upon
but the labels, and be found the inspec-
tor who had pasted them upon the un-
examined trunks. Later he traced the
fraudulent system 10 the former deputy
collector. who had been reduced IA
rank two years before because Of i'll
ness. hut who still managed his system
from an obscure place in the customs
service. Hc had been in the employ oi
the government for many years ana
bore a splendid reputation. Although
everything indicated that he WAS the
brains and strong arm OF the system
the officials here were loath To connect
him with the fraud
First Seizure in System.
With what little information he had
| in the matter, Leonard went to New
York. and within two days the customs
officials there found clew To the
owner of the sleeper baggage. \ search
warrant was procured and on Friday
night Leonard accompanied the New
York officials 10 The dressmaking cs-
Enlistment Of the Misses Donovan &
co. The house was searched from top
to bottom. and certain articles Of wear
| ing apparel which it is alleged were
imported by the same smuggling sys-
TEN on previous trips were seized.
Miss Brennan, who had arrived here
on the Carpathia, could not be found
until two days after the search. and
on Monday she was brought before Mr..
Wise the United States Attorney.
when she revealed much information
relative TO the conspiracy at this porA
According to Leonard. the practice
had been going on for many years. ana
many hundreds Of thousands Of dollars
have been lost 20 the government OF
this port.
The fraudulent importers. had no di-
rect commerce with the denoted dep
uty collector The smuggers merely
walked ashore with hand baggage and
left the smuggling Of their importations
wholly i'm the hands Of the customs Of
ficials connected with the systerR
After her confession before the United
states Attorney Miss Brennan WAS
paroled in the custody of her counsel
for two days. She promised To appear
there tomorrow and give further evil
dcncc against the system at the port.
Leonard said last night that he gave
full credit for the detection of the New
York dressmakers TO the Deputy Sur
veyors Department in the New York
Custom House. The ring here is said
TO involve about eight inspectors, who
did most of their fraudulent business
with New York importers.
More raids and arrests are expected
10 be made in the Fifth avenue'section
of New York this week.