SECOND BIENNIAL STATEMENT 181 



ico. I stated to Rumsey that in my opinion that was 

 too many feathers of that class to come out of Mexico 

 at one time, but that we had on file an Immediate 

 Transportation entry from New York for four cases 

 of "light plumes," and that probably these would be 

 sent to Mexico and then smuggled back into the United 

 States. 



Rumsey was instructed to get busy and find out if 

 possible through his informant if the feathers in bond 

 from New York were to be taken to Mexico, and then 

 brought back ; which Rumsey found was really the in- 

 tention of the owner. 



As above stated, the four cases of feathers were ex- 

 ported, and entered at the Mexican Custom House of 

 New Laredo, Mexico, duties being paid thereon. 



After being released by the Mexican authorities, the 

 four cases of feathers were packed into a trunk which 

 had been taken from Laredo, Texas, for the purpose. 

 On the night of January 28, 1916, the trunk contain- 

 ing the supposed light plumes was smuggled across the 

 river from Mexico, and placed in a house. 



Mounted Inspectors Robert Rumsey, Jr., and John 

 C. Chamberlain kept the house under constant surveil- 

 lance until about 7:00 P. M., January 29th, when Mr. 

 Abraham Kallman went to the house after the trunk. 



Rumsey was instructed by this office to let the party 

 coming after the trunk get actual possession of it be- 

 fore any arrest was made. Mr. Kallman was allowed 

 by the said Mounted Inspector to go to the Interna- 

 tional & Great Northern Depot, which was about two 

 miles distant from the place of concealment, and he 

 was in the act of getting this trunk checked to leave 

 on the 8:00 P. M. train for San Antonio, and thence 

 to St. Louis and other points, when he was placed under 

 arrest. 



Mr. Kallman was brought to the Custom House that 

 night, where he acknowledged that the trunk contained 

 the birds of paradise that were taken across to Mexico 

 a few days prior. Letters, and a statement under date 

 of December 15, 1915, were found in Mr. Kallman's 

 possession, showing that he bought the birds of para- 

 dise from Benjamin, Williams & Company, of London, 

 England, but they were originally shipped from Brit- 

 ish India. His correspondence snowed previous deal- 

 ings in feathers with the same firm. 



