The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-01-02


The two trunks with, their precious,
hut Illicit, contents now rest secure
in the possession Of the customs officials
Of the port. They are a testimonial
70 the most Wholesale and monumental
attempt 10 beat the opium law since
Uncle sam took over the Islands on
record here, =. ... '..
The baggage came ashore from the
steamer Manoa together with scores of
similar but more innocent trunks. 1t
had rested on Pier 10 since last Tues
day, ready TO be caTted of, hut over
looked by dozens OF people who would
lave been entranced by the mere
thought Of fifty thousand dollars.
Trunks Are Not Claimed
casioy, IL IL said, made one attempt
10 get the trunks and later inquired
once for them The customs officials
blocked both attempts on suspicion. The
cnstomhouse left the baggage there as
bait, but its owner was more wary
than expected. .
Suspicion beeame more or less a GER
fainty saturday morning. The ordin,
ary passenger does not usually avoid
his only luggage so Professionally and it
is known that Castoy had no other. Al
ten o'clock Saturday meTning the Gus
toms officials visited the wharf with a
box of keys. They tried first one key
and then another on the first trunk. 1t
was long time before one was found
that opened it. When the cover was
thrown back the tray was found dis
approximately empty. When the tray
was taken of the body of the trunk
was found packed tight with can after
can Of the dope o. dreams,
They went TO work on the second
trunk, No one else on the. wharf sus-
peeted that the little knot of officials
was delving into the biggest lot Of con.
traband loot they had ever seen in one
place. Very few Of them have learned
yet, for when il was found impossible
10 open the second trunk with the keys,
both trunks were loaded on cart and
frotted of uDostentati0usly to the Gus.
toms house. ..r.>. ..
Less gentle methods were tried at the
customs house. The second trunk was
pried open without any ceremony. IL
nlso revealed opium tins. 'eE 80,
Both were brand new steamer trunks.
They make nice addition 20 the fur.
niiure in the Office Of Acting Collector
Of the Port Raymer Sharp. H =.
The details Of the investigation that
preceded the seizure have not been
made public. II is known, however,
that Castoy was suspected of running
opium before he landed. 1t is report
ed that the customs officers asked him
II he had any trunks TO which he re-
piled in the negative and left the ship.
When the baggage was removed from
the ship TO the wharf it was found
that these two trunks were billed to
b. Cnstoy. Orders were given that
they were not to be taken away except
IN the presence Of inspectors.
The same night, II is reported, an
express wagon called for them but was
refused in accordance with instrue.
fions. Several nights later it is said
Caetoy made inquiries concerning them,
but no one came after them again.
II Is now too late.
The opium, of course, came to Hon
olnlu from San Francisco. At what
point II was struggled into the coun.
try remains for further investigation
TO disclose. II is the accepted theory
Of the customs officials on the Coast
that at the present time the greater
part Of contrsband is coming in over
The Mexican. border. II is cheaper on,
The Coast than in the Islands, proof of
the fact that il is more easy to pro-
cure there than here. II is consequent.
~ more profitable for the smugglers to
continue the opium half way back
1cfoss the Pacific. t,a 49,
The difiiculties of stopping the traffic
Defween here and the Coast, where
there are no restrictions If any sort
and particularly where there is no
check on baggage, are apparent.