CHRISTCHURCH CUSTOMS CASES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 24 December 1913, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH CUSTOMS CASES.

NUMEROUS CHARGES OF FRAUD

CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 24, In the Customs cases yesterday Ernest Walter Wood and James Anderson Campbell were charged.with stealing, on September, 1913, £76, the property of W. Brittenden and Soil. Mr Wright stated that in September lastf W. Brittenden and Son imported 64 cases of goods, ex lonic, the, value oi which was £1415 14s 3d. The value was declared at £1139 Is 3d. The correct duty payable was £452 7s 9d, but the amount paid to the Customs Department was only £356 7s 9d. The correct amount was debited, against Brittenden and Son and paid by them* and a cheque for the correct amount was paid by Hey wood and Co. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, reserved their defence and were committed for trial, their previous bail being granted.

Hugh Lawton Owen and James Anderson Campbell were then charged with stealing, on October 7, £49 4s, the property of George; Davies, Ltd. Mr Wright said that diarge was in respect to two cases of goods which arrived by the s.s. Opawa .in October last. The goods were classed as textile and were liable to. a duty 0f.20 per cent., but they were passed as trimmings and buttons, which come in free.. Owen passed the entries and debited the Sartorial Service, Ltd., successors to George Davies, Ltd., with the correct amount. That amount had not been paid to the Customs Department. Accused were committed for trial, botli pleading not guilty. t ' ' Owen and Campbell were charged with stealing, on September 30, £22, the property of the Crown Clothing Company. Mr Wright said that the case for the Crown was that goods ex Ruapehu, valued at £170 odd, had been given to Owen to pass. The_ goods had incorrectly been valued at £70 odd, and £15 12s dufy was paid, though £37 12s had been collected from- the Crown Clothing Company. Accused reserved their defence and were committed for trial. Other charges were: H. Ij. Owen and J. A. Campbell, theft of £20 16s, the property of George Davies, Ltd.; G. C. Francis and J. A. Campbell, theft of £5 16s. the property of J. H Parker; H. L. Owen and J. Hill, theft of £14 15s, the property of Robert Malcolm, Ltd.; H. L. Owen and J. A. Campbell, theft of £19, the property of George Davies, Ltd.; G. C. Fras^is and J. A. Cnnmfeell, theft of £9, tlv property of J.,H. Parker and Co; In all the cases accused pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial.