New-York tribune., 1921-01-31
us. Agent Finds Evidence
of Bracelet in Suite of
Mime. Sembrich ON Aqui-
tania; Exonerates Her
Another Traveller
Occupied Rooms
Miss de Coppet,' Diva's
Companion, OrderedBe-
fore Customs Officials


by customs officials yesterday with the
arrival of the Cunard liner Aquitania
from Southampton and Chcrbourp. A
bracelet, said to have been appraised
at $1,000 (home value), was taken from
woman traveller, whose identity has
not been revealed.
1t was admitted that the alleged con-
cealment Of the, jeweled bracelet was
discovered by accident, and that the
credit for its discovery was due to the
acumen Of Inspector Thomas M. HYATT.
who CHANGED to enter the stateroom of
the woman soon after she had gone
ashore to attend to her baggage ex-
animation.
Reports were current on the pier
that the suite in which Inspector Hyatt
had found the evidence that led to the
subsequent seizure was occupied by
Nine. Marcella Sembrich, dramatic So
prano, formerly Of the Metropolitan
Opera Company. Investigation showed
that Hyatt had made his discovery in
Nine. Sembrich's suite, but the prima
donna was in no way connected with
the concealment of the gems and knew
nothing about them.
Woman's Luggage Searched
Hyatt, in reporting his suspicious to
the deputy surveyor in charge Of the
pier, said he was positive that the
rooms in which, he had found his pre-
sumed evidence were those occupied
by Nine. Sembrich, and check-up
from the purser's room sheet was made
by the customs officials. They found
that Nine. Sembrich was accompanied
by several maids and travelling COM
panion, whose name appeared on the
passenger list as "Mlle. J. de Coppet."
The officials sought out on the pier
the travelling companion of the diva and
asked to examine her declaration. Her
luggage was given an unusually careful
search. 1t is the custom Of the deputy
surveyors to give passengers an
opportunity to clear themselves of sus-
that If they wish to amend their decla-
ration that privilege is available before
the baggage examination is completed.
1t is understood that this courtesy
was proffered yesterday and after that
the costly bracelet was seized.
Address That of De Coppets
The customs record showed that the
woman who accompanied Nine. Sem
brich and whose name appeared on the
list as mile. j. de Coppet" lived at
314 West Eighty-fifth Street. In its
list the Social Register records as liv-
ing at that address Mrs. Edward. j. de
Ccppet, Miss Juliette de Coppet and
Andre de Coppet.
p When information regarding the
mysterious seizure was sought at the
De Coppet home last night, a woman,
who said she was Mrs. Andre de Cop
pet, said that great mistake had
be, satisfactorily adjusted to-day at the
ofl1ce Of Byron R. Newton, Collector Of
Customs.
1t was admitted by the woman that
there had been scme difficulty with the
customs officials, but the identity Of
the traveller on the Aquitania who had
given 314 West Eighty-ffth Street as
her address was not dlsclpsed.
Found in Waste Basket
Thomas w. Hyatt, regarded as one of
the most alert men on the staff of the
Surveyor, went aboard the Aquitania
about an hour after the vessel docked.
He had business at the office of the
ships purser and, after attending to
this, started for the pier, passing the
Sembrich-de Coppet suite on his way
to the gangplanK. The door was open
and waste basket in the center of the
room attracted his attention.
Protruding from the top of the waste
papers in the basket was bottle which
Hyatt reported as bearing q label of
Scotch whisky. Beside it was small
empty Apollonaris bottle. He pulled
the bottles out Of their resting place,
and, rummaging through the papers,
found new jewel box, the sort that is
generally G iven to customers purchas-
ing gems. 1t bore the embossed name of
a famous French jewelry firm, anu he
took it with him to the pier.
Singer Quickly Exonerated
Hyatt informed the deputy surveyor
that the empty box denoted hasty and
careless disposition ofits contents, and
immediately the deputy surveyor
tcontinusd on neat pass)
W.1rnn Hnc Doc.