THE ARTFUL ASSYRIAN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1318, 3 June 1897, Page 29

THE ARTFUL ASSYRIAN.

Quite a flutter was caused in the Syrian dovecotes on Friday morning by the sudden appearance of the police and Customs officers at the places of business of these dark-skinned merchants in different parts of the city. For years past the Customs authorities have suspected that the department has been defrauded by means of falsified bills of lading, and during the last three months Detective Nixon has, at the instance of Mr D. McKellar, Collector of Customs, been making most exhaustive enquiries. When these officers had satisfied themselves as to the existence of an extensive and far-reaching system of fraud on the part of individuals carrying on business in a large way both in Wellington and in other parts of the colony, the aid of the Crown Prosecutor, Mr H. D. Dell, was invoked in perfecting a plan by which the alleged wrongdoers should most readily and without a “ possible probable shadow of doubt ” be brought to justice. The result was that a skilfully organised raid was planned to take place yesterday morning. Accordingly, at about 11 o’clock, the time appointed, detachments of one policeman ” and two Customs officers simultaneously took possession of premises in different parts of the town, and several arrests were made. Detective Nixon had charge of the operations at the northern end of the city, and Messrs McKellar and Carter,'landing surveyor, took the central portion, and were accompanied by Mr Bell in his capacity of legal adviser. The premises raided were those of Massad Geor, Cuba street; Fadlallah Khouri, Exchange Buildings, Lambton quay ,- Michael David, corner cf Moles worth street and Fraser’s lane; G. Bauzsaid, Lambton qtfay ; Michael John, John street ; and Stevens, who has two shops, one m Melesworth street and one on Lambton quay, near the Gear Meat Company s premises. * - . , ~ The authorities obtained access to ail the premises except Michael David s, which was locked, the owner being absent, and as some force had to be exercised to gain admission, a crowd soon gathered round, but no kind of demonstration was made. The method pursued in the majority #£ cases was to enter, lock the doors, search

the premises, and arrest the male occupant. Michael David was not apprehended until the afternoon, but about 3 o’clock Detective Nixon found him in a fruit shop in Cuba street, and he was secured. The alarm of the raid soon spread amongst the Syrian population, and an amusing feature was that several Syrians bolted madly from one quarter to the other to get out of the way, only to find the authorities in possession wherever they went. One man, who was not wanted, was heard to say: “ I see there’s going to be a row ; I’m off !” and took the first train to the country. . The suspects were at once taken to the jurors’ room at the Supreme Court while a warrant for their committal to gaol to await trial was made out. In cases of this kind no preliminary Lower Court proceedings are necessary, but the prisoners will be lodged in Mount Cook Gaol —unless bailed, as in one case —until the sittings of the Supreme Court in about three weeks. Bail in each case was fixed as follows : Massad Geor, .£750 ; Fadlallah Khouri, £570; Michael David, £560 ; G. Bauzsaid, £6OO ; Michael John, £SOO ; Stevens, £3OO. In the case of the latter bail was forthcoming. He announced that he was guilty, and remarked, “and if I am guilty the others are guilty too.” The police officers who took part were, besides Detective Nixon, Constables Eccles, Lardner, Thompson, Cassin, McGuire, Carroll, De Norval and Leach. The instructions were to make a careful search for all p ipers and documents, seize * the same and place them in the hands of the Collector of Customs. This was done.

All the goods in the shops have also been seized and the premises taken possession of. It is estimated that the value of the goods involved in the seizure amounts to between £30,000 and £IO,OOO, and the importance of the raid can be gauged from that fact.

It is alleged that the Syrians have been in the habit of importing goods through two French firms who employ Syrian clerks. Consequently the invoices were made out in the Syrian language, and the Customs officers had virtually to pass the goods at the consignees’ own valuation, which they now claim in a groat many cases was fraudulently underrated. The arrested persons will be charged with being knowingly concerned in a fraudulent evasion of the duties of Customs, contrary to section 210 of the Customs Laws Consolidation Act, 18S2.

It may well be imagined how difficult it was, firstly, to trace transactions of this kind, and, secondly, to make the necessary enquiries to the promotion of the raid without arousing suspicion. The thorough success of the undertaking speaks volumes for the perspicacity of the officers engaged in carrying it out.

The raid against the Syrians has had a most unsettling effect upon the representatives of that race in this eity. On Saturday several Syrians, both men and women, were perceived Brazing with a melancholy interest into the windows of the shop 3 lately occupied by their countrymen but now in the possession of the Customs officers. In Moleswoith and John streets, where the Syrians most do congregate, it was thought advisable, to piace policemen in charge of the premises, which were seized. We learn that the bail upon which Stephens was liberated was £650, and not £3oo'as has been stated. It was said that this man had confessed, but as a matter of fact he refuses to acknowledge complicity in the matter. We understand that Mr Skerrett has been retained for the defence. The remaining accused w r ere admitted to bail on Monday, and resumed possession of thenshops. It had been arranged that a raid upon the Syrians of Dunedin should be made on the same day that the authorities descended upon those of Wellington and Auckland, but o wing to a misunderst nding on the part of the Collector of Customs at that place the raid fell through.

A KAID IN AUCKLAND. Auckland, May 28. To-day Mr H.. M. Brewer, sheriff, and his assistants and Mr Rose, Collector of Customs, and assistants, and Mr McAlister, representing the Crown Solicitor, pro ceeded to the shop of an Asyrian importer named Hannah, in Upper Queen street, and served on him two writs issued at the instance of the Commissioner of Customs, one for £9OO and another for £6OOO ; also with a writ of arrest. The charges are for importing goods without payment of proper duty thereon, and for making falso entries. The charges run over ihree years. Possession was taken of tho premises of Hannah, and the accused Hannah is held in bail for £9OO. Auckland, May 29. The Syrian Giffron Hannah has been bailed out. The cases against him will duly come before the Supreme Court, and in the meanwhile two persons are in charge of tho accused’s premises on behalf of the Customs Department. It is understood that Hannah employed a number of Asiatic liawkers in and about Auckland.