ALLEGED CUSTOMS FRAUDS

Evening Star, Issue 15395, 20 January 1914, Page 6

ALLEGED CUSTOMS FRAUDS

THE DEFENDANTS DISCHARGED

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

LONDON, January 19. (Received January 20, at 11.5 a.m.)

In the alleged Customs fraud case Mr Bodkin, K.C., submitted that Walter Kemsley had no knowledge of the transactions in Australia. The other defendants may have known, but not fraudulently. No evidence had been called to show that their firm profited by the transactions. Neal’s evidence showed that the values charged to the Australian houses were the same as the firm paid to the British manufacturers. The allegation that the prices "of chassis were inflated had not been supported. Between May, 1912, and June. 1915, the Government tried to get the firm to give evidence against their Australian clients.

The Magistrate considered that though the case was a proper subject of inquiry, no jury would convict on the documents submitted and in the absence of any witness who was able to give evidence concerning the transactions to which the documents referred. Except in the Clement Talbot transaction no such evidence was called. He complimented Messrs Neal and Shetland on their fullness, frankness, and fairness in giving evidence, also Mr Neal on his preparation of the documentary evidence. The ease was dismissed without the defendants being called on to reply.