The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-03-09
FORTUNE NEAR.
GOES TO CELL
LACKING BAIL
Mexican is Held For Snug
Cling Jewels, With Mil
lion Dollars in Sight.

New York, March 9-On the eve
of closing a. million dollar deal where
by he was confident. of recouping his
fortunes lost during Mexican strife,
Cecillio Ocon, once a prominent ad-
herent Of Porfirio Diaz, was arrested
here yesterday on the charge of
smuggling from Mexico a diamond
necklace worth $4,000 American
money.
Ocon pleaded not guilty before
United States Commissioner Hough-
ton. The Federal authorities believe
he wanted to dispose Of the platinum
set ST. gems which once adorned Sc
nora Ocon in order to obtain means
of subsistence until he could close his
deal for valuable Tampico dock
leases with. New York capitalists.
Customs detectives claim to have
watched the progress of the necklace
several days while it was hawlzed
among Fifth avenue gem dealers. Yes
terday, an hour or two after a million
dollar offer was made to him, Ocon
went to the Tonnbs in default of ST.
900 bail. He begged to be paro1ed
in custody of his counsel, SO Sen0rita
Ocon, transp1anted from luxury to a
small fiat here, might not have his
that have beset the couple and their
four children ever since the fortunes
of Diaz began to wane.
Was Condemned to Death.
Ocon, who owned rich properties in
and about Mexico City and a grant of
Tampico dock leaseho1ds which he
values at $3.00O,OOO, was nearly ruin
ed during Huerta's regime. The very
day Admiral Fletcher steamed to
Vera Cruz, Ocon was condemned to
death and his entire Mexico City
holdings were conf1scated. He was
one of hundreds who, saved by the
appearance of American ,battleships
in the ha.rbor. were taken aboard the
Louisiana to Havana. From there
he came here with his family and
registered at the Biltnore.
Changes in Mexican governm ent
brought Ocon no relief. Though his
dock leases were undisturbed, he
could not recover his other properties.
Then he was compelled to move to a
fiat at No. 205 Columbus avenue.
Recently, the customs officials say,
Pablo A. Lopez, a Mexican Indian
who had been in Ocon's service, visit
ed him. Lopez went back to Mexico,
and returned here Feb. 22 on the
Saratoga He declared so cigars as
all the dutiab1e goods he brought.
Subsequently Inspectors Collins and
Lyle charge Lopez conferred with his
employer, then started out Ito dispose
OF the necklace on which they say ne
should have paid $4,000 duty. They
Arr ested him yesterday in a boarding
house on the upper west side and
seized the necklace.
Held ON Smuggling Charge.
With Lopez the customs men went
to Ocon's fat, invited. him ITO the
street and there arrested him. When
Lopez and Ocon were arraigned be-
fore Commissioner Houghtons they
were charged with conspiring to
snnugg1e, with concealing Struggled
goods and with smuggling.
John J. Meara of No. $50 Broad
way, counsel for the two men, begged
that Ocon, at least, be paroled in his
custody. Meara confirmed the story
of the customs men that Ocon had re-
ceived $1,o0O,000 offer for his dock
interests an hour before his arrest.
: Commissioner Houghton expressed
sympathy for the Mexican's misfor-
tunes and suggested that he obtain
bail early this morning and tell his
wife he had been out of town on a
business trip.
Ocon was prominent in the events
which led to the overthrow of Presi-
dent Madero. He was once charged
in the Mexican Chamber of Deputies
with being tfthe actual murderer OF
Gustavo Madero. brother of the late
President. Ocon attended the Niagara
Falls Mediation Conference, as spokes-
man for Felix Diaz.