Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1916-09-15


aboard a fruit and passenger steamer
at Port Antonio, bound for Philadel.
phia. Beneath the mattress of each
mans bunk were twenty cans of
opium.
"All you have to do" elaborated the
smuggler, sis to open up your bag
gage for inspection as you approach
the port. The inspectors go through
1t but never do such a thing as look
beneath the mattress. When they
have gone you take the opium out
from its hiding place and put 1t into
your baggage, which had already been
inspected. Then it goes ashore"
"But," insisted the special agent, "is
not your stuff examined again on the
wharf,"
''This system would not work" Pc
terson explained, ''if you were landing
at New York. There the baggage is
examined in the staterooms and again
on the pier, as the passengers come
ashore. But in Philadelphia there is
but the one examination, which takes
place in the stateroom."
But is there not a pretty good
chance that the inspector may some
time look under the mattress?' Gard
asked.
There is the barest possibility" as
scented the smuggler. I'VE have been
taking it in this way for years, and it
has never been found. But if 1t is
discovered, We have but to look inno-
cent. 1t cannot be proven that we are
responsible for it's presence. 1t might
be the steward"
The three came into Philadelphia,
and passed the customs officials as the
smugglers had prophesied, without a
hitch. They went to their hotel, and
there found themselves each the pos
SCISSOR of twenty cans of opium, for
which they had paid five dollars and
for which, Peterson said. they were to
receive $3.50. This was the part of
the transaction that was yet to be
demonstrated.
I'VE will do but little business in
Philadelphia" said Peterson, "just to
show that 1t can be DONE"
They took ten cans of the opium to
a Chinaman in Arch street, with
whom Peterson was acquainted. Yes,
this man would buy opium. The price
for the same grade was the same as
before, $27.50. He could use all he
could get. He would be glad to take
ten cans. The profit on these ten cans
was 1925.
1--WE could have sold him hundred
cans as easily, with ten times the
profit" said Peterson.
In New York the smugglers called
upon Doctor Yen, in Pell street, one
of the important men in Chinatown.
He stated that he was able to buy
opium at $3.50. The smugglers in
sisted on $50. After much haggling
20 cans were sold at $3.50. Here was
a profit of $470.
But Doctor Yen was to be counseled
on a much more important matter.
He was to be told of the proposal to
purchase boat for the opium traffic.
He was to be asked to guarantee the
purchase of large amounts of opium.
The old Chinaman became greatly
excited. He ran to his safe and came
back with $4,000 in currency. He
was willing to put up this money for
its value in opium at $27.50 can as
soon as delivered. When that was
gone there would be other money. He
alone would make the owners of the
boat rich.
In Boston was the actual headquar-
tiers of Peterson and Flavot. A Jew
by the name of Ferren was their finan-
cial hacker. 1t was Ferren who had
put them into the business. When
Ferren was told of the proposed en-
terprise he would not at first listen to
it. He would have to be shown that
this Mr.. Gard was on the level.
There we're too many eyes watching
for opium.
Peterson told of the credentials, and
finally succeeded in convincing him
that Gard was what he purported to
be and, gaining confidence as the plan
developed, the Jew finally became en-
thusiastic. In the end he We'd with
Doctor Yen In his anxiety to purchase
unlimited opium.
Gradually Gard granted that he was
convinced of the feasibility Of the
scheme, if he were shown the posi-
bility of getting the schooner into the
states. 1t was at this point that he
was introduced to one Captain Bailey,
who had, some years before, figured In
a very sensational attempt at the in
PRODUCTION of Cinnamon from Canada
and their landing at New Haven.
Bailey had been caught, had served a
term in prison, and, since his liberia
ton, was running fish stand in Bos-
ton market.
But Bailey knew all the coves in the
Atlantic and the gulf into which a
boat might put. He knew every
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