THE KING OF SMUGGLERS AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7395, 22 February 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE KING OF SMUGGLERS AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL.

The most sensational trial of smugglers which has taken* place- for- many yc*ars commenced on Friday, December. 20, at Ppntarller, on the Franco-Swiss frontier. The leader of the band, a man n-imed Derobert, and 224 of his associates are charged with attempting to clandestinely 'pass a large Quantity of tobacco and phosphorus across the Frqnch frontier. Seventy-eight French and Swiss Customs officials are cited as witnesses. ' Derobert, a man of extraordinary cunning, was known on the frontier as the king of smugglers. His ingenious ru^es were worthy of Sherlock Holmes. At his house were discovered hundreds of disguises, consisting of false beards and moustaches, wigs, and complete suits of clothes, representing workmen, gentlemen, commercial travellers, etc., in every trade and profession, Ipid correct In every detail. Derobert's method was daring an<i most •cunning. Accompanied by a single confederate he would disguise himself and take a first, second, or third clas* railway ticket (according to his disguise). He would then take the train at a SwKs station, generally at Geneva or Lausanne, where confederates awaited him with large quantities of tobacco and phosphorus, carefully concealed in boxes as • baggage. As soon as the train started he would commence concealing the dutiable goods. Cushions would be ripped open, beams would be drilled through, the floor of the ■carriage taken up and carefully readjusted after the tobacco had been put out of , sight. Derobert even ttiad false kays for opening .the guard's private drawers .and boxes in which he often concealed his goods. The smuggler generally t<)ok by preference a fast night train. When the frontier was crossed- and the Customhouse passed he would replace the tobacco, etc, in his boxes or travelling bags, which were then handed over to accomplices awaiting their chief on the French stations. It is estimated, according to th* prosecution, that by these means the Frpnch Government has been robbed of pearly £10,000 during the last two years. The Customhouse officials were aware of the leakage, but all their plans and ruses . failed in discovering the culprits. Derobert was at last arrested a little while ago while crossing the frontier with a large consignment of timber, which was found to be full of tobacco and phosphorus ingeniously inserted into hollows made in the wood. The trial is not concluded.