vessel, in which they shall have reason to suspect any goods, wares or merchandise, subject to duty, are concealed, and therein to search for, seize, and secure any such goods, wares or merchandise; and if they shall have cause to suspect a concealment thereof in any particular dwelling-house, store, building, or other place, they or either of them shall upon proper application on oath, to any justice of the peace, be entitled to a warrant to enter such house, store or other place (in the daytime only) and there to search for such goods; and if any shall be found, to seize and secure the same for trial; and all such goods, wares and merchandise, on which the duties shall not have been paid, or secured to be paid, shall be forfeited.
Collector to have the custody of goods seized.Sec. 69. And be it further enacted, That all goods, wares or merchandise which shall be seized by virtue of this act, shall be put into, and remain in the custody of the collector, or such other person as he shall appoint for that purpose, until such proceedings shall be had as by this act are required, to ascertain whether the same have been forfeited, or not; and if it shall be adjudged that they are not forfeited, they shall be forthwith restored to the owner or owners, claimant or claimants thereof;Penalty on buying or concealing goods liable to seizure. and if any person or persons shall conceal or buy any goods, wares or merchandise, knowing them to be liable to seizure by this act, such person or persons shall on conviction thereof, forfeit and pay a sum double the amount or value of the goods, wares or merchandise so concealed or purchased.
Officers of the customs may make seizure out of their district.Sec. 70. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the several officers of the customs, to make seizure of, and secure any ship, or vessel, goods, wares or merchandise which shall be liable to seizure by virtue of this or any other act of the United States, respecting the revenue, which is now, or may hereafter be enacted, as well without as within their respective districts.
They may plead the general issue.Sec. 71. And be it further enacted, That if any officer or other person, executing or aiding or assisting in the seizure of goods, shall be sued or molested for any thing done in virtue of the powers given by this act, or by virtue of a warrant granted by any judge, or justice, pursuant to law, such officer or other person may plead the general issue, and give this act and the special matter in evidence; and if in such suit the plaintiff is nonsuited, or judgment pass against him, the defendant shall recover double costs;Double costs. and in actions, suits or informations to be brought, where any seizure shall be made pursuant to this act, if the property be claimed by any person, in every such case theOnus probandi to lie upon the claimant.
See Wood v. United States, 16 Peters, 342.
Penalty on resisting officers of the customs.}} onus probandi shall lie upon such claimant. And if any person shall forcibly resist, prevent, or impede any officer of the customs or their deputies, or any person assisting them, in the execution of their duty, such person so offending, shall for every such offence, be fined in a sum not exceeding four hundred dollars. And if any master, or other person having the charge or command of any ship or vessel coming into, or arriving at any port or place within the United States, shall obstruct or hinder, or shall be the cause or means of any obstruction or hindrance with such an intent, to any officer of the customs or revenue, in going on board such ship or vessel, for the purpose of carrying into effect any of the revenue laws of the United States, he shall forfeit for every such offence a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, nor less than fifty dollars;Special proviso as to the onus probandi. but the onus probandi shall lie on the claimant only where probable cause is shown for such prosecution, to be judged of by the court before whom the prosecution is had.
