The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-16
HEIRL OOMS ARE BEING BROUGHT FROM EUROPE Woman Social Leader Is Detected, Says
 Report. CUSTOMS DEPT.
 ISSUES WARNING Will Criminally Prosecute Violators, Says
 Newton.

New York, Aug. 16.-The office force of the Collector of the Port of New York in this country and in Europe, it was learned yesterday, has had to be considerably enlarged to meet the increased activities of snug glers, seeking to find a market in this country for 1ewelry and neIr1ooms sold in great quantities by impover- ished families in all parts of Europe, especially Russia.
 Collector Byron R. Newton refused to comment on a rumor that wo- man of wealth and social prominence recently had been detected at this port attempting to smuggle in jew eIry purchased in Europe. where she had been engaged in war activities. According to a report, such a case is in the hands of United States Dis trict Attorney Francis G. Caffey, but MT. Newton declined either to deny or confirm this.
 MT. Newton said the usual type of smuggler was a person of sufficient means to have no excuse for such practice, and that usually strong in- fluence was used to prevent action.
 "I would not mention a specific case" he said. The duty of this of- flee, when a smuEgler is caught, is to turn the evidence over to the Unit ed States District Attorney. That will be done in every instance, whether the person is rich or poor. with or without political or social influence"
 The number of recent attempts to run jewels into the country has been due. not only to the fact that thous- ands of mansions in Europe were footed during the war and that thous- ands of families have sought to con vert their treasures into cash, but also to the unsettled conditions of ocean traffic. In some instances war work CTS have brought in articles of the kind without deGhring them. In one or two cases. Mir. Newton said, snug gling had been detected in navy chan nels.
 The collector said that the recent strict order limiting the issuance ot free passes was due, in part to the fa acilities for smuggling that a general distribution of passes would create when persons from shore could board boats and see friends before they had passed the customs inspectors. He said recent experience had shown that all over Europe there were persons ready to exchange emeralds and other pre- Cious stones for bread. This condition has occurred simultaneously with a lively market for such things in this country.
 The imports of jewels, works of art, and luxuries recently have been great CT than ever before. On Tuesday of this week the duty on imports at New York was S1,235,S61.66. This is the highest figure for any day since August l, 1914. The great bulk of this was levied on luxuries, largely on jew els and valuable possessions sold by impoverished families in Europe.
 Scores of masterpieces of the jew eler's art, which had been proudly worn at the Courts of Europe by generations of women of noble houses, are streaming into New York daily They are largely legitimate imports of dealers in this city. Russia is the greatest mine of things of this kind. MT. Newton said that more were com ing from that country than from all the other parts of Europe.
 Cites Case of Russian Official.
 "One Russian, who held a high civil office under the old regime came in recently" he said, with his family treasure worth a large sum of money. He escaped from Russia with them by hiding under a pile of live  fish in an open fishing sloop, and made the voyage across the Baltic.
 "He got into this country without paying duty on his jewels. He did not have the money to pay the duty and said later that he thought the gems were not dutiable because they were family possessions. Still later. a prominent lawyer came to this office explained the case, and offered to pay the duty. Under the circumstances this was permitted.
 The smuggler's troubles have not ended when he enters this country with his goods. He is extremely like ly to be detected when he tries to sell them. Even if he does sell them the crime is likely to be traced to him, months or years afterwards. business rival, a discharged employe, an incautious friend may cause his arrest.