CUSTOMS CASES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8612, 24 December 1913, Page 4

CUSTOMS CASES

ACCUSED IN COURT ALLEGED EXTENSIVE FRAUDS AT LYTTELTON. Dross Association. CHRISTCHURCH, December 23. Tho Customs cases were continued at the Police Court this morning. Additional interest was lent to tho proceedings by the appearance of John Hill, a landing waiter in the Customs at Lyttelton, who had only been arrested tho previous day. Mr A. F. ‘Wright conducted tho oases ou behalf of the Customs Department. Ernest Walter Wood and John Hill were charged with stealing £4O 11s, tho property of W. Brittendeu and Son. Mr Wright stated that Wood was in tho employ of J. M. Heywood and Co., Customs agents, whilst Hill was a landing waiter in the employ of the Customs Department. By the b.s. Arawa, Brittcnden and Son imported four cases <j>f drapery, some of the contents of Which were subject to a duty of 10 per cent, ad valorem, and other contents to a duty of 30 per cent, ad valorem. Wood, who was engaged to pass the particular goods, put in a prime entry form for £lB3 14s 3d, subject to a duty of £SO ss, whereas, as a matter of fact, the goods were worth £364 3s 9d, and' wore subject to a duty of £99 Ids. Wood made out a debit for £99 16s, and it was on tho difference that he was being charged with theft. But for the omission of Hill, Wood could not have committed the alleged offence. Both, accused pleaded not guilty, reserved their defence, and were committed for trial, Ernest Walter Wood and John Hill were then charged with, in July last, stealing £67 7sj tho property of W. Brittcnden and Son, of Christchurch. The ease, Mr Wright said, was similar to tho Last. Brittcnden and Son imported some goods ex the Remuera. The entry put in was £235, whereas tho value of the goods was £470 odd. The duty payable on such was £l2B 14s, whereas the amount actually paid was £6l 7e. Accused both again pleaded nob guilty, reserved their _ defence, and were committed for trial. Wood was granted his previous bail, self in £2OO and one surety of £3OO, or two of £l5O each. Ernest Walter Wood and James Anderson. Campbell were charged with, on September 15th, 1913, stealing £76, the property of W. Brittenden and Son. Mr Wright stated that in September last W. Brittenden and Son imported sixty-four cases of goods ex the lonic, the value of which was £1416 14s 3d. The value was declared at £1139 Is 3d. The correct duty payable was £432 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 Heywood and Co. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, reserved tb-ir defence, and were committed for .rial, their previous bail being granted. Hugh Lawton Owen and James Anderson Campbell were then charged with, on October 7th, stealing £49 4s, the property of George Davies, Ltd. Mr Wright said tho charge was in respect to two eases of goods which arrived by the Opawa in October last. The goods were textile, and liable to a duty of 20 per cent. They were passed as trimmings and buttons, which came in free. Owen passed the entries, and debited Sartorial Service, Ltd. (successors of Georgs Davies, Ltd.), with the correct amount. That amount had not been paid to the Customs Department. Accused were committed for trial, both pleading not guilty. Hugh Lawton Owen and James Anderson Campbell were charged with, on September 30th. stalling £22, th® property of tho^ Crown Clothing Company, Mr Wright said that the case for the Crown was that goods ex tho Ruapehu, valued at £l7O odd, had been given to Owen to pass. Th® goods had bum incorrectly valued at £7O odd, and £ls 12s duty paid, though £37 12s had been collected from tho Crown Clothing Company. Accused reserved their defence, and were committed for trial. Other charges were: —H. L. Owen and J. A. Campbell, alleged thqft_ of £2O 16s, tho property of Georg® Davies, Ltd.; G. C. Francis and J. A. Campbell, alleged theft of £6 16s, the property of J. H. Parker; H. L. Owen and J. Hill, alleged theft of £l4 Iss, the property of Robert Malcolm, Ltd.; H. L. Owen and J. A. Campbell, alleged theft of £l9, the property of George Davies, Ltd.; G. C. Francis an<l J. A. Campbell, alleged theft of £9, the property of J. n. Parker and Co. In all the cases accused pleaded not guilty, and were committed for trial.