SMUGGLING TRICKS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 156, 17 March 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

SMUGGLING TRICKS.

A little toy dog, with a sii.bby tail and a pointed nose, which vottkl emit a bark like a grunt when pressed, stood on the table in the office of Justice Wardell, Surveyor of the Port of San Franscisco, says the "Ne v York World," surrounded by a cokution of cultivated pearis. The tip < I his tail v.as missing, as was the eua of his nose, both of which had been cut away by the Customs inspectors. The dog was only one- of many clever contrivances used by Y. Nankane, wealthy pearl merchant of Tokio, who was arrested recently when lie mr.de a declaration at the Custom House saying that he carried only £BO worth ot pearls. An investigation of his baggage i>y Customs Inspector f. B. Brosman revealed pearls valued at more than £ 1000. Nakanc arrived in San Franscisco aboard the Tenyo MtU'ti, and declared to the Customs inspector that he had L'SO worth of pearls in a small jewel case. An examination of the case showed that it had a false bottom and pearls valued at £2OO were revealed with the destruction of (.he case. This was the first lot to he discovered. While the jewel case was being taken apart Nakatie drew from ms Docket a dainty .Japanese tobacco box arid proceeded to roll a cigarette. !!e beauty of the box attracted the attention of Wardell. who asked to see it at closer range. The box, when examined, revealed another £.'200 worth of the precioiu gems. Nakarv coined his coat to assist in the work of uvparkin;; the cases. Again Wardell was a' I, 'act. Ed by the beauty of a silk ve.-c and made an examination and fourd that 111 the centre of each ol the buttons was a small pearl, .vhicii was so near tic colour of the shell-lik • buttons' that the gems co.i'id be dctcc'cd only by an expert. In the hot ton of one of the merchant's trunks the 'li-peetor found a toy dog carefully wrinped 111 tissue paper. Nakanc explained thai it was to be a gift to a chill relat'.v. her". All examination of the outst'--of the toy revealed nothing: linallv. the tip of the tail wa« removed with a pair of sci-sors. and ft was Sound to Idled with pearl-. A like find was mae," 111 the 'log s nose. Nak'Ule ta *e confessed he had tried to smuggle t.~e iewch into tin- country. 1 h■» gem* were eonliseated.