“SINGING STEWARD” ARRESTED ON LINER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6806, 9 January 1929, Page 10

“SINGING STEWARD” ARRESTED ON LINER

AJleged Smuggling of Diamonds

BERENGAIIIA RAIDED BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS

Boarding tiio Cunard liner Bercngaria as she berthed in New Yoi*v, American Customs oflicers arrested the chief steward, William Ballyn, of Southampton, in whose room it was a.leged, concealed packages of diamonds were discovered to the value of £20,000. For a long time the authorities have teen puzzled about the increasing quantities of smuggled diamonds soid in the United States, and it is alleged against Ballyn that he is a smuggler, who, during the last two years, has been responsible for bringing gems worth over £IOO,OOO across tho Atlantic. To thousands of travellers on the ocean route between England and America Ballyn is known as the “Singing Stc-

ward," and he has achieved popularity as the conductor of an orchestra on board his ship and as a- baritone soloist.

Following Ballyn's detention, a traffic policeman named John Mclntyre, who for many years has been stationed outside the Cunard line's New York docks, was arrested. P.C. Mclntyre came into the limelight in 1924, when he visited Europe as the guest of Mr. W. B. Leeds, the young American millionaire. Mclntyre’s unfailing courtesy had led Mr. Leeds to send the officer and his wife on a tour.

The story of Ballyn’s arrest was related when he was brought before tho Court at New York. It was then revealed that Maurice Landau and his 20-year-old daughter Frances had also been taken into custody. It was stated that

Two Packages of Gems

were found in a cabin, and it was alleged that at Southampton Ballyn had been meeting a man whose name was not divulged, who at every trip on the liner gave him a package of diamonds to bring to America. When the officials raided the liner a thorough search was made, anti even the apartments of tiio commander, Sir Arthur Bostron, were I not spared. Ballyn and Mclntyre, who is known as the “Smiling Policeman,” and Lan-

dau and his daughter, were arraigned before the commissioner at the Federal Court of New York. The Cunard Line was represented by counsel, who explained that of course the company was completely ignorant of any attempt made by any of its servants to engage in smuggling. Counsel tendered the company’s offer to do all in its power to assist th 6 authorities in their investigations.

It was alleged by Mr. Norman Pike, special agent in charge of tho investigations, that for two years Ballyn had been delivering to Mclntyre packages which he received. Altogether ho had made 30 trips in two years, and the authorities estimated that £IOO,OOO worth of diamonds had been smuggled. Ballyn, it was added, sometimes delivered the packages at Mclntyre’s house. At other times he handed them to him in the street. The policeman each time gave Ballyn £2O and received from Landau £6O. The girl fetched the packages from Mclntyre’s house. Ballyn and the jeweller were released on bail of £IOO each. Mclntyre was ordered to And bail amounting to £7OO, and the girl £3OO. The four were committed for trial by tho Federal jury.