CUSTOMS FRAUDS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 18 December 1913, Page 5

CUSTOMS FRAUDS.

THREE PERSONS CHARGED

ALL COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

BY TEI^EGRAPH—PRfSS ASSOCIATION,

CHRISTCHUaCH, Dec. 17. The cases of alleged frauds on the Customs Department were continued in the Magistrate's 'Court.. Christopher Robert Smith, Samuel John McCormack, and James Anderson Campbell, were charged with having, on September 12, 1913, stolen £12 12s, the property of Hicks and Co. Mr Wright, for the Department, said that Hicks and Co., Jewellers, had ordered a case of goods to arrive per the e.s. lonic. The goods were made in Germany, and were liable to a preferential tariff of 10 per cent., in addition to a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem on the Value of the goods. The correct amount of the duty was £18 18s. A Customs entry was put through by Smith, who assessed the duty at £6 6s. A correct account of £18 18s was rendered against Hicks and Co., and the money was included in a cheque for £122 10s which they paid, and which included other amounts in respect of which prosecutions would ensue. The cheque was drawn by Smith and countersigned by McCormack and cashed. A curious feature of the business was that the declaration on the back of the prime entry necessary in "connection with the passing of goods 'subject to ad valorem duty on the preferential tariff was taken by McCormack, and purported to be signed by Edward John Hicks. This, Mr Hicks would show, was a forgery. Both Smith and McCormack falsified the entry, and Campbell certified that he had compared the entry with the in- j voice. That certificate was false as to the value, which was given in the entry as £18 14s 9d, but was correctly given in the invoice as- £57. After evidence was heard accused reserved their defence, pleaded not guilty, and were committed for trial. McCormack, Smith and Campbell were then charged with the theft, on September 12, of £26 4s, the property of Robert Turton. Mr Wright said that this was another case arising out of the cheque.for £122 10s. The facts were that Mr Turton imported, per the steamer Westmeath, a case of dress goods valued at £114 12s. He employed the New Zealand Express Company to pass the Customs entries, handing them the invoice. The entries were not put through in the ordinary way. but by a?bill of right. Accused were committed for trial. Smith and Campbell were charged with having, on November 26, stolen £8 16s, the property of R., Turton. Turton's evidence was heard and the case was then adjourned.