Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1896 — Smugglers’ Tricks. [ARTICLE]

Smugglers’ Tricks.

Some amusing anecdotes arc related in connection with the recent discoveries of smugglers' tricks. A few years ago an individual in an ecclesiastical costume used to cross the frontier from Switzerland into France every morning with a large breviary in his hand. He was a man of dignified aspect. and received every mark of deference from the customs officers, who sometimes accompanied him part of the way in his daily stroll. At last a letter put the authorities on the alert, and the presumed priest was found to be a professional smuggler, who had conirived to Introduce into France at least a thousand watches in his breviary, which on examination proved to l>e a tin box. Very curious also was the experience of a former Inspector-General of Customs here. During a visit to Geneva he brought a clock, and instructed the vendor to forward it only when he had informed him of his re- ] turn to Paris, adding that he must be careful to pay the duty. One of the first things that he noticed on his ar- ! rivai at his home was this identical timepiece in his drawing room, and in reply to his questions his coachman explained that the tradesman had himself stowed the clock away in his carriage. It is calculated that only one out of ten professional smugglers is ever caught. ' j There are more than 4000 pledged abstainers among London cabmen.