ALLEGED CUSTOMS FRAUDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15955, 24 December 1913, Page 8

ALLEGED CUSTOMS FRAUDS.

accused'committed FOR TRIAL. (PEE UijITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHUBCH, December 23. The Customs cases were- continued at the Police Court this morning, Mr Bailey, S.M., presiding. Additional interest was lent to the proceedings by the appearance of John Hill, landing waiter in the Customs Department at Lyttelton, who had only been arrested on the previous day. Mr A. F. Wright conducted the cases on behalf of the Customs Department. Ernest Walter Wood and John Hill were charged with stealing £49 lis, the property of W. Brittenden and Son.' .Mr Wright stated that Wood was in the employ of J. M. Heywood and Company, Customs agents, whilst Hill was landing waiter in the employ of the Customs Department. By the s.s. Arawa, Brittenden and Son imported four cases of drapery some of the contents of which were 6ubject to a duty of 10 per cent, ad valorem, and the other contents to a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem. Wood, who was engaged to pass the particular goods, put ia a prime entry form for £182 14s 3d, subject to a duty of £50 ss, whereas, as a matter of fact, the goods were worth £354 3s. 9d, and were subject to a duty of :£99 15s. Wood made out a debit for £99 16s, and it was on the difference that he was being changed 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. Wood and Hill .were then charged with, on July last, stealing £67 7s, the property of W. Brittenden and Son, Chiistchurch. The case, Mr Wright said, was similar to the last. Brittenden and Son imported some coods ex Remuera. The entry put in was £225, whereas the valuo of the goods was £470 odd. The duty payable on such was £128 14s, whereas the amount actually paid was £61 7s. Accused both again pleaded not guilty, reserved their defence, and were committed for trial. . Wood was granted his previous bail, and Hill was granted bail, self in £200, and one surety of £300, or two of £150 each.

Ernest Walter Wood and James Anderson Campbell were charged with, on September 15, 1913, stealing £76, the property of W. Brittenden and Son. Mr Wright stated that, in September last, W. Brittenden and Son imported M cases of goods ex lonic, the value of which was £1415 14s 3d. The value was declared at £1139 Is 3d. The correct duty payable was £432 7s 9d, but the amount paid to tire Customs Department was only £356 7s 9'd. ' 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 Company' Accused, who pleaded not gmlty,_ reserved their defence, and were committed for trial, their previous bail being granted. Hugh Lawton Owen and James Anderson Campbell were then charged with, on October 7, stealing £49 4s, the property of George Davies (Ltd.).

Mr Wright said the chargs, was in respect to two cases of goods which arrived bv the Opawa in October. The goods were textile and liable to a duty of 20 petcent. They were passed as trimmings and buttons which came in free. Owen, passed the entries and debited the Sartorial Service (Ltd,), the successors of George Danes (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 30, stealing £30, the property of the Crown Clothin? Company.

Mr Wright said the case for the Crown was that goods ex Ruapehu, valued at £170 odd, had been given to Owen to pass. The goods had been incorrectly valued at £70 odd, and £15 12s duty had been paid, though £37 12s had been collected from the "Crown Clothing Company. The accused reserved their defence, and were committed for trial.

Other charges were: H. L. Owen and J. A. CampbelC alleged theft of £20 16s, the froperty bf Geo. Davies (Ltd.), G. C. rands' and J. A. Campbell, alleged theft of £5 16s, the property of J. H. Parker; H. L. Owen and J. Hill, alleged theft of £14 15s. the property of Robert Malcolm (Ltd.): H. L. Owen "and J. A. Campbell, alleged theft of £19. the property of Geo. Davies (Ltd.); G. C. Francis and J. A. Campbell., alleged theft of £9, the nroperty of J. H: Parker and Company. In all the cases tho accused pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial.