New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-31
Two Caught with Costly
Dresses UndeClared After
Search OF Baggage at
White Star Pier.
RAIMENT HELD BY u. S.
One offender Weakens When
Confronted with Passenger
Lists of Line on Which
She Said She Went
to Europe.

to Europe.
Five persons arriving here on three
steamships were called to task by the
customs officials yesterday. and consid-
erable baggage containing gowns and
imported fnery was sent 10 the Ap-
praiser's Stores.
The offence in all cases was the
bringing in Of articles not recorded on
declarations.
The most interesting case TO the GUS
toms officials was that of Mrs. W. c.
Hunter. Of this city, who declared only
$50 worth of goods and made an effort
TO bring in gowns valued at 800.
Had il not been for the scrutiny of
Peter Bradley. the Deputy Surveyor
in charge of the White Star pier at
which the Baltic docked the woman
might have escaped the payment of
duty Bradleys determination to get
the facts concerning her importation
caused the baggage to be taken to the
public stores and compelled her TO ap-
pear at the Custom House before Dep
uty Surveyor George Smyth.
Excuses Caused Suspicion.
Mrs Hunter was a saloon passenger
on the Baltic. AS soon as her trunks
we're on the pier she applied at the
Deputy Surveyors desk for an in
spector to examine her baggage She
had declared only few articles. and
the examination would have been brief
had not the inspector been uncertain
regarding her excuses for having costly
gowns that were undeclared.
Just as the inspector was about to
report his find Bradley came by and
the case was turned over TO him. He
looked at the gowns, and after calling
in an appraiser was confident that they
we're new importations upon which
duty should be paid.
Asked why she had not declared
them, Mrs. Hunter said that she did
not think il necessary, as she had had
the clothes a year and had brought
them here before when she came from
Europe.
Bradley asked when she came in. and
she said in the fall of 1912. When he
requested the name of the ship she had
come over on Mrs. Hunter answered
that il was the Baltic, the ship she had
Just left
II. r,no,,.,. c,,rvavor than informed
her that that was all he cared to know.
EXPLAINING that if she was sure Of the
ship and date il would be an easy
matter 10 prove it. Meanwhile he or
dered her trunks detained and told her
she would have 10 appear at the Gus
tom House.
While Mrs. Hunter was on her way to
Bowling Green Bradley telephoned the
facts Of the case TO Deputy Surveyor
Smyth. before whom Mrs. Hunter had
10 appear.
Smyth repeated the questions asked
by Bradley. and when the woman had
made the same answers he said 10 her
suddenly:
Mrs. Hunter. 7 have the lists Of al
the passengers no came over on the
Baltic last year, and your name does
not appear Y at is more your name
does not appear in any Of our lists for
all passengers who arrived at this port
for the entire year"
Admits False Statement.
Confronted with this information
Mrs Hunter faltered and finally ad-
mitted tn; she had made false stale
ment. The gowns. she said, belonged
originally TO her sister. who lives
abroad and recently gave them to her.
While abroad she had some Of them
made over.
Mrs. Hunter was permitted TO go on
The promise that she would appear for
further hearing on Tuesday.
While Bradley was talking with Mrs.
Hunter Deputy Surveyor O'Connor'
who was in charge Of the French Line
pier. few hundred yards away. de-
tanned the , tggage Of Mrs. !. /. Bar
tel a dressmaker. of ST. Joseph, Mo.
She h d decla, only $500 worth OF
articles, but when her trunks were ex-
amined gowns Of the latest Partisan
models were found and appraised at
$1,000. After her baggage was de-
tanned tho woman said she had been
TOO III during the voyage to make
more complete declaration. Her
trunks we're held and she also was
Permitted to go and appear for hear
ing on Tuesday.
David Foss, writer, who came over
on the Cunarder Lusitania on Friday.
made out joint declaration for him
self and Mr.. and Mrs. James Roe, OF
This city. a careful examination OF
The combined baggage showed that va
rlous articles Of no great value had not
been mentioned in the declaration.
It was sail yesterday that while
foss had no right 10 make out any
declaration other than his own the
three persons Will be permitted TO pay
duty on what they brought in and also
10 take their detained baggage.
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