Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1901 — SMUGGLING CHINESE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

SMUGGLING CHINESE.

Two Federal Officials Charged with the Offense in Arizona. An investigation conducted by the Treasury Department has led to the discovery of the fact that large numbers of Chinese were being smuggled into Arizona from Mexico. Several arrests have been made in the matter, among those arrested being William H. Hoey, collector of customs at Nogales, Aris., and B. F. Jossey, an Immigrant inspector. William Hoey, customs collector at Nogales, Aria., is charged with conspiracy against the United States government in allowing Chinese immigrants to cross the Mexican border by paying large sums of money, was appointed from Muncie, Ind., his former home, and is the son of one of the most estimable families in the city. Hoey is known there as “Honest Bill,”

and there is not an acquaintance of his who will not testify as to his integrity. Hoey and his wife visited In Muncie several months ago. At that time he told his relatives that he expected to be arrested on a charge of embezzlement through a conspiracy of his predecessor, who was deposed. He told his relatives not to worry, assuring them that he would be vindicated. Some time ago an official of the Treasury Department, having Nogales as his headquarters, wrote to the department that he had reason to believe the official force at that point was corrupt, and that Chinese in large numbers were being smuggled across the border for a consideration. A secret service officer was sent there at once, and plans were laid to secure evidence against the persons under suspicion. Several Chinamen were furnished with money and sent on to buy their way through the official cordon. This was accomplished without difficulty, the price demanded being from SSO to S2OO.

WILLIAM HOEY.