The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1916-02-18
SOCIETY LEADER
May Fight Smuggling Charge-Weal'
thy Women Accused BY Gov
eminent Of Smuggling.


Mrs. Charlotte A. Warren, a wealthy
New York society woman, wife OF
Whitney Warren, the architect, will
fight the governments smuggling
charge is the question which the veal
thy friends of the accused woman and
the custom house officials are anxious
to have answered. Mrs. Warren has
already appeared i'm the Federal Dis
trict Court and entered a plea of not
guilty, and she was given until to-
morrow, February 10, to decide wheth-
err she would alter or stand by this
plea.
Mrs. Warren is charged in an in
dictment with having undervalued
wearing apparel of the value of about
ten thousand dollars, which she
brought with her when she arrived
from France in November. Mrs. War
rem, it is stated in the indictment,
placed a value of only $500 on her
clothes, and explained this sum to the
customs officers on the ground that
she had managed to pick up some war
bargains" and that three of her dresses
although originally of foreign make,
had already been brought into this
country and had the duty paid on them
but had been remodeled abroad to fit
the prevailing fashions.
The goods, the value of which Is in
dispute, we're described in the inditc-
ment as one black and metal thread
evening costume, trimmed with lace,
one fiame-colored evening costume and
quantity of suits, gowns, costumes,
blouses, coats, hats and furs. These
were contained in seven trunks and
three pieces of hand baggage. OF the
trunks five were held by the customs
officers for appraisement, but were re-
leased after Mrs. Warren had given
bond for $4,000.
1t is charged that the defendant be-
sides filling out a declaration under
valuing her goods, with the idea Of
evading the payment of full duty,
also made a false statement to a gov
eminent examiner that three of the
gowns hal already had duty paid on
them and had been taken to France
only TO be remodeled.
The case has attracted a good deal
of attention, not only on account of
the social prominence of the defend
ant, but because this is said to be the
first case in which the differentiation
charge on account of goods imported
indirectly has ever been brought
against a person not engaged in trade.
AS it was not supposed that Mrs.
Warren had brought in any of this
wearing apparel with the intention Of
selling it, it was doubted for time
whether the government could draw
up an indictment which would suit
her case. The Department of Justice
at Washington was consulted by
Treasury Department, and it was only
after this consultation that District
Attorney Marshall took action.
1t was on the information that Col
lector Dudley Malone secured from
the government agents in Paris that
the action against Mrs. Warren was
based. These agents reported that 1t
was impossible to secure goods cheap
in that center of fashion because of the
war, and that there were no such
things as war bargains" Collector
Malone laid the facts with the District
Attorney, recommending grand jury
action and forfeiture of the goods,
with the statement that he was con-
WINGED that there had. been an attempt
to defraud the government.
! 1t is believed by friends of Mrs.
Warren that the government has put
the most severe construction on her
action. and that she will maintain her
= plea of not guilty in order to clear her
name of the charge of intentional
fraud.