SMUGGLED GEMS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6857, 12 March 1929, Page 4

SMUGGLED GEMS

Arrest of Famous Liner

Steward

amazing prosecution The chief steward of one of the largest liners afloat, a policeman who has been a famiilar figure at the New York docks for many years, a wellknown New York jeweller and his daughter are the principals in an amazing charge of diamond smuggling. William Ballyn, chief steward of the great Cunard liner Berengaria, and a man who is well known to thousands of persons who have crossed the Atlantic, has been arrested by the United States Government officials on a charge of smuggling diamonds. Two packages of gems valued at several thousands of dollars were found hidden in a cabin. Ballyn was arraigned in an American court, and Maurice Landau, a New York jeweller, and his daughter have also been arrested. It was said that for the last two years Ballyn, at Southampton, had been meeting a man, whose name was not divulged, who at every trip of the liner, gave him a package of diamonds to take to America. The authorities suggest that there has been a plot by which £IOO,OOO of uncut diamonds have been smuggled in. The duty on uncut stones is 20 per cent.

“Singing Steward" Mr. Ballyn, who has a fine baritone voice, is widely known in shipping circles, and in radio audiences in the States, as “The singing chief steward.’’ He has appeared on the concert platform with Tetrazzini, John McCormack, Mme. Matzenauer and John Charles Thomas. Not infrequently, too, M. Ballyn has sung solo parts in anthems in leading New York churches on occasions when his ship was in port. He has trained a choir of 45 voices on the Berengaria, in which he has taken great pride. In his cabin, as well as other articles, were found evidences of his talent and popularity, including autographed photographs of many celebrities—notably the Prince of Wales, Sir Harry Lauder and Mayor Walker of New York City. In the course of his examination by Federal officers, M. Ballyn had occasion to mention Constable John T. Mclntyre, who has for many years been on point duty outside the Cunard piers, and who is known to thousands of travellers.

Charge Denied

Police-Constable Mclntyre, when arrested, denied the charge made against him. New York Customs authorities have long suspected that diamonds in large numhers were being brought in surreptitiously on big liners which touch Continental ports. Among those searched have been great White Star, Cunard and United States liners. While M. was being questioned 60 Customs officers made a thorough search of the Berengaria, including the cabin of the commander, Sir Arthur Rostron. They reported they found (in places unspecified) a few bottles of liquor, but no jewels or drugs. P. C. Mclntyre achieved some fame when he visited Europe in 1924 as the guest of Mr. W. B. Leeds, the young American millionaire. Mclntyre’s unfailing courtesy when on duty at Cunard Line piers in New York had led Mr. Leeds to send the officer and his wife on a tour. They arrived in London on October 3, flying from Paris to Croydon.

More Like Home To a Press representative the New York officer said he and his wife had enjoyed their stay In Paris, but the language was a difficulty. “This seems more like home,” was his comment on London. About his reputation of being “New York’s politest policeman” he was very modest. He said he had known Mr. Leeds for nine years. “Everybody on tlm Cunard liners knows me, and on the piers I am called ‘Peter the Bobby.’ ” Mclntyre spent seven weeks in England, Scotland and Ireland. All the arrested persons have been released on bail. Ballyn was released on a bond for £I,OOO and the others, Constable John T. Mclntyre, Maurice Landau, and his daughter Frances, on bail In lesser amounts. Customs House officials explain that the master of a vessel is technically liable to a line to the amount of the value of any goods smuggled on his ship. Jewels found in a cabin on the Berengaria are said to be valued at £10,000; but they have not yet been appraised officially. When they have been, Captain Sir Arthur Rostron, of the Berengaria, will, it is understood, be asked to come forward to give evidence. The TJ.S. authorities have not for a moment, of course, entertained any idea that Captain Sir A. Rostron or any responsible Cunard official is concerned in the affair.

International Gang U.S. agents, both in New York and abroad, are actively engaged in an attempt to trace what they consider to be a big international diamond smuggling gang. They assert that between £8,000,000 and £10,000,000 worth of unset diamonds are smuggled into the country yearly. They state that they have in their possession what is apparently the name of a person living in Southampton. Their theory, however, is that this name is really a password used by smugglers and not the name of a person now to be found in Southampton. It is supposed that the gang worked chiefly from Antwerp and Amsterdam, and often through Cherbourg or Southampton.