The Hawaiian gazette., 1915-07-27
name OF OPIUM
SMUGGLER HAS
u FAMILIAR RING
Wt3n Customs Officials Read OF
Snarrin's Arrest They Re-
called Case of SharIin
EoTH HAD C0NTRABAND
HIDDEN IN 'DRYGooDS'
SharIin, However, Played Safe,
While Bellingham Cannot
Dodge Law Now Effective

"Sharrin, sharrini'' said the night
inspector, rolling the name on the tip
of his tongue; "Schariin would sound
bett-ir to me- ,... '... o.. r
In fact, the similarity of names and
occupations, not TO say avOeations, be-
tween the NJ. Sharrin Al rested Satur'
DAY in BeIlinpham, Washington, with
$4,000 worth of opium in his posses
sion, and the n. Scharlin who brought
a big shipment of regularly stamped
opiup into the Territory three years
ago, was generally remarked yesterday
IL the customs house and on the water
font.
lne Advertiser asked San Francisco
for confirmation of the spelling and il
came back again "Sharrin.
Nathan Seharlin has been back and
forth between Honolulu and the Coast
as often as three or four times a year,
since he first got into trouble here,
Always carrying drummer's sample
box OF hats and clothes. The customs
omcurs never failed to search his lug
gage and regularly had their trouble
tor their pains. '+tl.t
Opium side Line Of Both
1he Bellingham "Sharrin - was also
ostnesibly dealer in dry goods. Both
carried opium as a side line.
The Scharlin who brought opium to
Honolulu took advantage of loophole
in the law and was immune from fed.
tlal prosecution, although the opium
was found in his possession. The Law
forbidding absolutely the importation
OF the drug had just been passed, blu.
had not gone into effect. During the
months OF grace, dealers imported hug,
shipments, on which they paid the re
qdired duty. .t...s -
SchaIlin bought a quantity of thi
duty.paid opium, duly stamped by the
department of internal revenue, and
LfUught it to Honolulu, after the Law
lad gone into effect and the market
was established. Then, as now, tn,
rice in San Francisco was lower thar
here.
Customs officers thought that a box
of hats he carried with him was sus
ciously heavy and opened 1t. There
lay the opium, tin on tin, bat Seharlin
merely laughed at them. - go, 3.
'Opiumf'' he said, "of course, IL .
opium. but it has been legally import
ed. There are the internal revenue
stamps on it, and | have as much right
to deal in il as in coal or peanuts. 2 /
And so he had, as far as the federal
statute went. There was, however, o
territorial act, covering the ease, but
it never was invoked against him. 30
Scharrin sold his opium at handsome
profit and went his way. I.uhI.,f
The Bellingham "Sharrin" is in nc
such luck. Whether the prosecution
makes out a case against him or not,
his $40, 1000 worth of opium is a dead
loss. Inc government has confscated il
and will destroy 1t.
Speaking of opium, Jack McGratl
seems TO be easily accessible in San
Francisco to any Of his friends wht
wish to look him up. Deputy Sheriff
Asrn, VINO Is also IN San Francisco
migIt call On pm. one OF the ste~
ards of the Matsonia, which is now
in port, saw him on the EmbareaderC
two days before the ship sailed fol
honolulu.
How n, Erath Got Away
The various tales that have been told
of McGrath's escape from the Iei.
tor" seem now to have crystallize
definitely into one accepted legend. Be
tween the time he walked out of jai
and the time the transport Sherman
sailed. he lay in hiding. An hour o.
two before the transport was due Il
ease UI, ne was driven to the RAILROAD
wharf, hired sampan, was ferrIe
TO the slip where the Sherman lay, Sill
into the water where the sailors wer'
swimming and walked dripping up tn
ladder with them, when the bugle blew
His clothes had been sent on board il
advance.
The DO sun was Iris friend and KEEP
him busy with small, obscure tasks
He was recognized by a quartermnste
who had known him Of old, and VIII
brought the tale back to Honolulu Of
the next trip the transport took L
the Philippines. In one way or an
other 1t has been vei fled until noN
it has grown to be the official version