It appears that drug smuggling is an old standard when it comes to occupations in Southern Arizona.
When one is attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into the United States, it would be best not to telegraph one's nervousness to officers of the law. All this man had to do was remain calm.
However, the law abiding citizens are better for his agitation, since the man was detained and his drugs were not distributed.
From the Arizona Daily Star, Aug. 30, 1910:
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CAUGHT WITH THE GOODS IN HIS BAGGAGE
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A Man Who Is Believed to Be a Professional Smuggler Is Held in the Pima County Jail for Smuggling Opium.
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Charged with smuggling opium into the United states by the way of Naco, W. G. Tice was tried before Commissioner Richey yesterday and held to the grand jury on a bond of $2,000, which he could not execute. Consequently he is in jail.
TIce was a victim of his own nervousness. He was coming up on the train to Benson Sunday when W. H. Jones, immigration inspector at Naco boarded the same car with a China man under arrest. Tice at once became nervous in the presence of Jones and the latter became suspicious of Tice.
Finally the agitation of Tice became so pronounced that Inspector Jones deputized passengers to guard the doors of the coach and took charge of Tice. In the baggage of the suspected Inspector Jones found eight pounds of opium. Tice claims that he had paid $90 for the opium and in the United States it would have been worth $500.
In his examination before Commissioner Richey yesterday Tice did not deny purchasing the opium in Mexico and bringing it across the line, but contended that he did not know that he was committing an offense. When he was held to the federal grand jury and his bail fixed at $2,000 he realized the seriousness of his situation.
It is the belief of the officials that Tice is a professional smuggler. They think he was bound for San Francisco with the opium. However it is possible that he intended to peddle it out among the Chinese of Benson and Tucson.
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The Morgue Lady believes smugglers are still caught by their behavior, but dogs are more often involved now. It is an unsavory occupation. Wouldn't you agree?
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