Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-11
CHARGED WITH DEFRAUpING
 U. s. CUSTOM SERVICE
Max Abrams Arrested at His Store in
 New London.

Max Abrams, of Abrams & Co.,, of New London, importers of Indian baskets and novelty dealers, was ar- rested Wednesday morning at his place of business, 39 Bank street, in that city, charged with defrauding the cus- toms service of the United States. Jo- seph s. Abrams, brother of Max, was arrested last Friday at Windsor. Vt.
 Max Abrams was taken to Jewett City today to be arraigned before United States Commissioner Henry H. BurnhaIn, the nearest official of that capacity.
 Held in s5,ooo Bail.
 When he pleaded not guilty to the charge of defrauding the customs ser vice, and furnished bonds in s5,0O0 for appearance before the federal court in May, at Windsor, Vt. His bondsman was F. M. Smith of New London.
 Abrams protested against his arrest, claiming that he had submitted to ar rest in New York, where indictments against his brother and himself were found by 8 federal grand jury. Max Abrams said he had given a bond in $5,000 and his statement was verified by his counsel, Judge Arthur B. Cal kins.
 Joseph S. Abrams, the other mem Der of the firm, was arrested at Wind sor on returning from a business trip lIllO N~dndud. I10 WAS lGu pe- fore a commissioner of the United States there, and it was agreed he should go to New York. There, ac- cording to Max Abrams and his at torney. Max surrendered himself and the two brothers were admitted to bail to appear to plead at a later date.
 United States Deputy Marshal Tim othy E. Hawiey knew nothing of this action. He knew only that he had been given a warrant to serve and this warrant he knew was directed against Max Abrams. By a misunderstood of Morris Abrams and the deputy marshal alleged that Max had been known acs Morris in transactions on which the prosecution is based.
 Judge Calkins called United States District Attorney Scott by telephone in Hartford and explained the predic- ament of his client to him. The dis trfct attorney had no official knowl- edge that Max Abrams had previously been arrested and insisted on the ser vice of the warrant. United States Commissioner Charles w. Butler is in New York and as Judge Burnham who is also county liquor prosecuting agent, was busy in Jewett City, it was l necessary for the defendant to SC | there to be arraigned. District At | torney Scott agreed with Judge Calk- | ins that $5,000 would be ample bono l and he informed the commissioner o1 | this decision.
 Max Abrams came back to New London on midnight train from New York. He said he went to his home
 at 40 Pearl street and went to bet | without knowing that Deputy Marsha
 Hawley had been spending the da, | and the night here looking for him I The deputy learned Wednesday morn. | ing that Abrams had returned to tow1
 and enlisting the aid of the policeman | who knew Abrams, set out to look fol | him. Abrams had left home and tn,
 officers found him in the Aborn hal | building, where Abrams & Co.,, have sales and store rooms.
 1 The deputy marshal took his pris | oner to the counsePs office where
 there was a consultation regarding
 the duplication of arrest. It ended with the decision that Abrams mus go to Jewett City and after arraign
 ment return to New London, if bond
 were acceptable to the commissioner l The Abrams brothers have been il
 business in New London about fiv, years. Max spent his time there and l in New York where the firm had ex | tensiVe trade in Indian baskets. Jo. | seph spent most of his time beyond l the Canadian border, visiting Indian | tribes and buying their products O.
 grass baskets. The business, accord. ing to friends of the two men, wa.
 highly successful and by close atten. l tion to it the brothers had developed a wide field.
 | In New York, it is said, attention was attracted to Abrams 6 Co.,, be cause they undersold by large margin.
 competing importers. The reason fo l their underselling interested competi | tors no more than it did the customs 1 officials and as early as July 26, 1912 | the first date named in the war rant, special agents began to scrutin ize the business of Abrams & Co 1 Duties were paid on the invoices 1 which showed, it is alleged, tha
 Abrams & O., bought baskets at re
 markably low cost in comparison witt what they were sold for
 | Both Joseph and Max Abrams ar 1 well known in New London. The,
 moved in good society and were con
 sidered wealthy.