Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1910 — "FRISKING" SHIP PASSENGERS. [ARTICLE]

"FRISKING" SHIP PASSENGERS.

One Old New York Inspector C«*> Smell Diamonds Biz Feet Away. Timothy J. Donohue,'the oldest inspector of customs in this city, is credited by his feHows with possessing a nose which can smell concealed diamonds and other jewels six feet away, the New York Press says. “Old Tim,” as he Is known, has more seizures of that sort to his credit on the records of the customs house than any other inspector employed there. His duty is. to wander aimlessly about the Bteamship piers and “frisk” incoming passengers. Many persons may not know what “frisk” means in customs house parlance. It la the art of stumbling or brushing agatogt a person so skillfully that the inspector can rub his hands over the pockets and person of the suspect and ascertain whether he has smuggled goods concealed in his clothes and at the same time prevent the suspect knowing he I* doing. In the thirty-five years or longer that Donohue has been at, it on the New York piers he has “frisked” thousands of Americans and foreigner* after they have landed and are awaiting to get their luggage through the bands of the other inspectors. If any incoming passengers standing on a transatlantic line pier sees a short, stout, gray-haired, gray-mustached man, quietly dressed, carrying aYsheap -umbrella tied in the middle with a string and stumbling about as if fresh from the backwoodß and looking for some one whom he cannot find, that is “Old Tim” Donohue. In his eager quest he bumps against everybody; seizes overcoats by the pockets, rub* his hands up and down passengers a* he trips over baggage, acts half soused, never apologizes and keep* right on. After the inspectors are through with a passenger whom he inspects he steps up and invites him to go to the office to be searched. It ia not often his suspicions are misdirected.