BRAINY CUSTOM OFFICIALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 14 December 1907, Page 4

BRAINY CUSTOM OFFICIALS.

Mr James Pomeroy is responsible for a story that is going the rounds of the London clubs and hotel cafes, concerning an incident that occurred to-Mr “Larry ” Waterbury recently. In crossing the frontier into France he had a box of 500 cigarettes that was lying with his overcoat on the car seat when the train left Tourcoing. At Lille a customs inspector without a uniform came into the car. He picked up the coat and said to the nearest passenger, ‘‘ Is that yours ?” “ No, that’s mine,” answered Mr Waterbury, who thought that the inspector was a traveller like himself, and wished to occupy a seat. “ Let me take it if you want a seat,” he «aid. “I do want a seat, I want you,” replied the inspector. Then, raising bis finger, two gendarmes arrived on the scene, and took charge of Mr Waterbury. “ But take the cigarettes,” exclaimed Mr Waterbury, “and keep them. I must not be delayed, for I have a boat to America to catch, and this is the last train that will do it.” “I do not want cigarettes ; only you,” answered the inspector. “ I’ll give you 100 francs not to detain me.” “ No, monsieur ; you must come with me,” was the reply. “ Five hundred francs, then, for I must catch the boat,” said Mr Waterbury. “ No, monsieur; I want only you.” Back to the Custom House at the frontier went Mr Waterbury, where on payment of five francs duty he was set at liberty, and his cigarettes returned to him. But it was too late ; the train had gone, and. he had missed the boat. Furious is scarcely a strong enough word to express his feelings concerning the integrity of French customs officials.