OUR GRIP ON GOTHAM.
__________

Special Dispatch to THE POST.
    NEW YORK. Sept. 13.--An examination was commenced to-day in Brooklyn, before United States Commissioner Winslow, in the case of Jno. Prentz Cooper, who was arrested several days ago on the charge of conspiracy to defraud the Government in the false weighing of sugar. It was alleged that the accused was in league with an assistant weigher and the owners of the sugar, Youngs & Co., to defraud the revenue by means of under-weighing the sugar or overstating the tare. Several witnesses were examined up to the present writing, but nothing was elicited of public interest in the testimony. The case is still on.

    Surveyor Graham, with his staff, were on the Cunard dock yesterday on the arrival of the Scythia. Some of the inspectors discovered false bottoms in the trunk of Max Rothschild, of 627 Lexington avenue. They confiscated four handsome dresses, said to have been made by Worth. The dresses are a blue velvet carriage suit, elaborately trimmed, and valued at $200; a black satin evening dress, with silk fringe, worth $200; an Empress cloth walking suit, ornamented with guipure lace, worth $200; and the fourth a mourning dress of Empress cloth, trimmed with silk, and valued at $175.

    Up to 1 o'clock to-day Collector Merritt had taken no action in regard to the charges preferred against Superintendent Wynkoop for interfering with a special Treasury agent in the discharge of his duty. The facts in the case are that Special Inspector Van Horn was detailed to make an examination of the baggage of John Key, who was suspected of having a large amount of jewelry concealed in his trunks. When Van Horn and his assistant reached Castle Garden and exhibited their authority, signed by Deputy Surveyor Benedict, to act. It is charged that Deputy Collector Baker declined to allow the search to be made, declaring that he was the head of that department and that he did not acknowledge the authority of the surveyor in the premises. Inspector Van Horn proceeded in the discharge of his duty, when it is charged that he was set upon by both Baker and Wynkoop. He pushed them aside and completed the examination of the baggage. Nothing of a contraband character was found in Key's baggage, and it was released, as were Key and his wife, who had been detained pending the investigation.

    Samuel Blatchford, Circuit judge of the Second district, formerly [sic] opened court to-day for the purpose of appointing supervisors, under section 2,011, of the United States revised statutes, in regard to the scrutiny of the registration and election for Congressmen. Commissioner John I. Davenport, who is also chief supervisor of elections, handed to the court a list of names, two from each district, one Democrat and one Republican, recommended by the respective parties. This list was found to be completed, with the exception of the Third assembly district, from which, owing to dissensions in the Republican organization, two sets of Republican applications had been received. Supervisor Davenport asked that this district be not passed upon until the matter had been investigated. The court granted Mr. Davenport's request and ordered, with that exception, the appointment of the others. Judge Blatchford also appointed under sections 2,014 and 2,015 of the Revised Statutes, Judge Wm. G. Choate to act for him in case of illness or absence. There are between two thousand and three thousand supervisors, being two for each election district.

Source:

Unknown, "Our Grip on Gotham, Interfering With a Treasury Agent," The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Friday, 13 September 1878, p. 1.