Thе goods, mentioned in this libel, were proceeded against in the district court for the Southern district of New York, as forfeited under the sixty-seventh section of the collection law (3 Bior. & D. Laws, 199 [1 Stat. 077]). because, as was alleged, the packages containing them differed in their contents from the entry
This is a case not without its difficulties, and has been argued with an ability due to its importance and intricacy. There is no doubt that the allegations in the libel are substantially made out, and that there were many, and in some instances considerable variations between the actual contents of the packages, and their contents as exhibited by the entry at the custom-house. If the court, therefore, were not permitted to look beyond that fact, it would be difficult for any of the articles libelled to escape confiscation. But the law, under which these proceedings have been instituted, supposes that such differences will sometimes intervene by accident or mistake; and if that can be made out to the satisfaction оf the court, in which the prosecution is depending, a forfeiture shall not attach. •
The court will now proceed to examine how far the claimant has established his innocence. If he has designedly attempted to impose on the officers of the customs, he must submit to the consequences, penal and calamitous as they may be; but if he has succeeded in establishing any facts, which may reasonably account for the differences complained of, it will be the duty of the court, and must always be a pleasant one, to restore tо him his property. That part of the case which relates to the linens will be first disposed of.
It has been said in argument, that probable cause having been shown for the seizure, a very clear case must be made out by the claimant, to entitle him to a restoration of the property; and the court has been cautioned not to place too much reliance on positive and direct testimony, if it shall appear to be in conflict with the many and strong presumptive circumstances which appear in the case. Notwithstanding the fact is made out on which the seizure proceeded, and which unexplained would have been followed by forfeiture, all the claimant has to do, is to prove the mistake on which he relies, in the ordinary way, and the court is not authorized to call upon him to present a clearer case, than it would have a right to require in the investigation of any other matter of fact It is no less melancholy than true, that a court is sometimes compelled, however reluctantly, to reject the most positive declarations of witnesses, although delivered under the high and sacred sanctions of an oath, when opposed to presumptive circumstances, which it is not easy to reconcile with such testimony. A court will not, however, easily suspect the truth of such declarations, when corroborated by many witnesses, who have a fair character, and who have no interest in the matter in controversy r but rather than reject, will do all in its power to reconcile them with such circumstances; and if that cannot be done, the latter must be numerous and of the most controlling and irresistible nature tо justify an entire disregard of the positive testimony.
With respect to the linens, there are no circumstances to induce the court to believe, that the mistake in this article may not have been accidental, and altogether unknown to the claimant, until after their examination in this country. These linens appear by the testimony of Mr. Despierres, jun. a merchant of Alencon, (which has been taken under a commission since the cause came from the district court,) to have been purchased of .him at a fair at Guibray for the claimant, for the sum of seven thousand four hundred and fifteen francs and ninety-two centimes, which is the price at which they were invoiced, and on which duties were calculated at the custom-house. This witness, in addition to the very important fact which he establishes of their being invoiced at the price of their actual cost, also proves that shortly after the sale, and as soon as they had recovered at Alenpon from the fear of being pillaged by the foreign troops, he discovered errors against himself in the sale of the linens, of which he immediately apprized Madame Vintroux and claimed from her the difference. That lady begged his forbearance, in order to refer the matter to her husband, to whom the linens had been sent without examination of them. These mistakes proceeded, as the same witness informs us, from the precipitation under which they were packed, to withdraw them from the pillage, from which Aleneon narrowly escaped, having already experienced all the horrors of war. Relying on the probity of Mr. Vintroux, with whom he had had dealings before. Mr. Despierres consented to the delay.
That this story is no fabrication of recent date, to answer the purposes of the claim
The allegation against the clocks will be next examined. It is, that the twelve packages of clocks, marked and numbered 1Y. No. 1, on to tV. No. 12 inclusive, were found to differ in their contents from the entry, in this; that these packages were entered, as containing twelve clocks, and that the same contained nineteen. Another box containing six clocks and marked Y. H. No. 1, was entered at the same time, so that in all eighteen clocks only were entered, and duties paid on them. On examination, however, it was found, that the whole number of clocks entered were found in the сases marked IV. No. 1 to 12. Hence suspicions were excited (V. H. No. 1 having also been entered as containing six clocks,) that twenty-four clocks had been imported by the claimant instead of eighteen. If the actual importation of that number had been proved the libellant would have made out a clear case, so far as relates to this article; but although attempts were made to establish that fact, they were quite unsuccessful; and notwithstanding the pains which were taken with that view, there is no evidence in the cause, that any one of the persons, who were about the claimant after his arrival in this country, some of whom assisted in examining his goods, ever saw any of the six clocks, which it is supposed were fraudu-. lently subtracted from an entry. Nor has any person, who deals in this article in this city, been found, who can fix on the claimant, or any agent of his, the sale of more clocks than were entered, although two witnesses, who were dealers in clocks, were examined with that intent. If the allegation, therefore, in the libel be true, that in the twelve eases were more clocks than thеy were entered as containing; yet if it shall appear that no clocks were contained in any other ease, which was entered as containing six, no fraud has been committed on the revenue, nor could any have been intended, and of course no forfeiture has been incurred. The claimant, not relying on the absence of all positive proof, on this point, has endeavoured to satisfy the court, that all the clocks imported by him in the Ann Williams were regularly entered; and that, although in the cases which were supposed to contain only a dozen, eighteen or nineteen were found, not a single clock was discovered in any other package.
The court is greatly mistaken if the claimant’s proof on this part of his case, will not be found very satisfactory. There is no doubt, that the eighteen clocks were an adventure, belonging, not to the claimant, but to his father at Paris, by whom they were sent to Madame Vintroux at Caen to be forwarded to the United States. The first we hear of them is in a letter written by the elder Mr. Vintroux to the wife of the claimant. Mr. Bellair, who put up the goods belonging to claimant, declares that he packed no clocks for him; and knows of none, except those in the box marked V. V. or W. No. 1 to 12—and a wooden clock, and two which were entered on the invoice made by him as contained in the package marked Y. H. No. 22. This witness also informs us how it happened, that each of the boxes from No. 1 to 12 were entered as containing each one dock, and another box as containing six. After he had packed the goods of the claimant, Madame Vintroux gave him the bill of parcels of the clocks, which came from Paris By this he found there were eighteen clocks, and supposed that the cases marked from one to twelve contained only one clock each. The other six, therefore, he supposed were contained in a large case which was among the others, and although this ease was one, which he had packed himself, yet not adverting to that circumstance at the time, he marked it Y. H. No. 1; and entered it in the invoice. under that mark, as containing clocks.
This corresponds with the information which the claimant gave to another witness on his passage to this country, that he had only eighteen clocks which belonged to his father, which declaration, although it comes from a person now interested, is entitled to some attention, considering the time and circumstances under which it was made. This same witness, Mr. Collet, was also present when a box was opened, which the claimant expected to contain clocks, but in it were only Angora shawls or gloves. This box, he says, was opened in the street, because, as - he supposes, the entry of the house, before which it stood, was too small to admit of its being taken up stairs. Mr. Demolliens proves the same thing, although he is somewhat more particular in his relation, and unless we believe him guilty of wilful perjury, we must be satisfied that the
But without pursuing this subject farther, the court is satisfied, that this part of the libellant’s case is not made out, unless no explanation can be received to establish the innocence of a transaction, which unaccounted for, must have drawn after it all the consequences of a confiscation. But this explanation, in the opinion of the court, has been given, and can only be got rid of by opposing ro it some circumstances, which although sufficient to raise doubts, ought not to be permitted to outweigh so much of positive testimony, with which this part of the claimant’s case abounds. If the court does not stop to notice these circumstances, it is not because they have not been attended to, but because it is of opinion, after full consideration, that all of them together will not justify a sentence of condemnation. The clocks therefore must also be restored.
The ease of the other articlеs libelled will now be considered. The circumstances attending them are so much alike, that they must all be liable to the same judgment. The excuse, which applies particularly to this portion of the importation, is, that it was packed up at Caen in the absence of the proprietor, and in such haste and confusion, in consequence of apprehensions entertained at that place of the Prussian troops, that all the mistakes and inaccuracies which have been discovered are attributable to those causes, and did not proceed from any intentional fraud on the part of the owner. This defence has been treated with great levity by the counsel for the United States, and attempts were made to induce the court to believe that the testimony, which appears in support of it, has all been fabricated, to suit the purposes of the claimant. But such a body of evidence, whatever suspicions may be entertained by those who have an interest in disbelieving every part of it, must have its influence on a court, so long as it is mindful of its duty, and does not think itself аbsolved from every obligation to decide according to the proofs before it. Both of the persons, who packed these goods, Mr. Bellair, a clerk of the claimant, and Joseph Boissellier, a resident of the city of Caen, prove that the packing took place at nignt in a cellar of the claimant. That this was done in much haste and confusion, from an apprehension of being discovered by the Prussians, some of whom were quartered in the house of Mr. Vintroux. The packages were sometimes marked the same night, and sоmetimes not until the next day, which may account why the contents of some of them were marked as being in another.
It was doubted on the argument, whether this apprehension of the Prussians, was well founded, and much was said of the tranquillity of Prance after the return of Louis XVIII., which was effected by the battle of Waterloo. But whatever might have been the condition of other parts of that kingdom, more than twelve witnesses have been examined, most of them residents of Caen, who describe the conduct of the military, who occupied that place, during the fаll of the year 1815, as well calculated to excite the fears of the inhabitants about the safety of their property. So great and general was this apprehension, that many buried their valuable effects to place them beyond the reach of the soldiery. It would appear indeed, that previous to Madame Vintroux’s receiving directions from her husband, who was then in Paris, to pack up his goods at Caen, to be sent to America, she had determined to have it done merely to send them to some place of greater safety. But it was not only at Caen that excesses were committed by the army of occupation; for it appears, from the examination of Mr. Despierres, a merchant who resides at Alen-(jon, that the inhabitants of that place were also under apprehensions of a military pillage.
There is nothing to detract from the credit due to such a mass of corresponding testimony, but the solitary declaration of one witness who was but two days at Caen, and saw no obstructions to business, the shops being open as usual. Now this may very well be, and yet none of the material facts, on which the claimant relies, are disproved by it. The town may have been very quiet the two days which this witness passed on his party of pleasure at Caen; and yet the soldiers may have behaved very much amiss' both before and after; and the alarms and fears, which are spoken of may well have been very general at that place. The troops there were very numerous, and had already committed many outrages. When they might proceed to others still greater, no one could say. Nor is it any thing against the truth of this rеpresentation, that these goods were publicly removed from Caen, and in the day-time. Property in that situation would not be so liable to pillage in a place where any discipline at all was observed, as if it were concealed from
The absence of Mr. Vintroux at Paris, while these goods were packing, and his going direct from that city to Havre, without his ever having been at Caen, since his leaving it in the latter end of August, 1S15, is as well, if not more certainly established, as that part of his de-fence which arises out of the irregularities and violences of the Prussian army. Nor was this an unimportant fact to make out, for it will readily be conceded that more indulgence is due to a merchant whose goods are packed in his absence, than if he had been on the spot to attend to the business himself. The letter signed by him, and annexed to the invoice, although dated at Caen, is proved to have received his signature at Havre, having been previously written at Caen by Mr. Bel-lair, under the direction of Madame Vintroux, who appears herself to have been a merchant. The regular name in which the invoice is made out, has also been urged as an argument against the haste under which it is alleged, that these packages were made up. This is accounted for by Mr. Bellair, whose relation is no way improbable. The invoice was made by him, at his leisure, from the memoranda preserved at the time of packing, and he supposed, and so informed Mr. Vin-troux, thаt it was correct
The sudden resolution of the claimant to come to this country is also treated as a mere pretence. It is not improbable that such intention was first conceived at Havre; but the court does not think it worth while to employ any time in ascertaining the truth of this representation, feeling, as it does, a repugnance which it is not desirous of overcoming, at condemning a valuable property on a doubtful circumstance, which has not a very important or direct bearing on the immediate point in controversy. With the same rеmark it might dismiss all consideration of the very great surprise which has been expressed at this property’s being consigned to Mr. Bouehaud, and being entered by him, after the owner had determined to accompany it, and actually did arrive with it in this city. If it be true, as the court believes, that this property was put up in the absence of Mr. Vintroux, and the invoice made out by his clerk, it is not easy to conjecture any improper motive for applying to Mr. Bouehaud to make the entry. Mr. Vintroux could very conscientiously have taken the usual oath. A motive, and a fаir one therefore, may be assigned for this part of his conduct. This gentleman, being a stranger, might well employ Mr. Bouehaud, who was on the spot, and better acquainted with the manner of doing business at our custom-house. He might also have found it necessary, in order to obtain security for the duties, to place them in the hands of Mr. Bouehaud, who might then as well make the entry also.
It has likewise been imputed, as something more than an oversight, to Mr. Vintroux, that he omitted to apprize the collector of the mistakes. as soon as they were discovered. If the еxamination had been finished before the seizure, and his silence had then continued, there might have been some ground for this imputation; but a seizure took place so soon as to render impossible any communication, that would have been satisfactory; for, that the claimant contemplated informing the collector of the errors which might be discovered, as soon as the examination was closed, there is some ground to believe, from part of the testimony in the cause. It may be, that the apprehension of a seizure deterred Mr. Vintroux from a disclosure. Such neglect would have been improper, and would have exposed him to very just suspicion. And yet, during the present term, a sentence of restitution has proceeded on the very ground, that a prosecution took place in consequence of such information having been given to the custom-house, and in good faith, by the importer himself.
It is but just here, to remark, that the conduct of Mr. Vintroux, after he was apprized of a determination to seize, was ingenuous and very different from what would be looked for, in a pеrson who had, from the beginning, laid a plan to defraud the government. Instead of concealing any part of the property, which might easily have been done, the whole of it being under his control, we find him pointing out where it was, and affording every facility in his power to the officers of the customs. This may not be an improper place to remark on the character of the claimant, which, in a proceeding of this nature, is not to be entirely disregarded. All the witnesses, who have had occasion to speak of it, represent him as a gentlеman of probity and property, and very highly respected in his own country, and consider him incapable of meditating a fraud of this, or any other kind. It is indeed difficult to persuade oneself that a man of good standing, and fair character in his own country, and of large property, should commence his career in a country, of which he intended to become a member, with a fraud, so easy of detection, from which indeed a ihiserable saving might have resulted, but not without great hazard, not only of losing a large portion of his fortune, but of fixing on his reputation a stain, which no time could wash away: for it must be remembered that a fraud of this nature cannot be practised, without wilful perjury in the party himself, or, (which would be almost as culpable,) without his procuring or permitting another to swear to what be himself knew to be a falsehood. There was no adequate motive for so deep and unequal a game, nor is it to be reconciled with the former habits and character of the claimant; which, as has just been mentioned, are proved to have been honourable and • upright.
The court considers it evincive of the good
The veracity of this witnеss has also been called in question, on a supposition that he must be incorrect in the cause which he assigns for Madame de Vintroux’s not accompanying her husband to the United States. This is considered as an invention of his own, as that lady was not confined until several months after the Ann Williams left Havre. Now it so happens that Mary Botte, who resided in the family of the claimant at Caen, proves the same fact; and there is no doubt . at all, that although there was no immediate expectation of his wife’s confinement when the claimant left Havre, yet her situation must have been such as is described by Mr. Bellair, and as might well have deterred her from undertaking a voyage to this country. Nor is it quite correct, as was asserted on the hearing, that ail the differences which were discovered between the invoice and the actual contents of the packages, were uniformly in favour of the claimant: for some of - the packages were correct, and others contained less in quantity than was represented on the entry. Seme packages, therefore, were not seized, and othеrs which had been seized, were returned.
Upon the whole, it is the opinion of this court, that whatever differences existed in this case between the entries at the customhouse, and the real contents of the packages, the claimant has succeeded in exculpating himself from all intention of fraud; and that therefore the sentence of the district court must be affirmed so far as it acquitted any part of the property libelled, or adjudged that there was probable cause of seizure, and ordered the claimant to pay the costs of that court; and reversed as to the residue of said decree. Each party must pay his own costs on the appeal.