Series of Lies

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 149, 25 June 1937, Page 12

Series of Lies

WOMAN’S PURCHASES. LONDON, May 20. At the Westminster Police Court, Gezina Birnbaum, a Dutch subject, of Felden road, Boxmoor, Herts, was summoned by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for being knowingly concerned in the evasion of duty on three furs, a silk blouse and a straw hat imported from France. Tho treble value and duty on tho goods were £240 8s Od. Mr G. D. Roberts, K.C., and Mr J. Mcrvyn G. Griffith-Jones appeared for the defendant, and tendered a plea of guilty. Mr C. A. Ryves, prosecuting, said the defendant was the wife of a banker living in this country. She arrived at Victoria from Paris on March 6 and presented her luggage for examination. She was given the usual iist of articles that were dutiable, and was also told that she must declare anything she had bought abroad. She paid a small amount on small articles, but ou her baggage being examined a hat and fur collars were found. She said at first she had bought these in Oxford street before she went abroad. The officer became suspicious and told the defondant he was afraid she was not speaking the truth, and then she said she had bought the fur coat in Paris a few days before and had paid £3O for it. * * Taking a Chance. * * An invoice was afterwards found, however, showing that she had eontrae ted to pay about £O2. Certain other articles were brought to light, but they were of small value. Eventually defendant admitted she had told a lot of lies and had brought the articles with her from Paris. Asked why she had behaved so, she replied:—"Ladies look upon it as a sport. My friends told me how they got these things through by taking a chance, and 1 decided to take a chance myself. This is the most expensive dress I liv e ever bought." She then offered to pay the duty. Mr Roberts said the ease was not one of goods being introduced into this country for resale; they were for the defendant's own personal adornment. She had been staying at St. Moritz for some time, and while passing through Paris on her return home she met some American acquaintances and was taken to an expensive dressmaker's, where she was persuaded, very foolishly, to buy an article for 6500 francs. She told her husband she had paid £3O for it; he had promised to pay; and also the duty. Foolishly she did not tell the truth, and then became frightened, and her first lie landed her in a succession of others. She now bitterly regretted what had happened. Tho magistrate (Mr Kenneth Marshall) said he quite accepted counsel's statement that the case was not one of trying to make money. The defendant had landed herself in a network of lies, and she must realise that to behave in such a manner was very expensive. She must pay a fine of £OO and £2 2s costs.